Site security specialist: “CCTV regulations cannot be flaunted”

Construction sites across Britain harness the formidable power of CCTV to enhance safety and protect valuable equipment. SafeSite Facilities insists clients should choose a CCTV provider who can guide them through the complexities of compliance.

The potency of CCTV in the construction industry is beyond dispute. These surveillance systems effectively protect against theft and vandalism, safeguarding valuable equipment and materials.

They also function as reliable tools in monitoring project progression, ensuring adherence to health and safety regulations and providing vital evidence during disputes or incidents.

However, the usefulness of these surveillance systems notwithstanding, it’s essential that they operate within the remits of the law. All users of CCTV must abide by General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other necessary CCTV compliance regulations.

Understanding GDPR and compliance

The GDPR, implemented in 2018, has revolutionised how organisations handle personal data, necessitating businesses, construction firms included, to reassess their data collection, storage and usage policies.

Under this regulatory framework, data identifying individuals, such as CCTV footage, is deemed personal data. Its use must be justifiable under one of the six lawful bases stipulated by the regulation – consent, contract, legal obligation, vital interests, public task and legitimate interests.

Ensuring robust compliance

Construction site security companies must do everything to help the police if camera footage is requested through investigation or prosecution.

Adhering to the guidelines set out in GDPR and the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, SafeSite Facilities ensure any request from the authorities for CCTV footage is handled lawfully and appropriately.

SafeSite’s systems are designed with interoperability, ensuring that any digital images or relevant information provided can be seamlessly exported, stored and analysed by the police without compromising forensic integrity.

The preservation of the quality of the original recording, including all the associated metadata, is paramount in these circumstances.

The company operates its CCTV systems primarily under the ‘legitimate interests’ basis. This lawful basis allows the usage of personal data in ways individuals would reasonably expect and that have minimal privacy impacts, such as ensuring the security of a construction site and the safety of its personnel.

Transparency is a cornerstone of GDPR. In alignment with this, SafeSite Facilities installs conspicuous signage at their sites, denoting the presence of CCTV and offering the necessary contact details for individuals who may wish to discuss the surveillance system.

This commitment to transparency adheres to the ‘fair processing’ requirements of the GDPR.

All CCTV footage under SafeSite Facilities’ purview is securely stored on-site in an industry-standard container and is accessible solely by authorised personnel.

This practice adheres to Article 32 of the GDPR, which mandates organisations to implement technical and organisational measures that ensure security appropriate to the risk.

The GDPR bestows individuals with rights concerning their data, including the right to access, rectify, erase and restrict data processing. SafeSite Facilities has robust procedures to facilitate such access requests while ensuring the requestor’s identity is authenticated to prevent unauthorised access.

Article 35 of the GDPR necessitates a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for processing that could result in a high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms.

SafeSite Facilities conducts a DPIA to evaluate the necessity and proportionality of processing, thus helping manage the risks to individuals’ data rights. This process is integral to their operations before deploying any CCTV system and they ensure their clients are thoroughly guided through it.

Non-compliance with the GDPR can lead to severe financial penalties and irreparable harm to a company’s reputation. SafeSite Facilities is acutely aware of this, hence its unfailing commitment to ensure full compliance at every operational level.

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