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Stewards and security guards are a common sight at hundreds of sporting events, festivals, and concerts every weekend up and down the nation.

Both are charged with keeping people safe, answering queries, keeping an eye out for trouble and generally ensuring the event goes off without a hitch.

Despite all the similarities between the roles, stewards and security guards are not the same thing and if you are planning an event, or thinking of a career in either role, it is important that you are aware of the difference between the two.

What do stewards do?

Unlike security guards, stewards are part of the security at events only, and do not work in other sectors such as retail or property protection.

They do not require any specific qualification or prior experience to take on the role and many events use volunteer stewards that have no previous training whatsoever. However, this is only recommended for small an very low risk events and stewarding at a major occasion can be a tough gig.

That isn’t to say that there are no training programmes that stewards can go through either, and a Level 2 NVQ award in spectator safety or event stewarding are often a pre-requisite of working in sports stadia or concert venues.

Just some of the potential responsibilities of an event steward include acting as a visible reassurance to attendees, checking tickets, reporting safety issues to management, and working with the police or on-site security officers if required.

They may be asked to work within the venue, on the perimeter, or in the car park protecting attendees vehicles whilst they are away.

What about security guards?

Security guards are required to undergo significantly more training than stewards and must obtain an SIA licence in order to work in the security industry. If they wish to work on venues that served alcohol they must also obtain an SIA Door Supervisor licence.

Some of the tasks that are performed by security guards hat will not be performed by event stewards include searching event guests (sometimes accompanied by a sniffer dog or metal detector), protecting VIPs, dealing with conflict between attendees, and protecting the venue against terror threats in collaboration with the local police.

Security guards will usually work closely with any stewards who are on the site but will take control in the case of an emergency or evacuation.

They may well be involved in the decision making process regarding where stewards should be stationed to be most effective and how they can assist them in keeping the site safe.

If you are looking for a short-term position in the security industry potentially saving money for your desired career, event stewarding is a good option. However, if you are looking to pursue a career in the security industry and are truly passionate about protecting people and property from harm, security guard could well be the role for you.

Food safety is absolutely vital to keeping any society healthy and safe and for businesses in the restaurant or food preparation industries, keeping their premises hygienic can be the difference between commercial failure and commercial success.

Pest control is one of the most important aspects of food safety given the tremendous threat that rodents, birds, and insects pose to human health. Besides spreading disease and generally contaminating food stuffs and surfaces, pests can also do a huge amount of structural damage so it is vital you are proactive and take the appropriate action to keep them at bay.

By understanding exactly what attracts pests, what challenges they pose, and how to create an effective IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategy you can ensure that your business doesn’t become another victim of pest control issues and has the chance to thrive that it deserves.

What threat do pests pose?

Pests cause a huge range of issues for those in the food industry and beyond. Rodents, birds, and insects of all different shapes and sizes are prolific at spreading bacteria and pathogens that can do all sorts of damage when transferred to humans.

Rodents spread diseases such as salmonella, hantavirus, and more, whilst birds are also well known for spreading Salmonella, and E. Coli through their droppings. Alongside their disease spreading prowess, pests will also destroy pretty much anything they can get their teeth or claws into, including food packaging, compromising its integrity, structural materials, and more. Rodents also have a rather suicidal habit of gnawing on electrical wiring that can result in a very serious fire risk.

For all these reasons, and more, it is vital that you tackle pest problems as soon as they occur, and even more important that you put measures in place to ensure they don’t happen again.

You will be all too aware of how fragile a business’ reputation can be, particularly in hospitality, and the news of a pest infestation will spread like wildfire throughout your local community. Leaving it to chance simply isn’t worth the risk and could jeopardise everything that you have worked so hard for.

 What measures can you put in place to deal with pests?

Building a successful pest management strategy is a lot easier when you use the services of a professional pest control expert in your area. The first thing that you need to do is to reinforce your defences. Prevention is far far better than the cure when it comes to pest control and there are a number of different defences that can be put in place that will significantly reduce the risk of being a victim.

These include physical barriers such as bird netting, spikes, and sealing entry points so that small rodents cannot find their way inside, the safe and controlled use of pesticides to deal with existing infestations under the supervision of a highly trained pest controller, and rigorous cleaning and sanitation procedures that prevent the build up of dirt and grim in which pests will thrive.

You, or a pest controller, should conduct regular patrols and inspections of the entire property looking for any signs of pest activity. Catching problems in the earliest possible stages will dramatically increase the chances of being able to keep the problem under control. By the time you, or god forbid a customer, spots a physical pest, the chances are that it will already be too late and a large infestation has established itself. Either way, the best thing to do is to call a professional in immediately.

As a business owner or manager, you may be responsible for the formulation of a pest control strategy on your business premise but for it to be a success you need all your staff to buy in, and it is essential they are trained on best practice when it comes to maintaining a pest free environment.

Ensuring that thorough cleaning is carried out at regular intervals, and that spillages are cleared away in a timely fashion, for example, will go a long way to creating the sanitised environment you require.

Consulting with an expert

Each and every business premises is different, and whilst there are certainly some general words of advice and tips that every business owner should heed, only a professional who has conducted a full survey of your property will be able to inform you exactly which prevention methods will be most effective.

Once you have put these measures in place they should be reviewed continuously to ensure they continue to meet your needs. You will also need to have audits carried out and provide documentation of the steps you have taken as part of your compliance with food safety regulation requirements in your industry. Professional pest controllers specialise in helping businesses meet all their legal pest control obligations.