Security guards joining the fight against COVID-19

Security guards across the province have joined the frontlines of the social distancing battle.

Grocery stores have increased measures to encourage social distancing and crowd control in recent weeks. Now, many stores across the province are enlisting the help of security guards to keep staff and customers safe.

Comissionaires North Saskatchewan CEO Lorne Gelowitz said his phone has been ringing constantly this week as grocery stores look to ramp up health and safety protocols.

“We’re finding clients wanting guards to provide direction to people,” he said. “Unfortunately, as is being regularly reported, there’s been lots of neighbours, friends and family that aren’t adhering to the social distancing and direction to respect other people’s space.”

As more and more people follow guidelines to remain home as much as possible, wash hands diligently and stay two metres away from others, remaining essential services like grocery stores are increasingly aware of the dangers that exist.

In all of his years working for Commissionaires, Gelowitz never would have imagined being at the helm of the personal space police.

“We’ve never done something similar to this. Crowd control, security at special events – yes, that’s the nature of our business,” Gelowitz said. “But to tell people to be aware of your social distance and respect other people’s health and wellness, that’s something unique to this industry.”

A security guard could be the first person you see at some grocery stores in the city. Certain Sobey’s locations in Saskatoon have security guards ensuring each customer takes a numbered cart so employees can keep track of how many people are in the store so crowds remain as small as possible.

A spokeswoman with Paladin Security, another private security firm in Canada, couldn’t say how many security guards are now working at grocery stores but said the new business has helped keep many of its employees on the job.

Gelowitz said there has also been an uptick in patrolling services at provincial and federal buildings that are largely vacant, or at government facilities, like employment insurance offices, that are seeing extra traffic.

Roughly 1,100 people are still employed at Commissionaire’s North Saskatchewan division. Gelowitz noted roughly 100 workers have been laid off as security services are no longer needed at many clients’ properties, but some are being called back to work as grocery stores beef up security.

Some of those workers have denied the extra work and opted to stay home to avoid contracting the coronavirus.

While Gelowitz can’t predict how each day will go, he is thankful to be part of the workforce reminding people to remain safe during a pandemic.

“The requirements and their needs are very fluid,” he said of clients asking for security services. “I think people are becoming very cognizant of just how serious this is, and when a new precaution comes to mind everyone is reacting and it’s in the best interest of us all.”