Discover how to drastically improve contractor safety on your premises with the help of digital tech!
If you are a business owner, manager or responsible in any way for the day-to-day running of commercial premises, you’ll be familiar with the concept of duty of care. Safety in the workplace is one of the most essential aspects of business operations, but unfortunately, it’s often overlooked when it comes to contractors. While outsourcing has become increasingly widespread in virtually every industry, the growth of this trend has not always been accompanied by a greater understanding of its safety implications.
As a business owner, you’re required to comply with legal requirements concerning contractor safety. This is not only important from a legal point of view, but compliance can also help build trust and reputation among customers. And although ensuring safety across the board may be a challenge, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that safety remains a top priority. Below you will find some practical suggestions on how to improve contractor safety in the workplace. In particular, we focus on how technology can efficiently help improve safety at your premises.
Access Control Technology
Access control systems are a smart way of safeguarding your premises, streamlining access procedures, and vetting contractors. These systems are especially useful in multi-location settings, like schools or businesses with different departments.
Access control technology is highly efficient, as it doesn’t require passwords, passcodes, or other types of credentials that may fall in the wrong hands or be forgotten – a very common risk where temporary contracts are involved. By contrast, photo ID badges printed on the spot and contactless access cards can help minimise productivity losses and security breaches.
An example of access control technology are RFID card-based sign-in systems. These smart cards are vastly superior to visitor books and other older systems. For instance, they have reporting capabilities and provide real-time information about who is in a building at any given time. This can help with anything from emergency evacuations to simply wanting to have a detailed understanding of how and when contractors use your premises. RFID devices can also facilitate contractor vetting by displaying a digital sign in questionnaires before granting access.
CCTV Systems
Although the idea of installing a CCTV system may seem outdated, surveillance technology has come a long way. Modern CCTV solutions offer a great range of advanced features that can help reinforce your overall contractor safety strategy. For example, CCTV systems that feature IP remote viewing allow you to view real-time footage from a remote device. Similarly, HD systems can be used to read vehicle license plates and identify contractors, and systems that feature pan-tilt-and-zoom technology assist in the monitoring of large areas (such as parking lots), while at the same time helping you save on human and technical resources.
Data Security
Using modern technology for security and surveillance purposes can have its drawbacks, especially where data protection is concerned. High-tech systems yield useful insights into contractor and visitor behaviour, but they also generate vast amounts of data, much of which is confidential. For example, some access control systems allow you to remotely access data via a browser or a mobile device, but this itself carries inherent data exposure risks unless robust measures are taken.
Moreover, and since May 2018, businesses are required to comply with strict General Data Protection Regulationsregarding how personal data is collected and stored. In many cases, this means businesses must upgrade their data security systems (such as visitor books) to prevent data leaks and privacy issues while still keeping your premises safe.
QR Codes
QR codes have become widely adopted among consumers all over the world, so it makes sense for businesses to consider how to incorporate them into their operations, taking advantage of their popularity and ease of use.
As it turns out, QR code technology lends itself well to complementing or being an alternative to traditional visitor management solutions. This technology is especially useful when granting contractor access, as their arrival time and visit duration are typically known in advance. Using QR code solutions can help you speed up the credentialing process, as you can enter contractor details in advance and use an online portal to pre-register them. QR “vetted” codes can also be sent to the contractor’s mobile device or email address so that on arrival, all they need to do is scan it on the reader. In other cases, QR code technology may be deployed as a self-service sign-in solution through the use of kiosks, therefore freeing up reception staff so they can focus on other tasks.
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As we have discussed in this blog post, contractor safety should be a paramount concern for managers or business owners in every industry. Safety risks are inherent to every business operation, but technology offers a way of mitigating them and helping make staff and contractors feel safe when they’re at your premises.
Surely, building a safety system to high standards and compliant with the relevant legal requirements can be complex. If you’re looking to design or upgrade your contractor safety systems and create a safer working environment for everyone involved, you’ll want to invest in professional solutions. Get in touch with VisiPoint to find out more about how technology can help you streamline the sign-in process at your premises and provide comprehensive safety for contractors, visitors, and staff alike.