October 19, 2010
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Question:
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Ken
We’ve recently installed about 30 surveillance cameras throughout a hospital. After they were installed was when the questions started to arise…
Who should man the cameras?
Are they responsible to man the cameras?
If they are manning the cameras and they miss an incident in the parking lot or waiting room, are they liable?
What could they do to make it so they’re not liable in a situation like this?
Thanks,
DR
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Answer:
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Wow. What a half ass plan. How can a subscriber install 30 cameras without giving thought regarding how those cameras are going to be used.
After the fact property surveillance does not require manned cameras. The local DVR [or the central station if the central station is receiving the data for storage] records and after an event the cameras can be viewed. With this plan the cameras may act as a deterrent, but there will be no response to an event while in progress.
On site security personnel can also view cameras and may be in a position to intervene or call police for assistance. This service will lead to a certain amount of expectation of security among those on the premises, and, having taken it upon itself to provide the camera service, the owner or operator will be exposed to liability if it fails to act reasonably. What is reasonable and what is expected will depend on case by case basis. A guard stationed to view the video may be prohibited from leaving his post and required to call 911 police. Other guards may be required to dispatch other private duty guards or personnel, and some guards may be required to leave their post and intervene in the event. What may be "required" will be a matter of contract or undertaking, as well as developed practice and the reasonably perceived perception of the public lawfully on the premises.
Central station video monitoring would be expected to dispatch police if an event was viewed. Failure to act reasonably will be cause for liability, which proper contracts can limit or eliminate.
Hospitals often have on site personnel monitor cameras. Response policies may differ. Most guards are not trained or paid enough to be expected to intervene in an actual crime while in progress. What is expected of them will also depend upon the public's perception. If you have guards outfitted in tactical gear, carrying weapons and wearing vests, they would be expected to intervene. A less intimidating guard would not be expected to intervene in a dangerous event.
It's hard to believe that this hospital invested in 30 cameras and didn't give any thought to how they were to be used. No one asked you? Part of your sales pitch should have been to arrange for central station video monitoring; that's where you get the most bucks.
Get your CCTV contracts here: www.alarmcontracts.com
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comment re subcontracting fire work - contract considerations
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to all
Also setup some payment plan. Don't let "national company" owe you money claiming "they're good for". One day they change the name and won't pay their debts. I wouldn't be telling you this if it didn't already happen. It won't be worth to you to waste time trying to collect few hundred dollars from company which no longer exists and they walk away with hundreds of thousands by not paying subcontractors and vendors. Not bad for simple name change.
Dusan (name may change without prior notice;-)