How do you define Key Holders responsibilities?

In the year to 31 March 2016, there has been a 300 per cent increase in the number of company directors prosecuted for health and safety offences.

Naturally, this means that all businesses, small or large should review their Key Holder and Alarm Response practices to ensure they are protecting their employees in the best possible way.

Brian Curran, managing director at KeyPlus in Burnley, commented: “We find a common practice amongst businesses, particularly retailers, that a Key Holders responsibilities are automatically placed on the store manager. In many cases, this is based purely on the fact they are paid more than their colleagues, but does this really reflect the dangers and inconvenience they are subjected to as a property key holder?”

Brian provided a common example of Key holder call-outs. “Can you imagine being called out in the middle of the night to a triggered alarm at empty premises? Walking around the outside of a building in the dark can be unnerving in itself but to then have to enter a building with no knowledge of what may or may not be happening inside is not a pleasant prospect."

This brings your responsibility of protecting your employees health and safety in to serious consideration. Whilst training can be provided, it is very easy for someone to forget the basics during an unscheduled and broken nights sleep. There are also practical and basic hazards to consider such as the vulnerability of a lone worker and increased risk of slips, trips and accidents in and around the building.

There are many options available. You can appoint an SIA Approved Key Holding company to either manage the key holding and alarm response service for you, or continue to use a trained member of staff and instruct the Key Holding company to assist and accompany them in the event of a triggered alarm.

With an increase in the number of company directors prosecuted for health and safety offences and the moral question of putting your employees in danger, is it really worth you taking the risk and responsibility.