It can be incredibly frustrating and stressful to be locked out of your office, especially if you’re in the middle of a busy workday.
Twenty-Four Hours Locksmith and Door Services are here to help. We provide 24/7 emergency lockout services for businesses and offices in the Baltimore area.
Our experienced locksmiths are available any time, day or night, to help you get back into your office quickly and safely.
How lockouts happen
Lockouts are most often caused by lost or stolen keys, lock malfunctions, lock picking, and lock bumping. Sometimes you can lock yourself out of your office accidentally when you’re in a hurry.
Of course, lockout problems don’t just occur at work – they can also happen in homes too!
10 Tips on How to Handle an Office Lockout
When lockouts happen, here’s what to do:
1. Stay calm and collected
It’s important that lockouts are dealt with in a timely, clear-headed manner so it’s best not to rush into the situation flustered.
Remaining calm will help you think straight, especially if you’ve never been locked out of your office before so don’t be shy about asking for help.
Find someone nearby who can come over quickly to open up the door for you if need be!
If the lock is already broken then your business might have more serious concerns than just being able to lock up at night. You should call a professional locksmith immediately because even lock changes require expert training and experience.
2. Don’t break your lock or force it open
No matter how much you desperately want to get back inside your office, don’t try to break the lock.
Some businesses even hire contractors who specialize in lock repair and replacement after lockouts.
3. Contact your locksmith immediately if lock picking or lock bumping is the problem
Don’t try to fix lock picking or lock bumping problems on your own – take advantage of professional lock picking and lock bumping solutions instead.
4. Make sure you are in direct contact with your office building’s owner when you call the locksmith
Your office might be locked down for a reason but it’s not always an illegal activity that causes lockouts to happen!
If this is the case then your business can feel frustrated about having to wait even longer for access once you let the police know what happened to get them involved, so make sure that whoever owns your premises knows what’s going on before letting any other people know.
The sooner you let your landlord know what’s going on, the faster they can get in touch with the owner of the lock and let them know what access is needed.
If you’re unable to reach your landlord then contact whoever manages all lock functions at that location – they will be able to help you lock up for the night.
5. After lockouts, send employees through security training
Lockouts are traumatic – they cause serious stress and frustration. But they can also provide an opportunity for you to help your employees develop the skills they need to prevent lock problems in the future.
These include knowing how often to change locks, which lock brands are most reliable, what lock features work best for your needs, etc.
Employees who have experienced lockouts themselves may be more motivated than others to learn about new practices that can lockout problems for good!
6. Check all locks after office lockouts
After office lockouts occur, go around and double-check that every lock has been properly secured (including window locks).
Remember that it’s possible that a key was made without you knowing, which means lockouts could happen again.
7. Create a security checklist
In addition to lock checks after lockouts, create a comprehensive office lockout security checklist that employees can refer to when lock problems happen.
The more prepared your business is for lock issues, the less likely they are to lock you out again!
8. Install new locks after office lockouts
After an office lockout happens, consider installing new locks (like digital keypads or biometric scanners) that make it easier to manage employee access and monitor lock activity for signs of tampering or lock malfunctions.
If your employees know how the system works – for instance, if they need to use two separate keys in order to lock up – then they will be less likely to lock themselves out.
9. Upgrade all locks if lockout problems continue after office lockouts
Office lockouts can be a sign that your lock needs an upgrade or replacement.
If you’ve taken steps to prevent lockouts but they keep happening, consider investing in high-security locks like Medeco cylinders and Mul-T-Lock clamshells.
10. Make sure employees know what lockout procedures exist
It’s possible that a key was made without anyone knowing, which means lockouts could happen again.
Make sure your employees know lockout procedures and safety precautions, including unique lock-related safety tips.
FAQs About Office Lockout Procedures
Where can I get lock service after lockouts?
You can find a lock service by calling a 24-hour lock technician. It’s important to have someone come out immediately to fix lock issues before they escalate into serious lockout problems!
What are the best lock brands for preventing office lockout?
While all high-security locks are designed to prevent lock picking and bumping, some brand names are known for using innovative lock designs that are especially resistant to picking and bumping attacks – including Abloy, Medeco, Schlage BiLock, EVVA MCS/Vickers Valiant (and similar), Mul-T-Lock (and similar), and Sargent & Greenleaf.
What lock features should I look for if lock problems continue?
When lock problems continue despite your best efforts, you might need to upgrade all standard lock features for your entire building with high-security lock features like Medeco cylinders and Mul-T-Lock clamshells.
Some offices use digital keypads and biometric scanners instead of keys or pins!
How do I teach employees how to prevent lockouts?
Teach them the importance of changing their locks when they move office space, keeping a master key to one location in case multiple people need access, checking locks after office lockouts to ensure they’ve been properly secured, and knowing lock-out procedures in your office.
Why should I lock out employees who keep losing keys?
Employees who lose their keys need training on how to lock up, including taking advantage of lockbox services or lockers at the office that can help them secure their personal set of keys away from work areas.
If they continue to lose key sets despite such measures, consider implementing a temporary “key vacation” policy where all employees must hand in their keys during lockouts.
Do lockouts happen a lot at night?
Yes, lockouts often happen at night after office hours. This is usually when lock thieves have the greatest chance of breaking into your building.
How do I prevent office lockout if we’ve had multiple incidents?
Make sure you make it as easy as possible for employees to lock up by giving them time to do so and making lockboxes available where they can secure their keys away from work areas during office hours.
Otherwise, you will need 24-hour emergency service to take care of any sudden lockouts.
Did You Know?
Most locks need rekeying after 3-5 years of use because keys wear down over time. Office employees losing their keys causes the most lockouts – so ensure they know office lockout procedures
Locked out of your office? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Office lockouts can happen to anyone, and when they do, it’s important to know who to call for help.
That’s where we come in – Twenty-Four Hours Locksmith and Door Services is here to provide you with the best locksmith services in town.
We understand that being locked out of your office can be a major inconvenience. That’s why we work quickly and efficiently to get you back into your office as soon as possible.
We also offer a wide range of services, so no matter what type of lockout you experience, we’ll be able to help.
