I have in the past experienced on site workers refusing to allow me to take photographs of them working. I know some were on benefits and should not have been working and they thought I would report them. You would need permission if operating in schools and nursing homes, other similar institutions. I do see the benefit however. I have two dashboard cameras on my car, front and rear. I have not had to use them to prove fault yet but they do provide amusing entertainment when I play the recording to people.

Suggest reading the information commissioners guidance on CCTV - there is a fine line between recording for legitimate purpose and missuse where an event is accidentally captured. The use of the incidental image could leave you liable especially when the workers have not been advised that images are being recorded.

I do photography as a hobby, so there is a similar question about photographing people so I looked up the advice from the police. 1) if you are on public land then you can photograph anything, including people, you like within reason (e.g. military or prison sites and such). 2)if you are on private property then you require permission from the land owner. 3) If you are on private property without permission you must stop immediately when asked to do so. I assume this would also apply to video cameras as well. Mike

Ok thats some good information there however on Private Property and with permission of the main Contractors who in essence are the temporary owners of the building whilst its being fitted out. To use of the video would only be required if it was to capture or see unsafe practices being committed by individuals. Otherwise with no reported instances, the images would simply be deleted until the the next visit. I'm guessing its no different to taking pictures on site? or the building having its own CCTV system for the prevention of crime. This would be in essence for the prevention of accidents, and nothing more. Might give it a trail run later in the week and see if its practical. Sometimes it may be too late to take a picture of an incident or hazard as by the time you get your phone or camera out and attempt to take the picture, its over, whereas with video you get to record the minutes leading up to the incident, what caused the incident and the final outcome. A lot more detailed information than simply taking a picture after the event happened. Information like this can be crucial, where a serious beach of the safety rules have occurred, and could lead to more accurate reports being drawn up. Don't want to get waylaid too much by all the Technical jargon and red tape but to have a safe, secure system where serious breaches are caught and recorded and then used to prevent re occurrences. if nothing of interest is captured then everything is deleted at the end of the working day.

I would assume this is more for public areas where the general Public are in abundance. however for a Private Property, with Permission of the Owners i do not see a problem with recordings of Safety Issues a problem, its no different to taking pictures or a company having CCTV within a building. Talk about making something so simple, so complicated. I can't see anyone making a legal claim about a recording when it catches them doing something illegal or putting themselves or others in danger. If people are worried what i will do with the images then i'll tell them they get deleted at the end of the day if no reportable occurrences have happened, failing that and i do manage to catch someone in an illegal act or putting others at risk or danger, then that recording will be proof and the identification of the person/s responsible.

But you are collecting data and in a new form are you not? No doubt your company will have data protection controls and a data protection officer. Perhaps it would be prudent to discuss it with them before proceeding. You may find their use is already covered? I wasn't suggesting you shouldn't do it just that it may be more complex than you imagine. Good luck and why not come back and let us all know how you get on

The police service produces codes of practice for its employees on this subject. As lead force using BWV systems, Beds police have produced theirs: http://www.bedfordshire....cy%20and%20Procedure.pdf It is quite comprehensive.

Would appreciate any local authorities who use this (say Parking Civil Enforcement etc.) to touch base with a private message. About to have a meeting on lone working monitoring and just come across this link. Interestingly breakfast TV have featured Body Cams for School Crossing patrols... again, any comments welcomed thanks