No matter how obvious signage seems, people will find their way to places they’re not supposed to be. That’s why despite your use of signs, warnings and good design, it’s always best to plan for what happens when someone mistakenly (or willingly) enters a restricted area.
It’s quite shocking just how far people can get into businesses and private locations simply by walking forward, looking confident and as if they’re supposed to be there, and without undergoing a personal challenge or request for self-identification. Even worse, if an item of authority seems to be present, like a company badge (false or otherwise), a high-visibility vest or the carrying of tools, it can fool even trained staff who may default to politeness over suspicion.
Great training and knowing what signs to look for are the only way around this. However, it’s also true that psychological suggestions to help prevent trespassing can help you, which allows your final access control system to pick up the remaining stragglers and prevent any entrance.
In this post, we’ll discuss how to plan up until that point.
Using Lighting
Lighting can imply a fair bit psychologically, as a well-lit path just looks more open and safer to walk down. If that’s true then the opposite is also, so if you want people to move in a certain direction, you should brighten that route and maybe dim the area you want them to avoid. You can use simple spotlights or rows of consistent fixtures to guide the flow of foot traffic, and you might not even need a sign to do so.
We’d suggest you think of your lighting as drawing an invisible line on the floor. People naturally follow the light, so you should make sure your illumination is leading them exactly where they need to be, and yes, this applies in daytime too.
Access Control
The truth is that even with great lighting and clear signage, you need a solid system to physically stop unwanted guests. We talked about key cards and scanners before, and they’re what make up a successful access control system. It’s useful to regularly check and update your access lists, too.
For example, if someone leaves the company, their access should be revoked immediately, just in case. You should also make sure your system records every attempt to enter a restricted zone, whether it’s successful or not, as this information is valuable for finding weak spots in your security setup that need tightening up.
Clear Diversions
Guiding people away from off-limits areas before they get close might help you avoid a confrontation, and you can use visual cues and signage to gently nudge people towards where they should be going. This could be through placing plants or attractive displays to block the view of an unwanted doorway. The goal here is to make the correct path look more inviting and obvious than the restricted one.
You should also make your signs clear, simple, and placed where people are naturally looking. Don’t use confusing language; use arrows and simple phrases like “Staff Only” or “Deliveries Here.” It’s easier to follow a simple instruction than try to figure out a complex path, especially when you’re trying to prevent the mistake before it happens.
With this advice, we hope you can prevent trespassing with confidence.
