Employers have responsibilities for the health and safety of their employees. They are also responsible for any visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public.
As a company you need to ensure that visitors and contractors are aware of your Health and Safety procedures and that every visitor to your company is aware of the correct procedure in the event of an emergency. An employer has a ‘duty of care’ to look after, as far as possible, employees health, safety and welfare while at work and this includes all visitors.
Here are 7 key reasons why you should maintain a visitor management system:
Information regarding who is visiting your site should be confidential. Using a visitor management system removes the possibility of visitor’s details being written down ad-hoc, causing a possible breach in data protection. By using a discreet sheet as part of a full visitor management system, the visitor’s identities can be protected. This discreet sheet prevents details of previous visitors being seen, offering a high level of confidentiality. It also heightens the level of security by preventing unwanted visitors using previous company or host names that could be visible on the signing in sheet.
Visitor systems require every visitor to sign in and out of the building, meaning you’re always aware of who is in your building. This visitor register can then be used as an up to date fire list in case of emergency/evacuation.
Communicating all relevant Health and Safety information to each and every visitor upon arrival can be challenging without the use of visitor management systems.
Health and Safety information is printed clearly on to visitor systems and badges (this can in most cases be personalised to your site), with instructions detailing company procedures and exits. This ensures that all visitors have the information to hand in event of an emergency should they be parted from their host.
A signature can also be incorporated on to visitor systems, ensuring Health and Safety guidelines are acknowledged by your visitors, stating that you have informed them of fire, accident and evacuation procedures.
Health and Safety information is printed clearly on to visitor systems and badges (this can in most cases be personalised to your site), with instructions detailing company procedures and exits. This ensures that all visitors have the information to hand in event of an emergency should they be parted from their host.
A signature can also be incorporated on to visitor systems, ensuring Health and Safety guidelines are acknowledged by your visitors, stating that you have informed them of fire, accident and evacuation procedures.
Providing a means of visitor control at reception ensures a safe workplace is provided for employees.
In the case of schools, to comply with the Department for Education (DfE) safeguarding legislation, all visitors and contractors must sign in and out of school buildings.
“Ofsted inspectors may take into account the extent to which the school: Takes reasonable steps to ensure that pupils are safe on the school site, for example by monitoring visitors or volunteers or those using the premises during school time”. (Ofsted – The evaluation schedule for schools, 2011).
In the case of schools, to comply with the Department for Education (DfE) safeguarding legislation, all visitors and contractors must sign in and out of school buildings.
“Ofsted inspectors may take into account the extent to which the school: Takes reasonable steps to ensure that pupils are safe on the school site, for example by monitoring visitors or volunteers or those using the premises during school time”. (Ofsted – The evaluation schedule for schools, 2011).
Can you provide a record of who is in your building?
This is a huge security concern if something should happen on your premises, as there would be no traceability of who was on site or who was responsible as a host that day.
By issuing visitor ID passes, it becomes easy at a glance to identify and validate every visitor to your building / site. Passes can also be used to control vehicles or identify temporary staff and contractors.
Providing an accurate audit trail is essential in the food industry to comply with the FSA. Although many food manufacturing sites put strict Health and Safety regulations in place for visitors and contractors, most fail to have an auditable trace of the signing in process, even with some of the most used traditional paper pass systems. By this, we mean having signed consent from the visitor that they have read the Health and Safety information, and a copy of every visitor’s answers to Health and Hygiene questions.
This is a huge security concern if something should happen on your premises, as there would be no traceability of who was on site or who was responsible as a host that day.
By issuing visitor ID passes, it becomes easy at a glance to identify and validate every visitor to your building / site. Passes can also be used to control vehicles or identify temporary staff and contractors.
Providing an accurate audit trail is essential in the food industry to comply with the FSA. Although many food manufacturing sites put strict Health and Safety regulations in place for visitors and contractors, most fail to have an auditable trace of the signing in process, even with some of the most used traditional paper pass systems. By this, we mean having signed consent from the visitor that they have read the Health and Safety information, and a copy of every visitor’s answers to Health and Hygiene questions.
Employers have a legal obligation to ensure all employees and contractors are aware and comply with current legislation. Ensuring the safety of everyone on your site can be a difficult situation. To help with the control of contractors, management systems can be used; from basic record keeping to permit to work issue and control.
Contractors themselves must comply with all relevant Health and Safety Law and Company’s Health and Safety rules, and have provided copies of current Public and Employees Liability insurance as well as a method statement on request. Implementing contractor management systems and permits to work in addition to basic visitor management systems will help with the effective control of contractors.
Contractors themselves must comply with all relevant Health and Safety Law and Company’s Health and Safety rules, and have provided copies of current Public and Employees Liability insurance as well as a method statement on request. Implementing contractor management systems and permits to work in addition to basic visitor management systems will help with the effective control of contractors.
Providing a positive and professional first impression to visitors is important, as it reflects the level of importance you place upon Health and Safety. Maintaining a branded visitor system is a great addition to this in those first few moments of signing in at reception, followed by clear identification passes to wear whilst on site; all helping to promote your brand and showing your commitment to the safety and well-being of employees and visitors.
Why Maintain a Visitor Management System?
Why Maintain a Visitor Management System?
How we can help
Here at Safetynet, we uniquely manufacture and develop specialist solutions in visitor management. So, whether you’re looking for paper or digital sign-in solutions, our team can help.
Take a look at the following links below to view to find out more about our specialist solutions.
Print Solutions
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Visitor Sign-In Systems |
Electronic Solutions
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