- It is important to ensure that your workers, customers, and visitors are kept safe when visiting your sites. It is also important to ensure that you review the security for money held on site and the containers that you keep on site.
The risk of cash-related incidents increases when:
- There are inadequate barriers or security to prevent unlawful access to cash.
- A person is working alone e.g., in a service station or walking to the bank.
- The worker handling cash is not visible to people outside the workplace e.g., windows are blocked with posters or shelves.
- The worker handling cash cannot see other people in the workplace.
- A person can enter the workplace undetected.
- A site is being opened or closed.
- It is dark.
To manage the risks associated with handling and transporting cash a systematic process is to be followed. This includes:
- Identifying hazards — find out what could cause harm when handling or transporting cash.
- Assessing risks if necessary — understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the hazard, how serious the harm could be, and the likelihood of it happening.
- Controlling risks — implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
- Reviewing control measures to ensure they are working as planned.
Review areas that address:
- Training workers in procedures to manage cash.
- Creating site-specific protocols that protect workers.
- Preventing theft from internal sources. Ensure that workers:
- Are suitable for the position.
- Understand the processes that must be followed.
- Know how the business is managing security on site.
- The handling of cash.
- Security focused cash handling procedures aim to make cash less visible and less accessible during handling and storage.
- The transporting of cash.
- Managing emergencies such as hold-ups.