The safe outdoors

Beyond cameras and fences, grounds security isn’t just about preventing intruders, it starts with making the outdoor environment safe, says Brendan Aherne, Chief Operating Officer, OUTCO

When we think about security in the built environment, our minds often turn to CCTV systems, perimeter fencing and access control. These are all valuable tools, but they only tell part of the story. For facilities managers responsible for outdoor estates, from car parks and footpaths to service yards and green spaces, real security isn’t just about preventing intrusion. It’s about preventing harm.

Every year, countless incidents on commercial sites are caused not by criminal intent, but by unmanaged hazards: a branch that falls during high winds, a slip on an icy path, a trip on a broken kerb, or a flooded car park caused by blocked drains. These may not make the evening news, but for employers, insurers and occupiers they represent a very real and costly threat. The difference between a safe, secure estate and a vulnerable one often lies in the quiet, unglamorous disciplines of outdoor maintenance.

THE OVERLOOKED SIDE OF SECURITY

In the security world, “duty of care” is often associated with people and property. Yet that same duty extends to the physical environment in which people move every day. When a delivery driver slips on untreated ice or a visitor’s car is damaged by a falling branch, the site owner bears responsibility. Increasingly, these events are being seen not as accidents, but as preventable failures of management.

Outdoor safety and security are intertwined. A well-lit, well-maintained environment naturally deters antisocial behaviour. Regular pruning can open clear lines of sight as effectively as a surveillance camera. Good lighting and surface maintenance reduce both fear and risk, not just of crime, but of injury. The best-protected sites blend traditional security with proactive safety management.

RISK DOESN’T ALWAYS WEAR A MASK

Facilities managers often treat risk as something external, an intruder, trespasser or vandal. Yet many of the biggest outdoor risks originate within the estate itself:

• Trees and vegetation: Dead or unstable branches can become lethal during storms, while overgrown shrubs can obscure CCTV or lighting.
• Surface conditions: Slips and trips remain the leading cause of workplace accidents in the UK. Damaged paving, potholes or mossy surfaces pose risks to pedestrians and vehicles alike.
• Winter hazards: Untreated surfaces lead to serious injuries and costly claims every winter. Planned, weather-responsive gritting and snow clearance can mean the difference between continuity and chaos.
• Drainage and flooding: Blocked drains and gullies cause slips, vehicle damage and even building floods, yet often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

These risks are not new, but how we manage them is changing fast and driven by data, technology and accountability.

VISIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND DATA-DRIVEN SAFETY

Technology has transformed how outdoor safety is delivered. Facilities teams can now access real-time reporting and photographic evidence that maintenance tasks, from gritting to drain clearance, have been completed and verified.