All businesses are responsible for the security of property and information on the premises. Businesses are required by law to make the workplace, and the contents safe and secure for the employees and customers alike. The law also requires that any information that is held by the business about the employees and the customers is kept secure.
Property
Businesses must ensure that the workplace is a safe and secure place to be both as an employee and as a customer. Businesses have legal obligations to provide insurance in cases where the security and safety of their employees has been affected.
Employer’s liability (compulsory)
The law requires the all employers and self employed people to hold employer’s liability insurance. This will insure the employer against any claim that the made by employees for any injury, or illness caused during the course of their employment.
Public liability insurance
This insures the employer if a member of the public is injured on the premises.
Property and contents insurance
Insurance and mortgage companies also require adequate security measures are in place for the premises. These include, agreed specifications for external and internal security, ie locks alarms and established security procedures. Failure to comply with the insurance specifications will result in the voiding of policies.
CCTV Security systems
If CCTV is used for workplace security strict codes of practice must be followed. The use of CCTV has legal implications in relation to the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data Protection
Any business that holds personal details about their employees or their clients may be required to register with the Data Protection Registrar. This applies to paper based filing systems as well as computerised ones.
The business will be put on a public register of data and you will be required to follow a code of practice. You are obliged to:
Keep information secure
Only keep up to date and accurate information
Only keep relevant information
Show individual the information when asked to do so