CCTV “increasingly deployed to support remote management of workplaces” during COVID restrictions

The study has also uncovered the fact that the primary reason for investing in CCTV systems in the workplace is to keep staff safe while they’re working. One clear finding is that CCTV systems are increasingly being used for a new purpose during the pandemic, specifically that of remote management.

Many businesses from manufacturers through to distribution centres have physical operations which need ongoing visual monitoring from wherever managers are based during the pandemic.

Frank Crouwel, managing director of NW Security, explained to Security Matters: “CCTV systems can provide the eyes and ears for managers working from home or elsewhere. CCTV can help them to make sure systems and processes are running smoothly, ensuring that staff are always working safely and with sufficient support.”

NW Security’s survey also asked managers at medium and large-sized firms whether they expect their existing surveillance systems to be able to support a safe return to the workplace for most employees in the light of COVID control measures. Over half (52%) of businesses felt CCTV could be used to provide another method of identification in support of some workplaces’ drive for contactless access to premises and buildings.

Further, 50% felt that CCTV systems ought to be able to help manage and enforce social distancing in the workplace. In addition, just under half (48%) thought CCTV ought to be usable to trace all people movements in and around the office and ensure that staff are following directional arrows around buildings and wearing face masks, for example.

Crouwel added: “Our study uncovers key areas where CCTV systems are being used to help businesses manage through the pandemic. Video surveillance systems are now supporting observance of COVID control measures associated with ‘back to the office’ pushes after lockdowns. CCTV is also enabling more effective remote management during ‘full’ lockdowns when most of us need to be operating from home and minimising travel.”

He concluded: “It seems that there’s a new realisation of the role of video in managing businesses. The increase in the use of CCTV as a remote management tool has been running in parallel with the exponential rise of video conferencing during the last seven months. The pandemic has forced us all to use these existing video technologies, and it has simultaneously accelerated the demands placed on CCTV systems by managers right across businesses.”