WORKING IN THE FIELD:

GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY

AND SECURITY FOR
OFFICERS AND
VOLUNTEERS.
PREPARED BY:
TAIWO MOSES
SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER,
IFRC, ABUJA CLUSTER (NIGERIA, GHANA, BENIN
AND TOGO)

Internal
 DEFINING SAFETY
AND SECURITY
• WHAT IS SAFETY: THE CONDITION OF BEING PROTECTED FROM
OR UNLIKELY TO CAUSE DANGER, RISK, OR INJURY.

• SECURITY DEFINED: THE STATE OF BEING OR FEELING SECURED

Internal
 SAFETY AND SECURITY: IFRC
PERSPECTIVE
• IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ITS
PERSONNEL, THE FEDERATION HAS A FARMEWORK
WITHIN WHICH THE BASICS OF ITS WORK IS DEFINED.

• IT ALSO HAS A MINIMUM SECURITY REQUIREMENT (MSR)

DOCUMENT WHICH GUIDES THE WORK OF DELEGATES,
LOCAL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING UNDER ITS
UMBRELLA.

Internal
 DEPLOYING TO
THE FIELD.

Internal
 STEPS TO FOLLOW
• THE NATIONAL SOCIETY WOULD HAVE CARRIED OUT ADEQUATE
ADVOCACY IN THE GENERAL ARE TO ENSURE COOPERATION AND FULL
UNDERSTANDING OF THE RED CROSS, ITS OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES.

• ENSURE THAT YOU ARE PROPERLY LISTED AND BRIEFED TO WORK IN THE
AREA WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

• ENSURE THAT THE SECURITY OF THE GENERAL AREA IS CONDUCIVE.

Internal
 IDENTIFICATION
• WORK WITHIN THE TEAM

• CARRY YOUR IDENTIFICATION CARD.

• ALL TEAM MEMBERS SHOULD WEAR THEIR BIBS AND TRAVEL IN A BRANDED RED
CROSS VEHICLE.

• WORK UNDER A TEAM LEADER.

Internal
 BASIC PERSONAL AND
GENERAL RULES AND CONDUCT
• AVOID AN ACTIVE VIOLENT EMVIRONMENT. LOCATE YOUR BASE AWAY FROM VIOLENT ZONES.
• FOLLOW THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE RED CROSS.
• ORIENTATE ALL TEAM MEMBERS BEFORE DEPLOYING NTO THE FIELD.
• MAINTAIN AND DISPLAY NEUTRALITY AT ALL TIMES.
• KEEP ADEQUATE RECORD OF ALL MEMBERS BEING DEPLOYED TO PARTICULAR LOCATIONS.
• MAINTAIN REGULAR AND UPDATED CONTACT WITH THE OFFICE.
• KEEP DISTANCE FROM THE SECURITY FORCES BUT MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION.

Internal
 PERSONAL AND GENERAL
RULES AND CONDUCT (Cont’d)
• RESPECT LOCAL VALUES AND LAWS OF THE AREA OF OPERATION.
• RESPECT AND SHOW UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL
AND SOCIAL LEANING.
• DO NOT TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION.
• IN CONFLICTS, DO NOT DISPLAY ATTITUDES THAT MAY PASS WRONG
INFORMATION.
• DO NOT CONSUME OR BE IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL OR HARD OR
RELATED DRUGS.

Internal
 PERSONAL AND GENERAL
RULES AND CONDUCT (Cont’d)
• DO NOT GRANT MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE OFFICE.
• MOVE IN PAIRS. AVOID NIGHT MOVEMENTS.
• IF STOPPED BY SECURITY OPERATIVES FOR QUESTIONING, SHOW YOUR IDENTITY AND RESPOND TO
THEIR QUESTIONS CALMLY. NEVER ARGUE.
• LET YOUR TEAM LEADER TAKE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TEAM EXCEPT YOU ARE DELEGATED TO TALK.
• DO NOT WORK TOO EARLY IN THE DAY OR TOO LATE IN THE NIGHT EXCEPT YOU ARE GRANTED
PERMISSION.
• CARRY YOUR COMMUNICATION GADGETS AT ALL TIMES AND MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION WITH
YOUR RESPONSIBLE OFFICERS AT THE NATIONAL SOCIETY AND FEDERATION. SECURE YOUR
GADGETS.

Internal
 PERSONAL / GENERAL RULES
AND CONDUCT (Cont’d)
• REPORT ALL INCIDENTS PROMPTLY.

• BE VIGILANT, USE QUICK AND GOOD JUDGEMENT.

• IN RISKY ENVIRONMENTS, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. KNOW YOUR STRENGTH AND CAPABILITY.

• MAKE SURE THERE IS COHESION WITH ALL TEAM MEMBERS, UNDERSTAND BASIC SIGNS
LANGUAGES.

Internal
 PERSONAL / GENERAL RULES AND
CONDUCT (Cont’d) – AT A CHECK POINT.
• BE SURE OF THE STATUS OF THE CHECKPOINT WHETHER IT IS GUNUINE OR FAKE.
• APPROACH THE CHECK POINT, ONE AT A TIME.
• SLIGHTLY OPEN YOUR WINDOW TO TALK TO THE SF AT THE CHECKPOINT.
• BE POLITE AND FRIENDLY . SHOW CONFIDENCE.
• ONLY GIVE INFORMATION THAT YOU ARE ASKED FOR.
• IF YOU ARE TO PROTEST, DO IT CALMLY AND POLITELY.
• DO NOT BE IN A RUSH TO LEAVE THE CHECK POINT BUT MOVE AWAY GENTLY.
• KEEP YOUR HANDS VISIBLE AT ALL TIMES TO AVOID MISINTERPRETATION.

Internal
 IN CASE OF AN EXPLOSION
• EXPLOSIONS CAN OCCUR THROUGH DIFFERENT MEANS:

- BODY BORNE (BBIED)

- VEHICLE BORNE (VBIED)

- ROAD SIDE PLANTED (RBIED)

* ALL OF THESE COULD BE VERY DAMAGING AND COULD CAUSE MULTIPLE FATALITIES.

Internal
 DURING AN ATTACK:
IN A BUILDING.
• THE FOLLOWING STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN IF THERE IS AN EXPLOSION.
- IF IN A BUILDING STAY AWAY FROM GLASS OR OTHER FIXTURES. LIE UNDER OR BY HARD
STRUCTURES.
- FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF SECURITY OPERATIVES (IF ANY).
- NO RETIREVING OF PERSONAL ITEMS.
- DO NOT GO NEAR FLAMES, GAS OR SPARKS.
- DO NOT USE ELEVATORS. IDENTIFY THE DIRECTION OF THE EXPLOSIONS AND ROLL AWAY
ON THE FLOOR TO SAFETY.
- DO NOT RUSH TO EVACUATE ANYONE BUT ENSURE YOUR SAFETY FIRST.
- WAIT UNTIL THE EXPLOSIONS HAS CEASED BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY EVACUATION.
- WATCH OUT FOR FALLING ITEMS AND AVOID IT.

Internal
 DURING AN ATTACK:
ON THE STREET.
• FALL TO THE GROUND AND ROLL AWAY TO SAFETY.
• DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY CALL FOR INTERVENTION UNTIL
YOU ARE SURE THE ENVIRONMENT IS SAFE.
• AVOID USING TELEPHONES/ RADIOS WHILE THE BLASTS ARE
STILL ON.
• IN CASE YOU NHAVE LIFE THREATENING INJURIES, GET HELP
IMMEDIATELY.
• LISTEN TO EMERGENCY OFFICIALS AT THE SCENE.
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO TOO MUCH, MERELY EVACUATE
FROM THE SCENE.

Internal
 CONCLUSION

•PLEASE KEEP SAFE AT

ALL TIMES AND BE
SECURED.
Internal
 QUESTIONS /
CLARIFICATIONS?????
Internal