A 2015 survey by Employers® insurance found that 24% of small businesses had installed video surveillance systems to monitor employees in the workplace.
Is your business still on the fence about the value of a video surveillance system?
Here are 7 reasons why video surveillance in the workplace is a smart investment:
Reason 1: Surveillance video can be used to quickly investigate and respond to customer service issues.
In 2016, one of our distribution center clients was notified that an expected delivery to an important customer had not arrived on time. Management immediately used surveillance footage to investigate. The footage revealed the shipment had never left the warehouse–and also the reason why.
A few weeks later while on-site for a routine system check, we were told that the video surveillance system gave our client the ability to quickly resolve the problem and meet the customer’s needs (while also identifying the source of the problem) and that, alone, had paid for the company’s investment in the security camera system. Read more about this case study here.
Reason 2: Reduce the possibility of bogus workers compensation or personal injury claims.
The 2015 poll by Employers® insurance found that 13% of small business owners surveyed “are concerned that one of their employees would commit workers compensation fraud by faking an injury or illness in order to collect benefits.”
When CEC Entertainment, owner of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants installed security cameras in the company’s 510 company-owned restaurants in 2010-11 time frame, the number of fraudulent workers compensation and personal injury claims decreased significantly.
Reason 3: Review of surveillance footage during normal and problem operational situations can help management improve safety practices.
Better safety practices are good for every aspect of your business. Safe work practices are good for employees, in terms of health and morale. A well-managed business should welcome the opportunity to use video to improve safety practices, develop better workplace safety training and safety protocols, and improve operations.
Companies with good safety records almost always have lower insurance premiums compared to those with lots of claims. Lower premiums for workers compensation and lower premiums for general liability policies quickly add up.
Improved safety practices will also reduce possibility of OSHA fines.
Reason 4: Surveillance Video Can Speed Up Resolution of Injury Claims and Lawsuits When They Do Occur
When liability does exist, the video surveillance footage can speed up dispute resolution, insurance claims management and lead to settlement rather than protracted litigation.
While it’s true that video footage might be used against a business in a personal injury case, the ability to resolve disputes more expeditiously should reduce the amount you spend on attorneys fees.
Reason 5: Remote Monitoring Capabilities Allow Owners to Keep An Eye On Operations Without Being on the Premises
Small business owners often have more than physical location–or more than one business. Commercial property managers typically handle multiple properties at many locations.
IP-networked video surveillance systems allow for remote monitoring via smart phone, tablet or computer. Owners and managers can log in and proactively view operations in real-time.
The ability to monitor in real-time can be useful when an owner or higher-level manager needs to troubleshoot a problem, authorize a purchase, or even provide guidance to front-line supervisors during transaction or operational activity.
Reason 6: Video Monitoring Can Provide a “Light Duty” Assignment for Injured Worker
Many businesses in heavier industries—like trucking, materials recycling, mining, warehouse operations—don’t have light duty options for workers who have been injured but can return to work in some light-duty capacity.
One source suggests using surveillance system monitoring as a light-duty task for an injured worker who has been authorized to return to work with restrictions such that they can’t yet perform their normal tasks.
Getting injured workers back on the job quickly is a value-add to the employee and the company.
Reason 7: The mere presence of visible surveillance cameras can serve as a deterrent to theft and vandalism.
The initial reason many small business owners install surveillance systems is to detect or deter vandalism and theft. As the first 6 benefits show, crime prevention is no longer the sole benefit and may not bring the most value-add to your business.
This is installment 3 in our series on video surveillance in the workplace.
Article 1: Video Security to Reduce Workplace Injuries
Article 1: Video Security in the Workplace
Vulcan Security Systems is Alabama’s Value-Added Security Systems Service Provider and Consultant
