Security Guard Day: Three questions for security guard Khaled Khalid
Walking across the campus, you will undoubtedly have met them: the security guards protecting security on campus. Khaled Khalid, working as a dispatcher (a communications worker receiving incoming emergency and non-emergency calls) in Vigilant and as a security guard for the entire campus, answers three questions on his work in the context of Security Guard Day (February 1).
What is an average day on campus like for a security guard?
“Tilburg University is secured 24/7 by my colleagues. We work different shifts: day (start at 7:00 hrs.), evening (start at 15:00 hrs.), and night shifts (start at 23:00 hrs.).
Let us take a typical day shift as an example. When the day shift colleagues relieve the night shift colleagues, the dispatcher on duty during the day is responsible for a team of two security guards patrolling the campus, one security guard at the Meerkoldreef site, and a team of guards stationed at different locations. In addition, we remotely monitor Deprez building; this building is located in Spoorzone. The colleagues starts by opening certain buildings and doors according to our instructions. In the meantime, there will be various reports, including requests to accompany people to particular spaces, opening certain spaces for both personnel and external firms. We also get our fair share of excitement with incidents involving first aid, a fire alarm, or a different type of calamity. It is our duty to handle things smoothly. The incident reporting center receives various reports throughout the day to which the colleagues must then respond.
Furthermore, the dispatcher is busy answering the phone and dealing with such administrative activities as authorizations and other requests regarding additional staffing to support events taking place on campus.”
Every situation is different, it requires expertise and professionalism, and feels like a fresh challenge for me
What is the funniest or most unusual incident that happened while you were on duty as a security guard?
“Every day is unpredictable and full of surprises for us. Something I particularly remember is when I was patrolling the campus with a colleague during a night shift. We heard whistling in the forest and immediately followed the noise to find out what was going on. We saw a group of four people coming out of the forest and they were holding someone by his clothes. We directly called the police because this was reason enough for us to believe that someone was being robbed.”
What do you like best about your work as a security guard?
“Emergency incidents such as helping someone who needs first aid or dealing with a suspicious situation, or helping out at an event that requires extra security staff give me a sense of really contributing something. Every situation is different, it requires expertise and professionalism, and feels like a fresh challenge for me.”