How Do Access Control Systems Enhance Workplace Safety?

An employer’s primary duty is to safeguard its employees and to provide a safe and comfortable working environment. Employees are the principle assets of a business and therefore there needs to be robust procedures and controls in place to ensure their safety and security, and access control systems are a good example of a system which has many uses but is primarily in place to protect the employees of a business.

What is an access control system?

In order to protect the various assets of an organisation, the employer needs to guard against unauthorised entry. An access control system does this by providing a mechanism to check the credentials of someone seeking to enter the business premises, this is by issuing a means of entry to people deemed by the system to be authorised to enter. This means of entry can be decided by the business and will usually be something which suits the unique nature of the operations and is practical for all employees. So this could be a unique code or PIN number, a card or key fob, a biometric feature or a smartphone app.

The business can choose its own credentials for authorisation, and can appoint a systems administrator who can monitor the system remotely, analyse data produced by the system and restrict and remove access as necessary.

What are the safety benefits of an access control system to a business?

In addition to controlling security for an organisation, access control systems provide functionality that can provide widespread benefits to the business. Let’s now look at the main benefits of access control systems in terms of workplace safety:

Security – An access control system will restrict unauthorised entry based on a criteria set by the business itself. So this will help to protect employees from trespass, theft and physical attack, and also protects the business in terms of data breach. From a productivity point of view having a robust security system in place helps to provide peace of mind, boosts morale and helps employees focus on their primary duties.
Accidents – Access control systems are commonly used for 24/7 production facilities to enable operations to run overnight when there are minimal management resources on site. In this situation it is important to control security because there are less people on site, but also because unauthorised access can lead to accidents to people unfamiliar with the site, which becomes a major public liability issue.
Fire safety – One of the main functions of an access control system is to keep a digital record of who enters and exits the premises, and when. This helps from a compliance point of view in terms of having a record of who is on site at any one time. So if there is an emergency response situation, the system can be accessed to provide a real time record of who needs to be accounted for.
Emergency response – In addition to the benefit outlined above, an access control system also tells the business where people should be. This is particularly useful in a building which is separated into different zones, which may each have their own access control system which is linked to a central portal. At any one time the system can tell you where people are, so they can be accounted for in an emergency situation.
Security breaches – Using the access control system, management can respond to security breaches with visibility of exactly who has accessed the site and when. This helps with investigations and improving controls where necessary, and gives the business a comprehensive surveillance system.
Remote monitoring – A systems administrator can monitor the system remotely and can restrict or remove access as necessary, and with immediate effect, if a security breach has been identified.
Integration – Access control systems can be linked to other smart systems and safety systems, such as CCTV, security and fire alarms, ANPR and lighting systems. This all helps to reduce costs and provides added functionality, but also improves safety by giving the business much more visibility of its operations, and traceable data and footage to help with safety investigations.
Fast and convenient – When employees arrive on site, use of the access control system is fast and convenient. Usually this is a contactless system which enables employees to enter the building quickly and without delay.

Contact MB Direct for help in choosing the right access control system for your business

At MB Direct we can help you identify and address your safety and security needs and to match them with a targeted access control solution. The functionality of our access control system solutions can be tailored to suit your needs and give you the most robust access control system in terms of safety and security. So contact MB Direct today.