Reliable Service In Unique Circumstances

In September of 2005, Hurricane Rita made landfall on the border of Louisiana and Texas. The storm was the most intensive tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico and caused over $11 million worth of damage. Coming a mere three weeks after Hurricane Katrina, the storm also presaged a record level of evacuations. For Leyton Brown, Manager of Global Security at Huntsman, the situation created a security issue unique to his three-decade plus career.

“Hurricane Rita literally shut our sites down in southeast Texas, and we were exposed from a security standpoint,” says Brown.  “We had a contract with Securitas USA but were unsure if any of their people were in the region, given the evacuation requirements.  There was no place around here to stay – the hotels left standing were full.  But when we called, they were able to supply security guards right away as well as supply self-sustaining places for the guards to stay.  And that’s where Securitas really endeared themselves to me.”

While the aftermath of a natural disaster provides a dramatic example,  Securitas USA has a twenty year history of providing the petrochemical giant with reliable service combined with fine-tuned expertise.  Currently, Securitas provides about 3,500 hours of per week of coverage at Huntsman sites nationwide. 

“Contract security makes it easier to control your manpower; we are able to add and subtract employees as the needs arise.  It’s more difficult to add or lay off your own people,” notes Brown.  “It insulates us from certain security issues or conflicts of issues, and allows us to handle security work impartially.”

Core services include providing perimeter security to Huntsman’s plants, office buildings and laboratories through roving patrols and by manning entrances and gates.  “The qualified and certified officers are the first line of defense for all our assets,” notes Brown.  “The gates are our most vulnerable spot for entry; if the guards don’t allow any breaches in our perimeter, that’s a success.” 

Huntsman has also been able to take advantage of the breadth and depth of Securitas’ global network and rich history.  “We had an issue – a product stolen – in South America.  We called Securitas and they provided security on the ground there to assist in the investigation.”  Huntsman has also tapped Securitas’ expertise to provide a security evaluation of their Salt Lake City home office and to develop a back-up plan in the face of a potential work stoppage. 

Brown works closely with his on-site account manager to coordinate national – and when necessary, international - service and praises the responsiveness of his local management team.  “Securitas’ rates are very competitive and their service is beyond compare, but what makes Securitas different is their reaction time.  When I have a need, I can pick up the phone and get action started right away.  That’s a great comfort feeling and you can’t put a price on it.”

Huntsman does still go out for bids from other security contractors, but Securitas’ performance under pressure has created a new litmus test.  Now, Brown always asks: “If we ever had a hurricane, could you supply self-sustaining manpower at a moment’s notice?”

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