Reproduction is authorized, providing that appropriate mention is made of the source, and a copy sent to the UNESCO (Paris), address below. This document should be cited as:© UNESCO, 2006. Cultural Heritage Protection Handbook N°1. Security at Museums, UNESCO, Paris.
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1UNESCO
INTRODUCTION
- the following instructions are generally applicable in mostcircumstances.
- please note that the duties pictured here may be assignedto more than one guard.
- please remember that instructions issued by the Museumcurator or other person in authority have priority over the indications of this manual.
- always trust your best experience, judgement and skill tohandle unusual events or unforeseen circumstances.
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Museum protection duties never stop – thehandover from night duty to daytime dutyshould be carried out according to agreedprocedures, in an orderly and secure manner.
Duty starts about half an hour before opening to the public; all emergency exitsshould be free and the immediate exit areainspected to remove possible obstructions.
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Open or unlock all windows and doors thathave been secured at night.
Check that all important keys are present orproperly accounted for.
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Read any remarks written in the log-bookand take appropriate steps if any.
Switch off night intrusion detection paneland check regular operation of closed circuittelevision system, portable alarm transmit-ter, portable radio sets, public addressequipment, first aid kit and emergencyequipment.
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Check the quality of the recorded images byreplaying an accelerated video cassette ordigital recorder.
Check your block note, pen, portable lampand other personal equipment.
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If any artefacts are missing, check that theappropriate label, with duly authorizedsignature, is applied on site.
Inspect all artefacts on display and checkthat all are accounted for and secured.
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Look for artefacts accidentally moved or in adangerous position; do not touch artefacts.Ask a specialist to rectify the situation.
Ask a specialist to rectify the situation;artefacts should always be moved by skilledpeople wearing gloves and taking special precautions.
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Please remember that water and fire are thetwo greatest risks in a museum.
Look for possible water damage.
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Avoid large piles of flammable packingmaterials; inform supervisor and ask forthem to be removed.
Check location of all portable extinguishersand …
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... state of operation.
Check location and state of fire alarm buttons.
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Check electrical connection wires and reportany faulty or damaged wiring immediately.
Check the contents of all first aid kits instal-led in the exhibition rooms.
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Check that all internal phones are in workingorder.
Check the free field of vision of CCTV cameras.
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Monitor cleaning operations and occasionallycheck contents of trash bins.
Report any bulbs that have blown.
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Fix minor disruptions, if possible, or reportto appropriate service.
Check for any trash left on site and report toappropriate service .
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Carefully identify visiting scholars and thirdparties, before granting a visitor pass, to beconstantly displayed while on museum premises.
Closely monitor all loading and unloadingoperations.
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Monitor and, if necessary, prevent activities,in immediate museum surroundings, thatmay be a source of danger – if appropriate,call police for help.
Monitor the activities of conservators,graphic artists and so on; if necessary, temporarily restrict access to the exhibitionroom where work is being performed.
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If you use keys, giving access to showcasesor other critical containers, do not let anybody handle the key on your behalf, oreven see it.
Profile keys may be easily copied by makinga quick impression with wax or soap.
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Even the codes of high security double bitted keys, used on safes, may be capturedby a skilled observer.
Be ready to open museum doors at statedtime – it is an essential act of courtesy to visitors.
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Gently but firmly, ask visitors to leave at theentrance all personal items that can causedamage to objects or may be used to hideand take these away.
A museum is a temple of our culturalheritage - do not let unruly or improperlydressed visitors desecrate it.
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Be ready to help disabled visitors, givingassistance and directions – be careful not tobe distracted from your main duty which isto protect exhibits.
Keep an attentive eye on visitors during opening hours, to detect early signs ofpotential trouble or improper behaviour.
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Try to find a strategic observation point andmove often, constantly taking differentpaths and at different times.
It takes only seconds to damage a paintingwith a portable spray can, or…
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… to scratch a valuable portrait.
Prevent visitors from using flashes if photo-graphing is authorized – explain that exces-sive light may irreversibly damage delicateorganic-based colours and disturb othervisitors.
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Prevent visitors from using tripods, duringpicture-taking (if authorized) – the tripod mayinterfere with the free flow of visitors andslow down rapid exit, in case of emergency.
Do not let visitors touch artefacts of anykind – even metal can be damaged by corrosion from natural skin oils.
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Strictly enforce a no-smoking policy; fire is a major risk for artefacts displayed in a museum .
Gently yet firmly stop visitors from using exitswhich should be used only in emergencies.
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Do not allow visitors to bring food and bottles into the museum; bottles may breakand food may spill on museum floors.
Show visitors where they may eat and drink– check that trash is thrown in bins.
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If you notice a suspicious bag or package inthe museum …
… gently but firmly ask all visitors to leave,restrict access to the risk area and call forappropriate support.
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Young visitors are the future custodians ofour cultural heritage, but…
… contact the school master, give adviceand directions, discreetly monitor children’sbehaviour. If necessary, call for additionalsupport.
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Watch for children and visitors chewinggum; often the gum is found attached to the underside of artefacts.
Discreetly, but carefully, watch children’sbehaviour; the natural curiosity of childrenmay lead to artefacts being touched orscratched, with possible consequentialdamage.
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Please always remember that your primaryduty is to protect the museum collection; ifquestioned by a visitor, give answers onlyrelated to museum facilities and rules; youare a guard, not a tourist guide.
Keep an especially attentive eye on smallitems that can easily be removed, such asan antique vase cover, for instance, or …
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… the hands of a clock, or…
…a key and a keyhole cover.
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Be ever alert and attentive; if you need toleave your duty post for a moment, ask to bereplaced.
If no visitor is present, you may rest onappropriate collapsible chairs.
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Never rest on artefacts on show.
Be always ready to use the internal phone tocall for support.
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Be always ready to use a portable fire extinguisher.
If a visitor should have an accident, …
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…keep other people at a distance and callfor professional first aid.
When the paramedics arrive, interview witnesses and record all the relevant facts.
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At appointed time, gently yet firmly escortall visitors to the exit.
Strictly refrain from accepting gratuities ofany kind; if appropriate, propose a donationto support museum activities .
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Put all the museum exits under lock and key.
Lock all windows.
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Inspect all exhibition rooms.
Check all intrusion detector devices byobserving the blinking light reaction to yourmovements (if appropriate).
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Inspect all service rooms and toilets.
Check that all main keys are present or properly accounted for.
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Write any information about your day shiftin the logbook for the information of thenight guards.
Turn on the night intrusion detection controlpanel; check that all security equipment isworking properly.
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Perform night shift exchange of duties,according to relevant procedures.
If appropriate, carry out the night shift watchtour by checking the areas for inspection inthe sequence indicated here.
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Check the important areas once again asindicated in this handbook.
If there is a watch recorder, set to plannedschedule.
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