Contact Details
Capital Security Alarms Ltd
Unit 2 Thurrock Enterprise Centre
Maidstone Road
Grays
Essex
RM17 6NF
Telephone No
0870 141 7457
Fax No
0870 141 7458
ARE MY STAFF AT RISK AS KEY HOLDERS?
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THE LONE WORKER RISK
It has been common practive for school staff, whether administrative or site staff to act as keyholders for the intruder alarm system. If the alarm system activates they are required to attend the premises to allow entry to the police.
With the way in which the Police respond to intruder alarms changing, so they will respond only if more than one detector has activated (a 'confirmed' alarm), keyholders could potentially find themselves in hazardous situations without the Police attending.
Employers must ask themselves whether it is reasonable to ask staff to attend alarm activations late at night or at the weekends. Is acting as a keyholder in their contracts? Have they been trained? Have you fully demonstrated that everything has been done to look after them at these vulnerable times? Ofter in can be inconvenient and sometimes even dangerous.
The regulations governing Lone Workers are ever changing, but the underpinning policy is contained in The Health and Safety at Work Acr, 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, 1999. These state that:
"It is the employer's duty to assess risks to lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risk where necessary." (Working Alone in Safety: HSE)
The government has produced a leaflet on good practice, titled "WORKING ALONE IN SAFETY", document INDG73. You can download a copy here.
CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER ACT
For more severe incidents, on the 6 April 2008, The Corporate Manslaughter Act (CMA) came into force throughout the United Kingdom. The new offence was created to provide a means of accountability for very serious management failings across an organisation.This is an opportunity for employers to think again about how risks are managed. The offence does not require organisations to comply with new regulatory standards, but organisations should ensure they are taking proper steps to meet current legal duties. The Act will mean that those who disregard the safety of others at work, with fatal consequences, are more vulnerable to very serious criminal charges.
The new offence is intended to work in conjuction with other forms of accountability such as gross negligent manslaughter for individuals and other health and safety legislation.
The full text of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is available on the Office of Public Sector Information webiste: www.opsi.gov.uk
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
A Lone Worker Risk Assessment should be carried out - an example can be downloaded here - and the risks removed or mitigated.
Lone Worker guidelines are focussed on personal safety, so circumstances will vary from school to school. Possible ways of mitigating risks may be to have two keyholders attend together, although this may not be practical. As a minimum, some form of telephone contact could be made before entering the site and periodically until the site has been re-secured, but again this relies on another individual being available.
The risk to your employees can be removed completely by using a professional keyholding service. They will hold keys and respond to alarm activations on your behalf, liasing with your alarm company or emergency boarding-up service as agreed with you in advance.
Please contact us for more information or to discuss your requirements
