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Be Secure for America
The Fertilizer
Institute, along with Agricultural Retailers Association, Association of
American Plant Food Control Officials and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms, is promoting the Be Secure Program in an effort to keep fertilizer
products and agricultural Crop Protection Products from falling in to the hands of the wrong
people. The “Be Aware for
America” campaign, launched in 1997, was developed to make fertilizer
distributors and dealers aware of the need to protect their product.
This new campaign addresses ways to not only screen potential buyers, but
also emphasizes safe storage and distribution of ammonium nitrate and
agricultural Crop Protection Products.
“Be Secure for
America” encourages us to evaluate facility security and reduce vulnerability
to theft be assessing the following areas:
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Perimeter Security |
Inspect
your security (i.e. fencing/access gates) frequently to determine if
they are in need of repair or if the fencing has been compromised as a
result of forcible entry. Take
appropriate action. |
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Locks |
Limit
the access to your storage areas and know who has the keys.
Ensure locks are tamper-resistant and are in working condition.
Case hardened locks and chains are recommended. |
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Electrical Systems |
Ensure
that security lighting and emergency security systems are in working
condition. |
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Emergency Response |
Make
sure fire department and local law enforcement agencies are familiar
with your operation so that they can respond more effectively in the
event of a fire. |
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Emergency Contacts
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At
your facility entrance, post names and phone numbers of emergency
personnel so that the information will be readily accessible in the
event of an emergency or to report suspicious activities. |
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Inventory |
Periodically
inventory the quantity of product you have on hand in order to recognize
more quickly if a theft has occurred. |
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Containers |
Secure
your rail, truck, and barge containers with cable seal locks when stored
at your location. |
“BE SECURE…
BUT CONTINUE TO BE AWARE…”
Look
for these signs that something may be amiss:
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Stranger |
Unfamiliar
to area or to you. |
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Doesn’t know much about farming/fertilizer |
Doesn’t
answer questions about acreage, crops, soil composition, etc. in a
specific, knowledgeable way. |
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Insistent about ammonium nitrate |
Will
not consider other products you recommend, is only interested in
ammonium nitrate. |
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Doesn’t want product delivered |
Insists
on taking product now. Asks
for it in bags, not bulk. |
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Hesitates/hedges when asked for information |
Name,
address, signature, photo ID, etc. |
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Acts nervous |
Avoids
eye contact. Seems jittery, uneasy, vague. |
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Pays in cash |
Won’t
write a check or use credit. Has
no credit account with you or other ag businesses in the area. |
MAKE
THE RIGHT CALL WHEN SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OCCURS
Call
1-800-800-3855
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