Security measures - employers’ duties

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 obliges employers to provide a safe environment for staff and visitors. Whilst the police and other agencies may offer advice, the responsibility to seek that advice and act upon it lies with the employer.

The Director General of the Security Service, Eliza Manningham- Buller, commented that, "A narrow definition of corporate security including the threats of crime and fraud should be widened to include terrorism and the threat of electronic attack."

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to develop procedures to deal appropriately with serious and imminent danger, and to nominate sufficient numbers of competent persons to activate those procedures. Employers should consider all potential dangers, e.g. fire, public disorder etc. this should therefore include terrorism, bomb threats and electronic attack, such as computer viruses.