Core Tasks During Normal Operations
Why Routine Matters
Not every shift is packed with emergencies. In fact, most of your time in the Security Control Room will be spent on “normal” operations. But make no mistake, these daily tasks are the foundation of site safety. When carried out properly, they prevent problems before they happen, maintain compliance with UK standards, and keep staff, visitors, and assets protected.
Standards such as the SIA licence-linked training, Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) benchmarks, and BSI/NSI codes of practice all stress the importance of professional, consistent performance in routine duties. This is where discipline, attention to detail, and teamwork make the biggest difference.
Key Control Room Tasks You Perform Every Day
1. CCTV Monitoring
Actively watch for unusual or suspicious behaviour.
Ensure cameras are functional, positioned correctly, and not tampered with.
Bookmark or export relevant footage when required.
Tip: Don’t stare at one feed too long. Use scanning techniques, wide view first, then focus in, to keep your eyes sharp.
Example: In a shopping centre, an operator noticed someone loitering near staff-only doors for several days. By flagging this early, on-site officers intervened and prevented a theft.
2. Access Control
Monitor entry and exit points, verifying credentials where necessary.
Prevent unauthorised access to restricted zones.
Support reception teams with visitor management.
Tip: Always double-check patterns. Someone using the same door multiple times in a short period may indicate suspicious behaviour.
3. Alarm Handling
Respond to fire, intruder, and technical alarms immediately.
Follow escalation procedures, even if it later proves to be a false alarm.
Record alarm activations in the incident log with time and action taken.
Did You Know? False alarms account for around 40% of call-outs in UK fire services, but every activation must still be treated seriously until confirmed.
4. Incident Logging and Reporting
Maintain accurate, time-stamped logs.
Record what happened, what action you took, and who you informed.
Ensure reports meet compliance standards so they can be used in court if needed.
Example: During a workplace accident, clear and accurate logs from the control room were later used as key evidence in a Health & Safety Executive investigation.
5. Communication Hub
Act as the central point of contact between guards, management, and emergency services.
Pass on instructions clearly, calmly, and quickly.
Keep radio communication professional, avoiding unnecessary chatter.
Tip: Use simple, direct language, “Fire exit blocked on east side, please attend now” is faster and clearer than long-winded explanations.
6. Equipment Checks
Test radios, phones, alarms, and CCTV systems at the start of each shift.
Report faults immediately and record them.
Ensure backup systems are ready in case of failure.
Consequence of Neglect: A camera fault left unchecked may mean no usable evidence during a critical incident. This can affect insurance claims, police investigations, and client trust.
Real-World Example: Heathrow Airport Control Room
At Heathrow, operators balance routine tasks with constant readiness. During a normal shift, they cycle through camera scans, log staff movements, check alarms, and liaise with police units. When an incident occurs, their efficiency in daily tasks allows them to respond immediately without confusion.
👉 The lesson: professionalism during “quiet” times prepares you for chaos during emergencies.
Avoiding Pitfalls During Routine Shifts
“Normal” does not mean “nothing is happening.” The most common control room mistakes occur in quiet periods, when operators drop their guard.
Watch out for these pitfalls:
Complacency: Quiet shifts make it easy to relax, but that’s often when offenders strike.
Weak logging: Writing vague notes like “incident handled” instead of full details weakens reports.
Skipped checks: Missing daily equipment tests leaves you blind if systems fail during an incident.
Unchallenged access: Familiar faces, like contractors or delivery staff, may be overlooked even when acting suspiciously.
Tip: Ask yourself, “If my shift notes were reviewed in court tomorrow, would they show I did my job professionally?”
Key Considerations for SCR Operators
Consistency is your trademark: Doing the basics well, shift after shift, is what sets true professionals apart. Clients and colleagues notice when standards never slip.
Your logbook is your shield: Every entry you make could one day protect you, your team, or your company in court, in an investigation, or with insurers. If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.
Alertness beats boredom: Most serious incidents start with small, everyday clues, a door left ajar, a person loitering, an alarm reset too quickly. Spotting them is what keeps disasters away.
Compliance is 24/7: UK standards don’t take breaks. Even a small shortcut, skipping a camera check or ignoring a minor fault, can put you and your licence at risk.
Why Your Routine Work Matters
It is easy to think that nothing important happens during “quiet” shifts, but the reality is very different. What you do in routine operations often shapes the outcome of major incidents.
CCTV is your silent witness: The majority of UK criminal prosecutions now rely on CCTV. Much of this evidence is gathered during normal monitoring, not emergencies. If you stay sharp during routine hours, you are capturing the evidence that supports police, insurers, and courts later.
Equipment checks are lifesavers: Research by NSI shows that sites carrying out regular system checks are over 50% less likely to suffer critical equipment failures during incidents. Missing a check today could mean missing crucial footage tomorrow.
The takeaway: Your “ordinary” tasks are never ordinary. Every camera scan, every equipment check, every log entry builds the foundation for safety, compliance, and trust.
Everyday Actions, Extraordinary Outcomes
What feels like routine to you, scanning CCTV, checking an alarm, logging an entry, may seem small in the moment, but it builds the invisible shield that protects your site every day. Emergencies might be rare, but your consistency during normal operations is what prepares you to act with speed and confidence when they do come.
Think of it this way: your quiet shifts are your training ground. Every log sharpens your accuracy, every equipment check builds your readiness, and every radio call strengthens your authority.
Takeaway: There are no “ordinary” tasks in the control room. By treating daily duties as essential building blocks, you turn routine into readiness and ensure that when the pressure rises, you are already one step ahead.
