VALUABLE EQUIPMENT

Valuable equipment can be any item the loss of which would have a detrimental effect on the business.

Clearly the more vital a piece of equipment is to your business then the greater the precautions that should be taken to protect it.

When not in use, equipment should be stored in conditions that reflect the level of risk attached to it. The greater the risk the more secure the storage.

A member of staff should be charged with making regular inspections of this equipment, which should be recorded on an inventory list. This should also record the make, serial number and model number.

All valuable equipment should be property marked. Marking your property may not necessarily prevent it from being stolen but it may result in a speedy return should it be traced.

Often the true value of equipment only becomes evident after it has been stolen or damaged ie loss of man-hours, production etc. Therefore it is essential that the true value to the business is assessed so that appropriate measures can be taken to protect valuable items from theft or damage.

For instance computer disks and other storage media could carry a high financial penalty, even if the cost of replacement is relatively low. Such items should be stored in a container specially designed for magnetic storage media. Remember, many safes are unsuitable for storage of this kind because they only resist fire and not heat.

When leaving a safe that contains nothing valuable, or is empty, it is advisable to leave the door unlocked or open to exhibit that there is nothing worth stealing.

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