Assessing Security Culture
The following questions can help assess if an effective security culture exists at your airport/s. The questions can be built into local quality control and assurance processes, as well as training courses and workshops.
To download a fillable version of the self assessment tool including an answer scale, please select the language preferred below.
- Is security an organization priority and a core value of the airport?
- Are there policies and procedures in place that define security culture i.e. a Vision/Mission Statement with a description of what effective security looks like?
- Do staff know how their work contributes to the overall security of the airport and its users?
- Are security threats and risks properly understood at all levels (up to and including senior managers)?
- Do managers promote an effective security culture by visibly endorsing and executing security initiatives i.e. do they lead by example?
- Are there written records of agreed security standards and procedures? And are these records easily accessed by staff?
- Are staff given the resources and time that they need to comply with security measures?
- Are all staff appropriately and regularly vetted?
- Are staff airport passes visible at all times? And if not, are staff being challenged?
- Do all staff and passengers pass through security screening?
- Do training materials (including refresher training materials) contain a description of the current threat to aviation and security processes?
- Does training build in positive security culture best practices?
- Are there posters and/or other communication campaigns around the airport promoting positive security behaviours e.g. reminding staff and visitors to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity immediately?
- Do management communicate with all staff on security issues e.g. through written communications and staff announcements?
Are
security messages (including security alerts and security announcements) a
regular feature of internal/external airport communications? Are these messages
also designed to deter those conducting or considering conducting hostile reconnaissance?
- Are there processes in place to enable and encourage staff to report security-related incidents (with the option of anonymity)?
- Are staff provided the opportunity to suggest ways in which security could be improved e.g. through staff surveys (question sets), feedback boxes, interviews, workshops, peer reviews?
- Is there a process that provides regular (at least annual) feedback to security officers on their work programme?
- Do staff (including security officers) receive recognition from managers for positively contributing to security?
- Is there good cooperation, support and communication within teams of security officers? And do security officers and managers consider themselves to be part of a team?
