Security program becomes statewide model
--DAS Office of the Director, July 2003

The DAS safety and security program became a model program for the rest of state government.

The DAS Agency-wide Safety/Security Action Plan, known as ASAP, was introduced March 11, 2002, the sixth-month anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The plan was a result of direction from the State Building Security Review Committee, which recommended and then later required all agencies to create and implement a departmental security program.

A multi-division team, using the tools of Quality Services through Partnership, developed and rolled out a comprehensive plan within eight weeks. To ensure that the concerns and needs of DAS employees were addressed, the team conducted a survey which drew an overwhelming response rate of about 58 percent.

Survey analysis validated the team's perceptions that employee expectations with regard to security in the workplace were not being met.

To increase ownership and buy-in of the security program, meetings were held with floor wardens, managers and all other DAS employees. All employees received red ASAP binders containing emergency contact information, safety and security procedures, floor wardens' responsibilities and managers' responsibilities regarding security. Employees also were given a wallet-size card containing DAS emergency response information, including the new DAS emergency information phone number, (614) 995-ASAP.

A follow-up survey showed a greatly increased comfort level and heightened awareness among employees regarding security.

In addition, after then Lt. Governor Maureen O'Connor saw the DAS program, she shared it with Governor Bob Taft. They recommended that the ASAP program become a model for other state agencies, boards and commissions.

O'Connor also liked the ASAP campaign's "Homeland Security Starts With You" poster and asked that it be adopted by the State of Ohio Security Taskforce for distribution to all state agencies.

Many large and small agencies, boards and commissions adopted parts or all of the ASAP program, including the binder's contents and the process the team developed to roll out the program and train fellow employees.

 

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