How to Write Post Orders and Standard Operating Procedures

Writing the post orders and standard operating procedures is a technical skill. Contract security firms that are able to use a technical writer to support this work will have an advantage over those companies that do not.

Writing the post orders and standard operating procedures is a technical skill. Contract security firms that are able to use a technical writer to support this work will have an advantage over those companies that do not.  

Related Article: How to Create Effective Contract Security Operating Procedures

A security manual is a compilation of post orders and standard operating procedures.  Outlines for security manuals are fairly standard and contract firms can develop a bank of templates for various types of clients: healthcare facilities, educational institutions, government, industry and manufacturing, etc. This is a benefit for organizations, such as hospitals, schools and universities, working with a contract security firm.  

Contract security firms with technical writers coupled with knowledge about client policies should be able to develop a security manual that implements the campus security management program. The following is a sample outline for a security manual;

1.  Introduction/mission statement
2.  Summary information about client
3.  Code of conduct/ethics
4.  Staffing information/position descriptions
5.  Customer service policies
6.  Specific post assignments
7.  Building security/access control

  • A. Building hours
  • B. Restricted areas

8.  Personnel security

  • A. Identification card policies
  • B. Visitor policies
  • C. Drug/alcohol policies
  • D. Sexual harassment
  • E. Workplace violence
  • F. Privacy/HIPAA

9.  Emergency response

  • A. Fire/evacuation
  • B. Weather/shelter in place
  • C. Hostile intruder
  • D. Utility/power outages
  • E.  Emergency notification

10. Legal/criminal information

  • A. Contacting police for assistance/report crime
  • B. Use of force
  • C. Criminal trespass
  • D. Search and detention

11. Safety

  • A. Hazard communication
  • B. Bloodborne pathogens

12. Reports/record keeping

  • A. Incident reports
  • B. Accident reports
  • C. Daily logs
  • D. Inspection reports
  • E. Lost and found

13. Appendix

  • A. Client policies
  • B. Training checklists

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