On 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect in the EU and across the United Kingdom.
Even though it may seem like the GDPR would not directly impact the manufacturing industry—it will. Unfortunately, 64 per cent of manufacturers are unaware of the new data protection rules being introduced by the GDPR, according to a YouGov survey.
- The GDPR will apply to the manufacturing industry in the following ways:
- Processing data: You must secure all personal data—such as contact details, bank account information and National Insurance numbers—for customers, suppliers, subcontractors and employees.
- Obtaining consent: Collecting personal information—even something as common as holding employee contact details on file—will require you to obtain consent.
- The right to be forgotten: Individuals can request the deletion or removal of personal data, and request to review any and all data that an organisation has on them.
If your firm is found non-compliant, you could face significant and debilitating fines. In fact, 18 per cent of manufacturing firms have admitted that the maximum fine of €20 million would force them out of business. However, it’s not too late to begin preparing for the GDPR.
For more information on how your firm can adapt to the GDPR, review the official guidance released by the Information Commissioner’s Office, which can be found by clicking here.
Don’t Make These Fire Safety Mistakes:
- Fires are costly, deadly incidents. To help ensure you can prevent one, avoid the following five common fire safety mistakes in the manufacturing sector:
- Ignoring two of the three points in the fire triangle. A fire needs fuel, an ignition source and oxygen. In general, manufacturers have an ample supply of potential fuel, such as combustible materials and chemicals.
- Overlooking the building’s materials. Be aware of the materials used in the construction of your building, as some may be flammable.
- Not updating your fire risk assessments and policies when there’s change. As your building and manufacturing processes change, so should your fire risk assessments.
- Installing inappropriate fire detectors. Install ultraviolet or infrared smoke detectors, which are more sensitive and are not triggered by particles, unlike standard smoke alarms.
- Having an uncoordinated fire response. The most common shortcoming of fire responses is a lack of organisation concerning fire marshals.