Technical Threats in Business Commwlities Cell Phone and PDSA Risks and Responsibilities By Michoel G. Fronk ond Perry R. Safron
Adv.inccd
throughout
t<'chno19gy
afle<•t t>1\1ployenwho expect employees to
has spn·ad
lmsiot·ss <·ornrnunities
lik<"
a hru$h fire. F.vt"rywhen" pt'opfe are conv(·r.sing on edl phones, scribbling on POAs and ,yping on notebook compuLcrs. l;mploycc:;; can work from aoywhel'e whilC" maintaining
Contact
with tht•it·
m,,in office ;)rul customer~. Improvements in technology have taken business("S lo
utlparalldc:<l level~ of efficiency, but, Jikc <1nybrush fire, if uncontrolled, can bring disastc·r.
Though th is :)rti<:I<'10<.·u:s<'s on mohi le· ph,>ncs and hand-held Pl)As, the ideas ~nd condusio11$ ~dd rc.-s.sedought to be applied to all t·ommtmly used portable dcYiccs, such as the fo)]owiog: • Automobile Navigatioo. Syst~ms and l);,-it.,. S(.·n·cns; • Notebook Comput<'rs; • Walkie Talkies. I nnvvative tt:<.:hrlologies.tre oft co re .. ~rc-kd .ind h:mdlcd as tvys or lllxorics, bot in <'1Ctu3Ht)'t they arc k~y husin¢~S tools. In the case of cell phones 3-nd PVAs, consi<l<'r a desk that one might have in his: or lwr orfict': The bare essentials probably indudc d dci:;)..top<.:otnputer and ., tdepho1.1e. 8u:sine:-:-E-s tnos:t rc:)li7-<' that PDAs .iod cdl pho1)esare much like <l~sktop computers :md lam.I-linephone!., but in a mohiJe form. They arc. not g<·cky gadgets, but are essential tools for work 1.:rsawny from lhc office. Uy that token, th<')' 11t·co:ss~takrespect .'.\nd1--espon$.ihil• ity. RC'caus.<· of the rapid adoptiot\ of these two technologies. many companies fail to consic.lc.-r the problems J.UdU.,,biliti('s tl,at 4
ari:1e from their u:,c.
CELL PHONE LIABILITY $<:'Vcralca:sc:-ha,·t· appeared c-oncc-roiog c.-iracMd<•n1Sthat occurred while a dri"er \.V<l.S w-i.ug a cd.1 phone-. This n1,;w• wave of Jitioatiou <·ao.1clvcrsch "' , Rt"('Cntly>
5& I THE SEAA CONNECfOR
200.4 EOITION
be ani.ilabJe while d1e,y an ...driving. This practice trcat<"s risk for tht <.:ompaoy, which can be held liable- for (.'mpfoyc·c· ncgJigen<.:<'.If.-,, cmploy~e is iuvoJved in .rn a<·c.i~c-n(while· condm·ting business, Lht>othe employer c..,n be held n.:sponsibl(;. Tremendous fines and other compen:-atory rne,asurt>:<: result from litigation and security and severely cndang...:ra bu:-;inC's:s' performance, especially a .-.mall husincss. Jt driving whHt>m,1k.ingh\1~inc:5s rnlls) or c·vc·n just d1ccking rm~ssages,become routine for c·mploycc·s>th<·n bu:::inessesshoukl re.th.ink their exp<>ctatfons.
PDA SECURITY \VJH.'nnwne.·tary compensation is 1nan<latc<lin cdl pho1w linhllity cases, mvbif<· phones appear as the bigg<"sttl·chnological l'r'lt•nacl-> \!/hen, in foct, PDAs can pose an t·qually, jf not rn()r~·dang(•rous threat. PDAs may not seem ri:;ky lO businesses, but if a misplaced or stok-1) Pl )A gets into malicious hands, tht.:na business may he in clang<'r.Not only could :a<.'Cnnputerhacker break into J. corporatl' net work using $1.Qredpas~words and uncover sensitive infor.,nation critical to the company, but a novice compul<-r user <.:ouldalso send prank e mails to <"\l!':tomcrs or colleague$, pcrma,wntly dam.1ging those relations. Even if the C()l'r'lpany's only L:c>ucetois monetary, a missing PDA may <.:Ont:aln compan}' bank, cr~dit card and Pl N information that could be used to a.::quir~ corporJh.· tunds. Assume .a company h.tts<lrperldabJe employees and missing PDAs do not.">Ct!mlike sigriific,\nl t'isks. Ncvcrt1wkss, that busjncss is still in danger. Viruses and other computer inf('<.:ting programs can steal, destroy or alter valonhk information~ as weU as expensh•e softw.;H(' ~nd hanlwan:-. Thiok thal a PDl\ can c.1sily h<' r<'plarcd i:-.often the opinion of employers on this
hut th<' case i$ ntv('r that simple. To <late, 11.0 PDA has h"-tn inft•c1c-dwith a viru.s, but they act as transport de\·icc-s th.a tr.insrnil viru:-;~sto c·orporate net works. If this h.:ipp~ns,a bu:::ioessis in for a Jot more then rcph,dng an in<·:<p<'rbhc PDA. Th<' entire network m;.l.yhav(· to lw r<"(;:<mfigur<·d, purgc-d or rcpla<:ed, which mea11stim<"onclr<•sourcc.sspent rcpaidng what cou)d he ovoidcd if pre-cautionary 111.easures are take-n. js.sU(.')
SECURITYAND SAFETY MEASURES So, ,vith uncxpeckcl high-te<·h ha:t.Jrds h.1rki11gahoul, how can employers avoid lilig;Hion> disruption or calastrophe? There .1.re pas~ive approa..:hes> which invofve the use of hands~frcc <lcvkt•ifor eel I phont"s, and anti.-virus~ a.s we! I al>p~t.SS\\ or<I pt"oh...ctio,-. for PDAs. This mcth()d is important> but is:$till only part or the soJution. Protective C<Jllipmc-nt will not resoh·e all probkm.:s. Tec.:hn<>l()gy i:-;only as good as the user. Koowlcdg<il od <.:ornmon$('nSt ... ar<: the best def<'n.Se$ against any mi~fortuncs frnpai1·ing -a compan)''s perforrcHmcc•, or worse, its c-xi:.tcn<:e. Hon· can empJoyers make an :.wth•e effort to in<·rea~eawareness of prudent and rcliabk use ofhusirlcss tools in their companies? Corporate polidc.s. and pro cedurcs pro\'ide excellent ways to rnanagc: he)\\', whi.:n and where e1nploycc-suse cell phone$. and POAs, but one must not o,·erlook the issue of why cmpJoye-esUS(: 1.besedeYice..•;.Making certain t-mployt.:C::-: recognii.,e, and appreciate tedu1ology in the workplace and that it is i1'llended for legjtimatc husi nes~ pt.•rposc:,;is a sensible practice to er1surc a :-cc1..1rchu~ine~s. To estahli~h an effective polky, (.'mployen; tnllSt first assesstheir company's Su P;.19r SS
NUC:CIR FASTENER
DIVISION
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by th;: anu,·ney client p1·ivilcge<x>wringwork prmh.u.:t.lf ym1 keep thM list C\llT('llf, you will n()t lw i-:c1-..·u11bling lc>rwhorn to caH while you
violations,. it has unc<w<•n~<.l in photographs or dud1'1ginterviews. Coopc..'rntionwil'1 OSHA mu:51h(~wrnpcn:.-dvdth rommon ~<'nS('.
ar~ atro trying to <lcal with scor<·sof gO\'crn• mcnl officials. Hiring all at LOrney wiH aJso allow you tv $3)',in <1ppmpriale·drcum.stanc.:e.s: ''I n........<l to talk lo 1ny L.1wycr,''<>r"I'll hav~ rny
S. G<'t all <.:001ract <locum<'nts together, including in.sura1)('"t'" policic-s. At some-poiot. i:5sue:-will arise as to'who is ,responsible for the acci<knt, dl•anup, nx:on:-tru<:ticu\ and so on. Then· will llndouhh·dlv, b(• n<)ti<·(• n·<1ui1-cincntsunder the val'iot1scon
lav,'Y'-'rg'-·t 6:.l.\."k to you on th;)t." -1. Unc/ustand what che 9ow:rnmM( is ir_pin9 co do.
Although lhc polkc may not hl.. looking for c,•idl':nCCof a crim-:, OSHA wHI ccrtah1ly he looking for <'vidt•1ic.:c of viofolions. Ir, fac·t, OSHA'~ (-cunplia1\N1ilTi<•<'1·::.arc lnstruckd in fatality c~.sesto takt" ..~lcdal <.-a1·c in obtaining evidence-he<":mseof<:ri minal san<:Lionsprovid-
"I fc>rin Sntion 17(c)of the Act." OSHA abo tdl.$ it:, ('ompli,.111<.:c o{fo..-crs to r.:xurd ~rtfr•t'm ('mployc-r-~nd i·n,ployn.- r<'n1,1rksthat might iJu..lu<lc''a(lmissirms" of viol..1tions. OSf'lA :\lso will consider it-~uing dtation.s for cmploy('l'$<·x.pO!il.'.'(I to hazardouscondition.s a,,;part of Y('S('U(' operations. lf the cn ..·c.:tor do~s not ha\·Csafot)' nlks clcali11gwith n·scu<'
~n (•mp10)'l'r must insist on employ<"t~ kn.owle<lgc, \1n<lc:-r:-t~nding, a.1.:-ceprnncc, aod must importal)tly, pcrformal)Ct' of lhc lah'st rules and regulations. Getting h<:lp from ouL-.ide , he company should
bl· rukJ
tr.1ct documents and insuraoce policies. I lave .t set made for yo\1;ind your attornty, and r<'ad
nc,-cr
them. You may ti 11dthat a simple letter or fox m,,y spell the diflerenc:c bcrv.•ccn.liability an<I \'xoneration. As you can sec, the: pro('('S:."involn·.s rnol'c than lwiog a ~ali:, conscientious SH'('l<.'r(·(·tor.
irnplc-m<"nt poli<.'yinay be c.-ruci~Jin the· ~ucc(•~:,;and prole<.:tion of a C"ompany. ,.\lthough t('(,;hnofog:y<.:ant"nhancc a business, then> is alw;iys lhc.-.· pv:z::z:ihility that it may do more harm th,m got>d.
You must he pr(·pan:<IlO assist the-people who •Nill help you w<;atht·r a workplace dic;a..,;tcr, whilf;' .u. the same time nol ht·lping oth<"rs
Th....-rejs no reason lo shun new businc-s-!3 a.'>long c1$ .in) "ulner advJ.n<.:<.'nH,•nts, ability that might ex i~c i~ Jddn·sst'<l and prcv(!0t:ath·e me.:1sure-s.)re (ak<'n,
looking to place blame on you. The Uoat-<I of SF.AAhasask<.-<l me to addrr..s.,; this i~suc in ,;1 (·ompn::hcu:-iw manner at the [\•\arch 200; Convention in l'"'1kt·Grap4;:vine, ·1·x.If yuu h"''~ aoy <11.1("sti()n$ 01· comments, or
c-f'f0rti,,cmployt'<' rnisc.:onduc::tmay l'IOt lw· ~ dcfCnsc to ~n. ('n-1ploy(•t•t·x1w>s<·d to haz~r<ls whik· trying to rescue his best frit"nd ,vho is 1r,ipp.,..dunder rnns of prccast rubble ..
_-ir('-3~you
Remember, if th<:rt is a workplace- fatality, OSJ IA wHI be motiv3tcd to is.sue c:itations, if only IOr-public relations p\lrpo:-.t•s. In fac.:t,
bereochcJbyphoncat (410) 717--13000(/•.•(·110)
is not lJOUsual for OSHA to issue dt.-ition~ wu-efotl·d to th(' titx·idt·ot based on "apparent
Mticlt>J, Jamplc pol,des. ncn'Sond
jt
ri:5k,;.l.S rdatcd to the technology used .'Ind tl\en d~tenninc what kJ m,Iof guidelines tvill be appropriate to that ri:<:k. After (I plan is chosen and produc(•d}
want
1o st'l"'
addrt"~S-t"d, plc,asc write
or c-all me before lh<.·c;orwe,ruion.
Fronk Kollman is a parmer iD the law Jirm '!f Kollman&.,.Saucier.J>A.iJ.>Bolrimore,MD. He can 7]7 -13-◊I,
t>t
e-m(Ji/:
FKollman@1'ollmaulow.
com. I fo:Jirm :-.UH>sitl; m www.kollmonlaw ..c>om hos
on
emploj'f:C I empl<!)·er relm,o,u. •
orheri'!/Ormation
out. Som<'onc who
knows ho'"v to assess risk :md draft. and
both I hrough spt--c-iaIize-d protecti\'C m.itC'rfols, JS well a:- appropriate and thorough c<>rporak pol icks. It i~.alway~ better to aYcrt a tragedy than ,;1ue:mpt to n:.•1ru.:dy one:. Perr;rS(!jran i:i lhc proprietor (?[S(!{r<..1n Luw Office..s.o Ion•.fltm in Raldt7h. NC Lhat JO<u:si:s ,ts time exdw;h·,:~von serdn9 the am:;trucaon induStt)·· Micboel Franks ll'()rks .JOt S~fran Law 0.[fi<'eS
tti:
a ch1ims
ana~'St and rechnology <'<>otdi11<1tc,r. Tl,c;,·
uwy be coma,,rNl m I -BOO 362-3372 c>r lm'v~"i)sqj'r(lhlciw.c()m. •
ADVERTISERS' INDEX 33rd Annuol SEAA Conveniion & Trodc Show ...... 40. 41. 42 Allied Machine & Engineeting Cotp ....................................3 American Sieel & Precost Etectors .....................................29 Arthur J. Gallagher & Co ..........................tnside Bock Cover Basden Slee! ........................................................................... 45 17 Big 6 Crone & Rigging ............................................................ Buckner Companies ....................................................... 36, 37 Coniruction Insurance Agency. Inc ....... Inside front Cover Davis Sleet & Iron Co-Inc ......................................................12 Deon Steel Erec Iors ............................................................... 53 Fronk L. Kollman ..................................................................... 54 Grabber SuperDrive .............................................................. 33 H&E Equipment Services ......................................................27 Hougen Monufocfuring. Inc ................................................18 JEM ONE Rigging Tools. LLC ...................................................4 JLG ............................................................................................. I JPW Struclurol Contracting. Inc ..........................................47 JW Burress............................................................................... 35 Link-Belt Construction Equipment .......................................19 58
I
lHE SEAA CONNECTOR
20041 EOITION
Manitowoc Crones. Inc .........................................................11 Midco Sling & Coble Co .......................................................24 Moore Erection, L.P..................................................................6 Newell Davis Wire Rope and Rigging Suppplies .................................60. Bock Cover Nillo Kohki U.S.A.. Inc.·····························································s Nucor Fastener Division ........................................................57 Nucor Vulcroft Group ........................................................... 32 Peterson Beckner SIeel Construction .................................55 Phoenix Steel Erectors ........................................................... 49 Preferred Safety Products. Inc .............................................28 S&R Enterprises. L.l.C ............................................................34 Safron Low Offices ................................................................. 59 South Carolina Steel Corp ....................................................50 Star Erecters. Inc ..............................................................30. 31 Steel Erectors Associo!ion ....................................................43 Steel Performance. Inc .........................................................25 United Rentals Aerial Equipment ........................................23
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