2011 Client Newsletter 4th Quarter[2]

According to the National Fire Protection Association, residential fires are more prevalent during the winter. While these fires pose a great risk to your safety and security, they can be avoided with proper fire safety practices.

In celebration of the holiday season and as a gift for their clientele, Universal Services of America donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in order to help fund pediatric cancer research. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer center where families never pay for uninsured treatments and no child is turned away due

to lack of money. The research and care at St. Jude are shared with doctors around the world, so that children in communities everywhere will benefit from their lifesaving work.

4th Quarter Client Newsletter, 2011 Page 1

NIVERSALNEWS NIVERSALNEWSFour Strong Divisions, One Expert Voice

Residential Fire Safety

• Keep flammable objects such as potholders and paper towels away from cooking equipment

• If you see a damaged cord replace it immediately; regularly place your hand near electrical outlets to check for excess heat and always unplug appliances when not in use

• Inspect utility closets, electrical panels and other areas where fires commonly start. Store chemicals such as paint, aerosol cans and kerosene in proper containers and away from the sides of your home or entryways

• If using kerosene heaters, ensure there is proper ventilation and do not fill the heater while it is in operation

• When using a fireplace, keep a screen in front to prevent jumping embers and make sure any ashes are completely out before going to sleep or leaving home. Place any hot ashes in a metal container outdoors

• Have your furnace inspected yearly and leave any repairs to qualified specialists

• Do not plug electric heaters into extension cords, keep them away from combustible materials and turn them off when not you are not in the room

• Creating a disaster plan is the best means of keeping you and your family safe. Have an escape route in place, hold practice fire drills and teach your children the importance of “stop, drop, and roll.” Regularly test your smoke alarms and inspect fire extinguishers

Universal Services of America Named One of Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces

Universal Services of America recently placed within the Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces list. The Top Workplaces 2011 award recognizes leading workplaces in Orange County and is given based on surveys from company employees. Over 800 local companies were asked to participate in the event, but only 75 of those companies made the final list. Universal Services of America placed sixth in the “Large Company” category.

Employees were asked to rate their companies based on categories such as fairness, flexibility, benefits and values. Companies with excellent communication and respect for their employees topped the list. Universal knows employees are the cornerstone to their continued success and views them as their most valuable assets. Universal’s benefits, training programs, contests and profit-sharing plans are all part of the packages their employees receive. The Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces of 2011 award is an honor that Universal Services of America is proud to accept. To read additional news from Universal, visit http://www.universal1965.com.

Universal Management Team Busts Major Theft Ring at Client Warehouse


NIVERSAL NEWS NIVERSAL NEWSFour Strong Divisions, One Expert Voice

When you approach the elevator:

• Stand aside for exiting passengers • If the elevator is already full, wait for the next car • Do not attempt to stop a closing door • Use the stairs, not an elevator, if there is a fire in the building

When you enter and exit the elevator: • Step up or down if the elevator and hall floors are not

level with one another • Hold children and pets firmly • Stand clear of the doors, and keep your clothing and any

carryon items away from the opening

When riding on the elevator:

• Stand back from the doors and hold the handrail • Pay attention to the floor indications

If you find yourself in an elevator that has become stuck:

• Push the DOOR OPEN button; if that does not work then ring the elevator alarm

• If the elevator is equipped with one, use the emergency telephone to summon help

• Do not attempt to force the doors open • Never try to leave the car on your own, as this could result in serious injury • Remain calm: there is sufficient oxygen in an elevator and

the interior is designed for your safety

Elevator Safety TipsWhile elevators have proven to be a very safe way of transporting both people and merchandise, occasionally malfunctions do occur. Common problems can include elevators that do not correctly align with the floor, doors that do not open or close properly, stopping between floors or stopping altogether and entrapping occupants. Please read over the following safety tips to help ensure your safety and knowledge regarding proper elevator use.

During November our client contact at a distribution warehouse in California contacted Universal Protection Service, and requested assistance in solving an internal theft problem. The contact advised Steve Merkler, Service Manager for Universal Protection Service, that he had received information that furniture was being sold out of the Customer Pick Up area without the distribution warehouse benefiting from the sales. The client contact told Merkler that an unnamed employee was manipulating the inventory control, setting up false sales receipts and giving the receipt to an outside source. That outside source would then pick up the furniture, meet the unnamed employee off site and exchange money for the furniture. The third party would then sell the furniture and keep the cash proceeds. The client contact became aware of this when the unnamed employee began enlisting the help of coworkers, who in turn approached the client contact.

The client contact enlisted our help by requesting someone from our office, who was not known by any of the employees, to act as a middle man, pick up the furniture with a false receipt and exchange it for cash at the store with the suspect. Once the cash for the furniture was exchanged, the police would be notified and an arrest would be made. Universal agreed to help our client and selected Universal Protection Service Operations Manager Jose Hernandez to act as the pick-up man. At the beginning of December, we were contacted and advised to make the deal. Furniture was taken from the store, manipulated through the computer system and a false bill of sale was produced. Hernandez picked up the furniture in a rented truck and all applicable parties were arrested without incident by the police department. Our security professionals acted as back up and assisted the police in making the arrests.

It was later revealed that this operation has been ongoing for two years and that the distribution warehouse had lost in excess of $400,000 in merchandise through this scam. The management of the warehouse was very grateful and expressed their thanks for the help Universal Protection Service provided them in solving this theft.

In order to stay ahead in their field, many professionals in the security industry have opted to get their Certified Protection Professional (CPP®) or Physical Security Professional (PSP®) certification from ASIS International. The ASIS CPP® program is given to individuals in security management who have demonstrated advanced knowledge in security solutions and business practices. The ASIS PSP® program is given to individuals in physical security who demonstrate in-depth operational knowledge and competence in conducting physical security surveys, designing integrated security systems, or installing, operating or maintaining those systems. Both these designations, Board Certified in Security Management and Board Certified Physical Security Professional, are highly respected throughout the world. At Universal Protection Service, Security Forces, Inc.

and SFI Electronics, Inc. a number of individuals have received these highly sought after certifications. Below is what some of them have to say about the programs:

“The ASIS CPP designation is something that every professional in our industry should strive for. The knowledge that I gained is something that I use every day. Through studying to become a CPP, you gain an understanding of the entire security process and philosophy.”—Nick Kaczor, CPP, Security Director

“This certification is an acknowledgement of my experience and education in the security management field and has been very helpful, as it keeps me ahead of the pack. I highly recommend anyone looking to benefit their future to obtain the CPP certification.”—Gary Hamamoto, CPP, Director of Security

“These designations reflect both the level of effort on my part and the established body of knowledge required, as prescribed by ASIS. Our industry has a core body of knowledge and I’m always excited to learn more about every aspect of it. Security never rests, nor does our quest to be on the leading edge of knowledge to enhance our service levels”—Tony Quadri, CPP, PSP, Field Training Manager

“It was immediately applicable to the things I was doing in my day to day job. Not only did I learn a lot that I was able to use right away, it also gives me a place to go to refresh my memory if I need to sharpen my skills in a certain area.”—Jeff Ellis, CPP, Security Manager

Congratulations to the following company employees who have attained a CPP® or a PSP® certification:

• Pat Curran, CPP, District Manager, Security Forces, Inc., Asheboro, NC • Ogle Damron, CPP, District Manager, Security Forces, Inc., Spartanburg, SC • Jeff Ellis, CPP, Director of Security, Universal Protection Service, San Francisco, CA • Martin Fellbaum, CPP, Branch Manager, Universal Protection Service, Los Angeles, CA • Gary Hamamoto, CPP, Director of Security, Universal Protection Service, Glendale, CA • Nick Kaczor, CPP, Security Director, Universal Protection Service, Los Angeles, CA • Jean Marc-Bohin, CPP, Division Manager, Universal Protection Service, San Francisco, CA • Tony Quadri, CPP, PSP, Field Training Manager, Universal Protection Service, Denver, CO • Roy Rahn, CPP, Vice President, Universal Protection Service, Santa Ana, CA • Paul Sova, CPP, Regional Vice President, Security Forces, Inc., Greenville, SC • Tom Warner, PSP, SFI Electronics, Inc., Duncan, SC • Michael Weldrick, CPP, Corporate Training/Safety Manager, Security Forces, Inc., Wilmington, NC • Geoff Craighead, CPP, Vice President, Universal Protection Service, Santa Ana, CA

To learn more about these programs or become certified, visit http://www.asisonline.org/certification/index.xml

While a convenient method for keeping warm, space heaters can become dangerous if not cared for properly. According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), portable heating equipment is the second leading cause of structure fires. Before allowing the use of space heaters in their building, property managers should check with their local fire inspector to find out whether such appliances are approved for use in their area. Those responsible for closing the building should have a listing of the location of each heating appliance and inspect them as part of the building closing procedure. The inspection should ensure that the appliance works properly, combustible materials are not touch-ing or close to the appliance and any appliances not necessary for building protection are turned off. If the facility has security officers, they should also have a listing of each heating appliance and should check each appliance during their rounds.



Universal Protection Service and Security Forces Employees Advance Their Careers



Who we are:

Brian CescoliniChairman/Co-CEOUniversal Services of America

Steve JonesCo-CEO/COO Universal Services of America

Steve ClatonPresident Universal Protection Service

Mark OlivasPresident Universal Building Maintenance

Louis BoulgaridesSenior Vice PresidentUniversal Protection Security Systems

Natasha GanesPublic Relations Specialist, EditorUniversal Services of America

Graphic design by:Spina Design

Detecting Potentially Violent Behavior in the Workplace

Over the past few months there have been many reports in the news of shooting incidents. Universal Services of America has become concerned with the recent increase of violent behavior against employers and coworkers. Economic crisis, high unemployment rates and financial uncertainty has increased the risk of violent crimes, especially when associated with the workplace. These incidents of violence only serve to highlight the tensions between employer, coworkers and employees in an unstable market.

According to the FBI’s National Center for Analysis and Violent Crime, the majority of the U.S. workforce does not recognize the warning signs of potentially violent behavior. Workplace violence is defined as any action that may threaten the safety of an employee, impact an employee's physical or psychological well-being, or cause damage to company property. An effective workplace violence prevention program includes training all employees on what signs to look for and how to communicate such information to appropriate company officials.

As an employer, there are several precautions you should take to prevent aggressive behavior in your workspace, including instituting policies and procedures for detecting and handling violent situations. These could include conducting training on threat assessment, long-term security and alternative dispute resolution. Some additional proactive measures you may consider include installing metal detectors, bullet-proof glass, closed-circuit cameras or entrance controls in certain parts of the building. Employers and employees must work together in order to address the significant problem of workplace violence, thus having a better chance of decreasing the propensity of which it occurs. If you would like copies of our Workplace Violence Desk Reference Guide, please contact your local Universal representative.

Workplace Violence Red Flags • Unreasonable: they constantly make slighting references

and blame others for their problems, are rarely happy about what is going on and are consistently unreasonable

• Controlling: they consider themselves to be superior, with a compulsive need to always force their opinion on and control others

• Paranoid: they believe their employer, boss, other employees and neighbors are out to get them, are

convinced there is a conspiracy to all functions of society, and are essentially paranoid

• Weapons enthusiast with military/police fixation: they may own firearms and have an overly high interest in the military, law enforcement or underground military groups

• Irresponsible: they don't take responsibility for their

behavior; faults or mistakes are always someone else's

• Litigious: they continually threaten legal action against others, including their employer

• Angry: they have many hate and anger issues with coworkers, family, friends or the government

• Violent: they applaud and demonstrate an uncomfortable fascination with violent acts portrayed in the media, such

as racial incidences, domestic violence, shooting sprees, executions, etc

• Vindictive: they make statements such as, "he will get his" or "one of these days I'll get even"

• Odd: they may be good at what they do, paying close attention to details, but they lack people skills. Their presence makes others uncomfortable

• Unhealthy: they may begin to appear unclean or demon strate poor hygiene, experience sleep disorders, fatigue, sudden weight loss/gain or other health-related problems. They may be addicted to alcohol and/or drugs

Documents

2011 Client Newsletter 4th Quarter[2]