However, The Approved Code of Practice and Guidance for The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is relevant to legionella control as legionella is a pathogen. COSHH regulations state at section nine, paragraph 183 that:-
“Employers may keep records in any format, e.g. on paper or electronically. They should be kept readily accessible and retrievable at any reasonable time for examination by safety representatives or inspects etc.”
The government who state at the National Archives that “Electronic records management is a key technology. The replacement of manual and paper-based processes with electronic processes will generate electronic records as evidence in policy making, casework and service delivery areas.”
Who is using electronic
record systems?
The HSE are using electronic record systems to improve information management and records management in line with Freedom of Information Act requirements and E-government targets. They have set targets to meet for the modernisation of government electronic records management.
Why use electronic
record systyems?
As stated by the National Archives Department, Electronic record systems provide the following benefits:-
- Easy access to well-organized information.
- Efficient joint working, information exchange and inter-operability.
- Provides reliable and authentic information for the evaluation of past actions and decisions.
- Knowledge management across sectors…. by making reliable information available for sharing, extraction and summarization.”
- Faster decision making
- Improved… service quality
- Information managed as an asset, encouraging its collection, dissemination and sharing
- Reduced cost of business operations
- Responsiveness to change
Other related
reading
BSI DISC PD0008 – Legal Admissibility of Electronic Documents
ISO 15489 – Electronic Records Management
E-Government Policy Framework for Electronic Records Management