(Unesco) Security at Museum PDF

Reproduction is authorized, providing that appropriate mention is made of the source, and a
copy sent to the UNESCO (Paris), address below. This document should be cited as:
UNESCO, 2006. Cultural Heritage Protection Handbook N1. Security at Museums, UNESCO,
Paris.
VUM* uM vK bB* v U WDd uD* c s U sJ1

wGM U uc* uMF vK fU uJuO v p s W U
wU uM vK WIOu c v U
uJuO nU* w s_ r wUI d WUL s VO
uJuO
fU
Division of Cultural Heritage, African and Arab museum unit
Text by: Adalberto Biasiotti
Drawings by: Beatrice Beccaro Migliorati
WOdF WOId nU* b wUI d r

wuUO udO hM
wuOKO UJO tAdUO Uud
Printed in 2006 by the:
United Nations Educational, Scientic and Cultural Organization
7, place de Fontenoy, 75732 Paris 07 SP, France

UNESCO 2006
(CLT/CH/MUS-06/17)
U w U uD
WUI rKF WOdK b* 3_ WLEM s
7, place de Fontenoy, 75732 Paris 07 SP, France
uJuO
(CLT/CH/MUS-06/17)
(CLT-2006/WS/14)
UNESCO SE?CURITE? GB/AR 28-08 :Mise en page 1 4/10/06 8:52 Page 1
INTRODUCTION
- the following instructions are generally applicable in most

circumstances.
- please note that the duties pictured here may be assigned
to more than one guard.
- please remember that instructions issued by the Museum
curator or other person in authority have priority over the
indications of this manual.
- always trust your best experience, judgement and skill to
handle unusual events or unforeseen circumstances.
UNESCO 1
Museum protection duties never stop the

handover from night duty to daytime duty
should be carried out according to agreed
procedures, in an orderly and secure manner.
Duty starts about half an hour before

opening to the public; all emergency exits
should be free and the immediate exit area
inspected to remove possible obstructions.
2 UNESCO
Open or unlock all windows and doors that

have been secured at night.
Check that all important keys are present or

properly accounted for.
UNESCO 3
Read any remarks written in the log-book

and take appropriate steps if any.
Switch off night intrusion detection panel

and check regular operation of closed circuit
television system, portable alarm transmit-
ter, portable radio sets, public address
equipment, first aid kit and emergency
equipment.
4 UNESCO
Check the quality of the recorded images by

replaying an accelerated video cassette or
digital recorder.
Check your block note, pen, portable lamp

and other personal equipment.
UNESCO 5
Inspect all artefacts on display and check

that all are accounted for and secured.
If any artefacts are missing, check that the

appropriate label, with duly authorized
signature, is applied on site.
6 UNESCO
Look for artefacts accidentally moved or in a

dangerous position; do not touch artefacts.
Ask a specialist to rectify the situation.
Ask a specialist to rectify the situation;

artefacts should always be moved by skilled
people wearing gloves and taking special
precautions.
UNESCO 7
Please remember that water and fire are the

two greatest risks in a museum.
Look for possible water damage.
8 UNESCO
Avoid large piles of flammable packing

materials; inform supervisor and ask for
them to be removed.
Check location of all portable extinguishers

and
UNESCO 9
... state of operation.
Check location and state of fire alarm

buttons.
10 UNESCO
Check electrical connection wires and report

any faulty or damaged wiring immediately.
Check the contents of all first aid kits instal-

led in the exhibition rooms.
UNESCO 11
Check that all internal phones are in working

order.
Check the free field of vision of CCTV

cameras.
12 UNESCO
Monitor cleaning operations and occasionally

check contents of trash bins.
Report any bulbs that have blown.
UNESCO 13
Fix minor disruptions, if possible, or report

to appropriate service.
Check for any trash left on site and report to

appropriate service .
14 UNESCO
Carefully identify visiting scholars and third

parties, before granting a visitor pass, to be
constantly displayed while on museum
premises.
Closely monitor all loading and unloading

operations.
UNESCO 15
Monitor and, if necessary, prevent activities,

in immediate museum surroundings, that
may be a source of danger if appropriate,
call police for help.
Monitor the activities of conservators,

graphic artists and so on; if necessary,
temporarily restrict access to the exhibition
room where work is being performed.
16 UNESCO
If you use keys, giving access to showcases

or other critical containers, do not let
anybody handle the key on your behalf, or
even see it.
Profile keys may be easily copied by making

a quick impression with wax or soap.
UNESCO 17
Even the codes of high security double

bitted keys, used on safes, may be captured
by a skilled observer.
Be ready to open museum doors at stated

time it is an essential act of courtesy to
visitors.
18 UNESCO
Gently but firmly, ask visitors to leave at the

entrance all personal items that can cause
damage to objects or may be used to hide
and take these away.
A museum is a temple of our cultural

. heritage - do not let unruly or improperly
dressed visitors desecrate it.
UNESCO 19
Be ready to help disabled visitors, giving

assistance and directions be careful not to
be distracted from your main duty which is
to protect exhibits.
Keep an attentive eye on visitors during

opening hours, to detect early signs of
potential trouble or improper behaviour.
20 UNESCO
Try to find a strategic observation point and

move often, constantly taking different
paths and at different times.
It takes only seconds to damage a painting

with a portable spray can, or
UNESCO 21
to scratch a valuable portrait.
Prevent visitors from using flashes if photo-

graphing is authorized explain that exces-
sive light may irreversibly damage delicate
organic-based colours and disturb other
visitors.
22 UNESCO
Prevent visitors from using tripods, during

picture-taking (if authorized) the tripod may
interfere with the free flow of visitors and
slow down rapid exit, in case of emergency.
Do not let visitors touch artefacts of any

kind even metal can be damaged by
corrosion from natural skin oils.
UNESCO 23
Strictly enforce a no-smoking policy; fire

is a major risk for artefacts displayed in
a museum .
Gently yet firmly stop visitors from using exits

which should be used only in emergencies.
24 UNESCO
Do not allow visitors to bring food and

bottles into the museum; bottles may break
and food may spill on museum floors.
Show visitors where they may eat and drink

check that trash is thrown in bins.
UNESCO 25
If you notice a suspicious bag or package in

the museum
gently but firmly ask all visitors to leave,

restrict access to the risk area and call for
appropriate support.
26 UNESCO
Young visitors are the future custodians of

our cultural heritage, but
contact the school master, give advice

and directions, discreetly monitor childrens
behaviour. If necessary, call for additional
support.
UNESCO 27
Watch for children and visitors chewing

gum; often the gum is found attached to
the underside of artefacts.
Discreetly, but carefully, watch childrens

behaviour; the natural curiosity of children
may lead to artefacts being touched or
scratched, with possible consequential
damage.
28 UNESCO
Please always remember that your primary

duty is to protect the museum collection; if
questioned by a visitor, give answers only
related to museum facilities and rules; you
are a guard, not a tourist guide.
Keep an especially attentive eye on small

items that can easily be removed, such as
an antique vase cover, for instance, or
UNESCO 29
the hands of a clock, or
a key and a keyhole cover.
30 UNESCO
Be ever alert and attentive; if you need to

leave your duty post for a moment, ask to be
replaced.
If no visitor is present, you may rest on

appropriate collapsible chairs.
UNESCO 31
Never rest on artefacts on show.
Be always ready to use the internal phone to

call for support.
32 UNESCO
Be always ready to use a portable fire

extinguisher.
If a visitor should have an accident,
UNESCO 33
keep other people at a distance and call

for professional first aid.
When the paramedics arrive, interview

witnesses and record all the relevant facts.
34 UNESCO
At appointed time, gently yet firmly escort

all visitors to the exit.
Strictly refrain from accepting gratuities of

any kind; if appropriate, propose a donation
to support museum activities .
UNESCO 35
Put all the museum exits under lock and key.
Lock all windows.
36 UNESCO
Inspect all exhibition rooms.
Check all intrusion detector devices by

observing the blinking light reaction to your
movements (if appropriate).
UNESCO 37
Inspect all service rooms and toilets.
Check that all main keys are present or

properly accounted for.
38 UNESCO
Write any information about your day shift

in the logbook for the information of the
night guards.
Turn on the night intrusion detection control

panel; check that all security equipment is
working properly.
UNESCO 39
Perform night shift exchange of duties,

according to relevant procedures.
If appropriate, carry out the night shift watch

tour by checking the areas for inspection in
the sequence indicated here.
40 UNESCO
Check the important areas once again as

indicated in this handbook.
If there is a watch recorder, set to planned

schedule.
UNESCO 41

(Unesco) Security at Museum PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

(Unesco) Security at Museum PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Reproduction is authorized, providing that appropriate mention is made of the source, and a

VUM* uM vK bB* v U WDd uD* c s U sJ1

WOdF WOId nU* b wUI d r

7, place de Fontenoy, 75732 Paris 07 SP, France

- the following instructions are generally applicable in most

Museum protection duties never stop the

Duty starts about half an hour before

Open or unlock all windows and doors that

Check that all important keys are present or

Read any remarks written in the log-book

Switch off night intrusion detection panel

Check the quality of the recorded images by

Check your block note, pen, portable lamp

Inspect all artefacts on display and check

If any artefacts are missing, check that the

Look for artefacts accidentally moved or in a

Ask a specialist to rectify the situation;

Please remember that water and fire are the

Look for possible water damage.

Avoid large piles of flammable packing

Check location of all portable extinguishers

... state of operation.

Check location and state of fire alarm

Check electrical connection wires and report

Check the contents of all first aid kits instal-

Check that all internal phones are in working

Check the free field of vision of CCTV

Monitor cleaning operations and occasionally

Report any bulbs that have blown.

Fix minor disruptions, if possible, or report

Check for any trash left on site and report to

Carefully identify visiting scholars and third

Closely monitor all loading and unloading

Monitor and, if necessary, prevent activities,

Monitor the activities of conservators,

If you use keys, giving access to showcases

Profile keys may be easily copied by making

Even the codes of high security double

Be ready to open museum doors at stated

Gently but firmly, ask visitors to leave at the

A museum is a temple of our cultural

Be ready to help disabled visitors, giving

Keep an attentive eye on visitors during

Try to find a strategic observation point and

It takes only seconds to damage a painting

to scratch a valuable portrait.

Prevent visitors from using flashes if photo-

Prevent visitors from using tripods, during

Do not let visitors touch artefacts of any

Strictly enforce a no-smoking policy; fire

Gently yet firmly stop visitors from using exits

Do not allow visitors to bring food and

Show visitors where they may eat and drink

If you notice a suspicious bag or package in

gently but firmly ask all visitors to leave,

Young visitors are the future custodians of

contact the school master, give advice

Watch for children and visitors chewing

Discreetly, but carefully, watch childrens

Please always remember that your primary

Keep an especially attentive eye on small

the hands of a clock, or

a key and a keyhole cover.