My plant upgraded all of the plant security a couple of years before I retired with new gates, fences, and turnstiles that we had to go through. We had to flash our chipped card ID in order to unlock the turnstiles. Anybody that showed up without their ID badge had to go through the guard by signing in. Nobody that wasn’t employed there was allowed through the gates. They had to go to the guard shack and the guard called a member of management. If it was OK for the visitor to enter a member of management had to come out and escort them.
When I retired after 36 years I was given a Gold Card that allows me to enter any plant in the country but I’ve been retired a year and still don’t have the inclination to visit. I might someday since my daughter works there and I do still have friends there.
I know I am biased because I am in the industry. But we really are at a time when we need more and better security. I like to hire retired guys. What they lack in brawn they make up for with good old common sense. A lot of times good common sense can talk an upset person down, stopping a tragedy.
I have seen my share of knuckleheads in security as well. But if they would pay better they could attract better.