What Should Our Safety Team Actually Do? A Clear Role Breakdown

What Should Our Safety Team Actually Do? A Clear Role Breakdown

Having a “safety team” is a great start.
But if your team isn’t trained—and assigned real roles—they may freeze, overstep, or leave gaps when it matters most.

A team with no structure becomes a liability.
A structured team becomes a force multiplier.

Let’s break it down.

5 Core Roles Every Safety Team Should Cover

Depending on your space and size, one person may fill more than one role—but all 5 responsibilities should be covered:

1. Greeter / Access Control

• Welcomes attendees or visitors

• Monitors body language and behavior

• Keeps an eye on bags, clothing, and entrances

• Stays posted at the main door during services or events

Friendly. Observant. Often the first to identify trouble.

2. Communicator

• Has radio or phone access

• Connects team members quietly and quickly

• Contacts outside responders if needed

• May coordinate with staff or leadership during response

Calm under pressure. Knows what to say and when.

3. Responder / Intervention

• Trained to engage with disruptive individuals

• Uses de-escalation first, but ready to act

• Understands use of force and policy limits

• Moves with backup—not solo

Trained. Focused. Does not act without plan or support.

4. Observer / Monitor

• Watches cameras or oversees a wide zone

• Identifies brewing issues or perimeter problems

• Tracks movement of people during events

• Alerts other roles when something changes

Patient. Tech-capable. Keeps the big picture in mind.

5. Medical / Support

• Handles first aid or calls for EMS

• Supports evacuees, witnesses, or injured

• Guides people to exits during crisis

• Often includes trained medical or volunteer helpers

Grounded. Compassionate. Critical in real-world emergencies.

Why This Matters

Without structure, safety teams often:

• Cluster near leadership instead of covering the space

• Miss suspicious behavior because no one’s watching entrances

• Talk instead of communicate

• Act alone without a plan

• Create confusion instead of clarity

Your team doesn’t have to be tactical. They have to be trained.

How BHS Helps You Assign & Train Roles

We’ll help you:
-Map roles to your building
-Assign people based on strengths
-Run realistic scenarios for each role
-Create custom SOPs, cue cards, and radio lingo
-Train new volunteers without overwhelming them

When everyone knows their role, the whole team wins.

Want help setting up or improving your safety team?
Schedule a free walkthrough or consult today.