Monitoring and security of staff

Staff security - your responsibilities as an employer

You are responsible for your employees' safety and security. Carry out a risk assessment and designate someone appropriate to put in place health and safety measures.

If you employ five staff or more, you'll need a written health and safety policy statement. See our guide on your responsibilities for health, safety and the environment .

Consider the following potential risks for your staff:

• working alone - have a policy that includes advice and precautionary measures
• handling cash - provide specialist training
• bank runs - consider training to prevent and deal with risky situations
• late-night working - restrict out-of-hours working or provide someone to escort
• getting home safely - provide personal safety training
• business travel - give advice and information including government advice
• mobile staff, eg drivers, sales representatives - give advice and provide mobile phones for them to keep in touch
• local safety issues - join community networks for advice on risks and safety measures
• access to commercially sensitive information - restrict access and advise on difficult situations

Good practice

Always report crimes to the police and get advice on crime prevention.

Address any concerns from employees (eg in relation to alcohol, drug or severe stress problems), customers or suppliers (eg in relation to bribery by or of your staff). If you suspect criminal activity is taking place, it could be legitimate to use covert monitoring if telling individuals about the monitoring would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. A good test of severity is whether the matter would justify police or other equivalent body involvement. There are some other circumstances in which covert monitoring may be justified. For more information, contact the Information Commissioner Helpline on Tel 01625 545 745.

If you employ security staff, they should have suitable training. Give security passes to your staff and train them to challenge unfamiliar visitors.

Encourage a general awareness of security and personal safety.

Checklist of security issues

• Highlight safety policies, eg for lone and late night workers, business travellers and cash handlers.
• Review your risk assessment and safety policies regularly.
• Train staff in safety.
• Promote a safety awareness culture.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Why you might monitor your staff and what monitoring includes
• When an employer is allowed to monitor staff
• Set up monitoring policies
• The right ways to monitor your staff
• The laws and penalties for improper monitoring
• Checklist of monitoring issues
• Staff security - your responsibilities as an employer

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