How do I review a security company's installers' on-site safety training?

Start with the files. For each installer, ask what training they have had, when, and who confirmed it. Look for gaps: new hires with no record, or training that was never repeated. Ask how the firm tracks what each person is trained to do.

Then watch the work. With the seller’s permission, accompany a crew. See how they handle ladders, drilling, cable runs and working near electrical systems. Notice whether protective equipment is worn and whether the team speaks up about hazards. Practice tells you more than a binder. If installers use subcontractors, ask how their training is confirmed. A firm that checks its own staff carefully but not outside help leaves a gap that is easy to overlook until something goes wrong.

Ask about incidents and near misses. How are they reported, and what changed afterward? A firm that records and learns from them is showing something useful. Ask also about equipment condition, since worn ladders and tools raise risk. Finally, ask who is responsible for safety. If it is one person, plan for their absence. Your lawyer or a safety professional can tell you which obligations apply to the firm and its workers, and how they carry over to a new owner.

Key takeaways

• Compare each installer’s training record with what they do on site.
• Ask how incidents and near misses are reported and what changed.
• Find out who owns safety and have a professional confirm what applies.