Data warning over accident books

Businesses have been warned to ensure that they are not breaking the Data Protection Act accidentally, by solicitors Eversheds.

There is an issue over Accident Books at work. Currently, when you make an entry into most existing accident books, you are able to view previous entries made in the book - allowing access to personal details and information. The Information Commissioner has ruled that this is an infringement of the Data Protection Act.

In order to overcome this issue the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched its new Accident Book. Nothing odd about that. But this one has been approved by the Information Commissioner... The new design, produced by the HSE, allows for accidents to be recorded, with personal details stored separately in a secure location.

The Information Commissioner has allowed a seven-month lead-in time for businesses to change their accident book to comply. This means that the new book, or another compliant version, must be in use by 31 December 2003.

More information on the new Accident book can be found at www.hsebooks.co.uk.

Data protection is, and will always be, an important consideration for business. "When looked at in conjunction with the recent investigations into websites by the Office of Fair Trading and the Disability Rights Commission, the production of the new accident book just goes to show how carefully the regulators are looking at compliance of business practices with the many requirements placed upon businesses," says Eversheds.