The healthcare market doesn't have much wiggle room when it comes to federal regulation. HIPAA (Heath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets forth the guidelines that healthcare facilities must abide by to protect patient data.  These guidelines are extremely important not only to the patients that the facility, but the facility itself.  Noncompliance to these guidelines can have serious consequences. 

Security technology can help to increase the protection of patient information and meet compliance regulatory rules.  For instance, in a pharmacy can utilize access control to know exactly who is in the pharmacy and for how long.  This control over this high risk area may prove very beneficial to the organization.  This access control combined with reliable video surveillance, brings  the accountability of the pharmacy to a new level giving video evidence that the persons accessing the area are indeed who their access control credentials say they are.  Some healthcare organizations have begun to utilize a similar strategy to the mobile pharmaceutical units, utilizing new technologies to accomplish the increased accountability on the move.

An area of the hospital that presents a challenges is the emergency department.  Well positioned semi-visible cameras  will not only serve as a deterrent but also as an observation method to be leveraged by your on site security staff.  This way, they may be able to identify a threat as it happens, which will allow them to engage the situation before it gets out of control.  Complimenting the video surveillance with access control for the emergency department allows you to create safe zones between your staff and the visitors that are dealing with high emotional levels, which will help prevent situations before they have the change to occur. 

Lastly, Labor and delivery is another highly sensitive area in hospitals.  Many facilities may be using an infant abduction system, which is a huge step in the right direction.  The combination of an infant abduction sytem with an access control system could bring a much more powerful security solution to the area, then any one system alone could provide.  An alarm of the infant abduction system would initiate the access control system to put the entire floor into lock down and restrict moment out of the area..  This proactive method would decrease the chance of an abductor from evening making it off of the floor.  To bring the solution even a step further the access control / infant abduction system can be combined with  video surveillance to provide video evidence. Security cameras could be placed at the access and egress points would allow the L&D staff, along with the security staff see whenever someone tries badging into the area without proper access which could prevent a situation before it even happens. 

S&T Solutions will begin to work with you during the assessment phase of your security program and work with you to design a program that fits your needs and budget.  We will then install the necessary technology to help you accomplish this.  Although we won't stop there, we will work with you to establish some communication and training that will be integral to creating the security culture to make your program complete.  Give us a call for your free assessment today! 

Most businesses that use video surveillance are well aware of the key benefits of the technology: crime deterrence and detection, an overall higher level of security, and often a return on investment (ROI), thanks to reduced theft or vandalism. However, these systems offer several additional benefits that many may not know about.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at five lesser-known benefits of video surveillance that you might not have considered:

1. Reduced liability

Video surveillance provides powerful evidence in case your company finds itself involved in any number of legal problems. This might involve consumer slip-and-fall claims, workers’ compensation cases, criminal investigations, and more. And thanks to this reduced liability, many of your clients might see a decrease in their insurance premiums—which is helpful for achieving an ROI.


2. Improved productivity

Businesses in retail, hospitality, and similar fields, adding video surveillance might also have a positive impact on their employees’ work ethic. When cameras are added to a workplace, there is usually a marked difference in employee behavior.

Many organizations find that surveillance is one of the best ways to ensure that workers are following the dress code, providing a high level of customer service, and adhering to overall company policy. This is true even if the video feed isn’t necessarily monitored; the mere presence of cameras encourages employees to be on their best behavior.


3. Enhanced employee training

Surveillance can be a powerful tool for showing employees what to do—and what not to do—to be successful at an organization. In many companies, human resources and management use video surveillance footage as a tool to train employees on the various tasks involved in their job. While this is particularly useful for positions within a security department, it can also help train workers in customer service, equipment use, sales, and other areas.

4. Less workplace violence

Workplace violence is a significant issue in the United States and throughout the world. In fact, nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year according to OSHA, and experts believe the number of unreported incidents is even higher. These events range all the way from minor scuffles between coworkers to violent, disgruntled employees who set out to harm multiple people.

Video surveillance is a powerful tool in combating workplace violence. Not only does the presence of cameras help deter violent activity, but surveillance also provides evidence of such incidents, which can help with investigation and prosecution.

5. Less harassment

Harassment comes in many forms, but it usually refers to any unwelcome behavior that is based on a person’s race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, appearance, or sexual preference. Of course, this type of behavior is incredibly disruptive to any workplace, and organizations of all kinds must keep an eye out to maintain a positive, respectful environment.

This is yet another way in which video surveillance is helpful. Security officers or management can regularly check in on their employees—even those located in another office or store—to ensure that company policy regarding harassment is being followed by all. Should an employee file a harassment claim, the video footage can, once again, prove helpful for investigating and punishing the behavior.


S&T Solutions will begin to work with you during the assessment phase of your security program and will work to design a program that fits your needs and budget. We will then install the necessary technology to help you accomplish your unique goals. We won't stop there. In addition, as we will work with you to establish communication and training that will be integral to creating a security culture to make your program complete. Give us a call today!

Security cameras and surveillance can help companies save on their business insurance costs, particularly in businesses that serve the general public.   A strategic security plan can help prevent fraudulent or bogus claims by individuals who allege slip and fall accidents by providing evidence to be considered on your behalf.  As most do, you may under appreciate the risk that this can cause your business, but is as real of a threat of loss as shoplifting or vandalism. 

In fact, the Coalition against Insurance Fraud found that fake slip and fall setups in retail stores alone, cost nearly $30 billion each year. If consumers are filing false slip and fall scams or alleging that items fell on them causing injury, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars in claims against a company’s general liability insurance policy. In some states awards can even reach upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars!  In order to save on insurance costs, many companies are using surveillance cameras and video recorders as preventative methods to stop fraud and fake injuries.  With a video recording of the incident, you have a fighting chance to prevent the fraudulent claim.  With little to no evidence to support your case, it is likely you will have to pay.

In addition, savings can also be granted by the insurance company itself in the form of discounted rates. Many companies offer liability insurance discounts for security and theft prevention devices. In the long run, security prevention measures are much less expensive than lawsuits or claims. By having S&T Solutions provide you a free security assessment, we can evaluate your company’s risk and provide you a comprehensive strategy on how to prevent your business from becoming a victim of the ever growing crime of insurance fraud.
As you can see using security surveillance can protect your business beyond the obvious inventory shrinkage issues it is most well known for.   Contact your insurance broker or agent to learn more about the effects of installing security for your business premises to determine whether additional discounts are available with your present carrier.

In this world of get rich quick schemes, some people are willing to do whatever they can to not have to work for their money.  Luckily as a business owner you can protect yourself with a security surveillance system from Security & Technology Solutions.  Give us a call for a free consultation today. 

Do you currently have a CCTV (closed circuit television) system at your place of business?  If so, please take a few minutes to review the tips below to assess your system.  You may realize you have some unexpected challenges that you may have never realized until it was to late.

• Too often the local PD comes in after an incident to learn that the quality of the video does not allow them to get a good description.  To be proactive, review your CCTV recordings and see if you can make out the facial features of a customer.  Do this review in the different lighting situations that would be applicable to your business environment.  Zooming in digitally will help with this process if your system has that capability.  Did you realize your cameras won’t help in catching the bad guy, then S&T Solutions can help you.
  
• The integrity of your video is essential.  Check your cameras for cords that are within a normal reach, these make it easy for someone to disable your camera.  Your main recording device should be in a restricted area or a locked cabinet, as someone can comprise your whole system by simply unplugging your recorder.  Cameras can stop working or get dirty as well making your recording unusable.  Routine inspections of your video feed to ensure they are in good, clean working order is a great habit to create.  Our preventative maintenance care packages are perfect for helping to keep your cameras clean and in good working order.
  
• The video management software is the next vulnerability, who has access to the camera feeds and where can they access them?  Have you changed the default passwords to your system? Do you remove access of the employees that no longer work there?  Do you require certain strength passwords to be used?
  
• You can find in a previous blog about the different camera types, often times in retail you’re looking to accomplish a level of deterrence with the camera.  So utilizing an overt camera in a highly visible location can be a very good idea.  As a matter of fact, I recommend taking that one step further and placing an overt camera at your main entrance and placing a monitor for viewing next to it.  This way, as everyone enters your store, they realize you have a system already in place.
  

S&T Solutions will begin to work with you during the assessment phase of your security program and work with you to design a program that fits your needs and budget.  We will then install the necessary technology to help you accomplish this.  Although we won't stop there, we will work with you to establish communication and training that will be integral to creating the security culture to make your program complete.  Give us a call today!

When it comes to preventing inventory shrinkage within your business, employing effective strategies is an absolute must.  In the United States alone retailers lose approximately $35 Million dollars worth of goods daily, which adds up to be about $13 Billion a year. This is due to the fact that there are around 27 million shoplifters currently in the US.  This equates to 1 out of every 11 people that enter your business being a shoplifter.  With that being said only 10 million were caught in the last 5 years.   Being mindful of the risk, and taking steps to reduce your exposure can save your business a considerable amount of lost revenue.  Below are some tips on how you can reduce your risk, and keep more of the money your business earns. 

Retail Shrinkage Reduction Strategies

• Greeting your customers – when your employees are engaging your customers this is a great way to cause a potential shoplifter to move on to the next location.  The engagement should start as the customer enters the store with a warm greeting.  Creating a culture of high customer engagement with teammates working the floor or anytime a customer is passed.  These interactions need to be positive, such as offering assistance, as this will also breed good customer service while discouraging potential shoplifters.  As a store owner or manager, you can utilize your CCTV system to assist with ensuring compliance.
• Tighten the reigns on your registers – Each employee should have their own register during a shift.  When multiple people have access to the same register, you’ve lost the integrity of knowing who caused your problem.  Problems should be considered both shortages and overages at the conclusion of the shift.  While the causes of a shortage are obvious, the cause of an overage could have been an intentional short change to a customer that the employee never had a chance to remove from register.
• CCTV – In today’s environment, having a reliable camera system is an absolute must.  Take a couple minutes to read our blog post about CCTV.  Well placed cameras will allow you to do reviews of the transactions for each register.  It is beneficial to have the employee on camera as well as register and scanning device.  It is also important to have your customers on camera while at the register.  This will allow you to identify repeat customers’ transactions that are cause for concern and may also allow you to realize that a friend of the cashier happens to come into the store every time the drawer is short.
• Training – This may be a surprising category but studies show that a significant amount of loss comes from a lack of or improper training.  Recurring training and testing will also prove to be beneficial with keeping your team sharp and reminding them how to handle tasks that might not happen regularly.

 
 Whether you’re looking for help building a culture of security awareness, assessing your CCTV system or ensuring your team stays tack sharp; S&T Solutions is ready to help you.  Give us a call today to begin discussing how you can lessen your pain of a shrinking bottom line.

When developing your security program, it is imperative to understand exactly what risk you are expecting to reduce, and utilize the best strategy to accomplish your goal.  Will the program serve as a deterrent, a means of observation, or a combination of the two?  Security surveillance systems utilize three categories of cameras, with each being utilized for different expected outcomes.  The three types of cameras are overt, semi-covert and covert cameras.  A description, and best use of each style of is listed below.
 

1.) Overt Cameras:  An overt camera is meant to be extremely visible.  Overt cameras are intentionally designed to be visible to the public and for the most part, one can easily detect what is being recorded by the direction of the camera.  This style of camera is more commonly used on outside perimeter areas to show that the areas around and inside the building(s) are being recorded and or monitored.  

2.) Semi-Covert: Semi-covert cameras have become increasingly more common. These cameras have a dome-shaped covering that prevents the public from identifying the direction the camera is facing. For crime prevention efforts, this type of camera is more effective for deterrence purposes because would-be offenders are unable to determine whether they are being recorded.  Therefore they may refrain from criminal activity due to fear of apprehension.

3.) Covert: These cameras are hidden for security reasons and used primarily for observation rather than to achieve a deterrent effect. There are a many different approaches these cameras can be hidden, to give you the ability to observe discreetly.  

Many retail stores have taken the overt camera strategy up a notch, by displaying a video monitor with a large sign stating that your actions are being recorded.  When a person knows that they are being recorded, the likelihood of criminal behavior drops significantly.  They understand that the likelihood of being caught committing a crime is drastically increased, and the evidence used in a prosecution is guaranteed.  This provides an instant deterrent, and is a useful strategy in crime prevention.

In contrast, if the goal of your program is to “catch a criminal in the act”, then obviously a very visible strategy may not be the correct method.  A covert camera may be used to observe the behavior of an employee, to investigate inventory shrinkage or to better understand their actions when they are not actively being supervised.  This approach gives more insight then an overt camera strategy would.

Even with the vast security product options available on the market, the process of understanding your desired outcomes, and how best to accomplish them, remains an imperative step in designing any risk mitigation program.