A Note From The Insurance Centers: Protecting your business is very important. Anything can happen and it can happen quickly. Using cameras or motion detectors can help protect your business and employees. Be sure to give us a call if you're looking for more information about business insurance!
Whether you’re running a small business or a large one, security is a must. Not only for protection against unwanted intruders, but for insurance purposes. Understanding the elements that go into a burglar alarm system and how to grade them can be an important part of underwriting a property-helping the company reduce both the frequency and severity of losses.
Burglar Alarm Systems
The most common systems are contact switches and motion detectors. Contact switches detect the opening of doors and windows. Building entrances and exits are the most vulnerable to burglars, so contact switches that detect the opening of a door or window are often used.
Motion detectors are used to alert activity throughout the premises. There are two common types of motion detectors: active and passive.
Active motion detectors are radar based. They send out a sound wave that reacts when there is a disturbance in the environment.
Passive detectors use infrared energy. They detect heat from people and animals and make the alert. They are popular due to their lower false alarm problem.
Motion detectors and contact switches can be connected to a sound alarm and cameras that turn on when a sensor alerts.
Cameras
Security cameras have been in use for many years and offer risk management and loss reduction. Before the loss, they can serve as a deterrent. Criminals tend to avoid locations with visible cameras, alarm systems, or lighting. During the loss, monitored cameras can alert law enforcement. After the loss, camera footage may facilitate the capture of those involved.
Cameras can also protect you from fraudulent slip and fall claims. The person intent on staging an injury may notice the cameras and go to another business that is not as protected. They can also be an effective way of disproving a fraudulent claim.
If there is workplace violence, cameras can aid in identifying the perpetrator. Workers compensation fraud can also be prevented by cameras being installed. Placing cameras by the cash register can also pick up irregular handling of monies by an employee.
Article and photo courtesy of MSO.