Securing Your Home Office


By Colene King

In the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, remote operations have become common practice. Organizations embraced remote operations as a way to maintain status quo while simultaneously ‘flattening the curve’. In fact, many companies have realized that getting their employees out of the brick-and-mortar office proves to be just as productive, if not more.


In 2018, only 3.6% of the US workforce was working from home. Recent telecommuting data projects that 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home at least several days a week by the end of 2021 (GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, n.d.).


Many employers have gone so far as to make remote employment a permanent option. This allows employers to expand their candidate pools and acquire talent from other locations with different backgrounds. Candidates now see the opportunity to work from home as an added bonus.


Prior to the global pandemic, companies had several misconceptions surrounding telecommuters. Organizations were worried they would see a decrease in productivity, as well as a concern for being able to keep security a priority. These misconceptions were proven to be inconsequential as our workforce adapted.


Previously held beliefs of remote workers being less productive than on-site employees have been disproven. The National Bureau of Economic Research (nber.org) discovered that employees working from home are 13% more productive than those working from an office. Additionally, employees working from home miss less days, accomplish more, and feel more productive than in a traditional work environment.


Though working from home is convenient (and more productive), it does present new security challenges. It is imperative to maintain security and confidentiality. While it’s easy to slip into a comfortable routine while working from home, it is important to follow best practices for keeping your home office secure.


Even though we live in a digital age, there will always be a need to store hard copies. It is important that physical documents are stored and disposed of
properly. Whether it be an ArmorStor™ high security rated file cabinet or a Dahle paper shredder, KL security has the best options for you.

ArmorStor™ High Security Filing Cabinets When compliance requirements dictate security, the ArmorStor™ file cabinet is the choice of healthcare, business and enterprises offices worldwide.


Dahle has just released a new line of home and small office shredders that can be purchased now through KL Security. The personal shredders are the perfect size for any home office, with a few different affordable options to best suit your needs.


The Dahle PaperSAFE® PS 100 Deskside Shredder is oil-free, hassle-free, and easy to maintain. It’s ideal for destroying financial statements, tax information, or any other confidential documents that should not be seen by others.

In regards to digital records, any great home office contains an external hard drive. KL Security also offers hard drives that are fireproof as well as water proof. Properly safeguarding your home office will also offer additional peace of mind to you and your employers.



The Solo G3, 3TB Fireproof / Waterproof External Hard Drive is not only fireproof and water proof, but can also come with a data recovery service. 1, 3, and 5 year plans available. For any loss, no matter the reason.


Many benefits accompany telecommuting: improved employee mental health, a better work life balance, lower turnover, and an overall increase in productivity. With all these benefits, it’s no wonder several companies are giving their employees the option to work in the comfort of their own home.


Let KL Security help get your home office set up today!

Call 866-867-0306 or email [email protected]


Sources

  1. https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/telecommuting-statistics

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice. The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only.

R2: Responsible Recycling

R2 is the short form expression for Responsible Recycling Standards for Electronic Recyclers. This is one of two standards; the other being e-Stewards-Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment. However, R2 is the world’s most utilized standard for the disposal and manufacture for used electronics.


The R2 practices were released in 2008 through development cooperation from members within the EPA, state agencies, electronics recyclers, refurbishers, trade associations, customers, other non-government organizations. A few years later in 2011, the Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship developed the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship. The NSES outlines recommendations for safer design and disposal of electronic devices. The Task Force states that the United States government should lead by example, and this strategy outlines the best practices to be adopted by government agencies.

So…who does this apply to and what is an electronic recycler?

The EPA is encouraging all electronics recyclers (companies that manufacture and sell refurbished electronics or utilize components from used electronics) to become certified (aka r2 certification requirements) by demonstrating to an accredited independent third-party auditor that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage electronics. Used electronics should only be considered ‘waste’ if all other options have been evaluated and eliminated.

The EPA is encouraging all electronics recyclers (companies that manufacture and sell refurbished electronics or utilize components from used electronics) to become certified (aka r2 certification requirements) by demonstrating to an accredited independent third-party auditor that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage electronics. Used electronics should only be considered ‘waste’ if all other options have been evaluated and eliminated.


The American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board accredits bodies in the United States. There are currently only six organizations in the country that have received this accreditation. Given our country’s reliance on electronics, it’s safe to assume that the amount of refurbished electronic manufacturers will only increase and with it – the number of accredited organizations.

How does one become R2 certified and what is V3?

The first step is to reach out to an accredited standards development organization. We found a recommended 501(c)(3) organization using the EPA’s website. This organization, SERI, has the sole mission of environmental protection through the safe disposal and recycling of electronic products.


There are various resources available on SERI’s website. You can download the latest version of R2 documents HERE.


The entire process takes anywhere from 8 to 12 months, and organizations are free to complete the education independently or may reach out for a training consultant. Once again, all resources are located on the SERI website.


After completing the education, the organizational standards of procedure may need to be modified. This will require clear documentation of the prior procedures and new and improved processes. Next, the organization must implement these standards. Detailed documentation is key to earning accreditation. Furthermore, most companies will hire a consultant to assist within the implementation phase. You can find a list of consultants here.

Changes have been made, processes have been modified, and every step has been documented. What’s next? Now, you must perform an internal audit.


The last and final step is a certification audit. There are two stages to this audit and it spans one to two months. You can find an approved list of certification companies here. Prior to the initializing of stage two of the audit, you will complete a license application and pay a fee. After passing the certification audit and receiving an R2 certificate, a company is subject to mandatory annual audits and fees to maintain R2 status.


This accreditation is voluntary and encouraged. The government has been instructed to follow guidelines to be a good example to businesses and citizens. For this reason, if there is an option to do business with an accredited organization, a government agency will select this business over others. This offers the U.S. Government to help influence national standards through commerce.


Why would an organization want to use R2 standards? For one, they help to reinforce and advance best management practices relating to OSHA and risk management. These standards add additional value to an organization’s SOPs through assessing environmental and security practices. R2 helps trace and prevent hazardous waste from entering and polluting the environment.


These guidelines were issued in 2011. However, many companies are voluntarily adopting these best practices and becoming certified to quickly make a transition when, in all likelihood, these practices will become mandatory. At the very least, certification will be required for government vendors. Certification is not required for government vendors currently, but government agencies have been instructed to follow these measures whenever possible.


If you have been asked to become compliant with the R2 standards or need to find out pricing to budget for and r2 certified recycler, we’re here to help.

K.L. Security has various options for secure storage of digital and hardcopy documents. We also offer high-quality shredders for the safe destruction of confidential materials. With experience across various industries, we’re ready to help with all of your organization’s security needs.

Call 866-867-0306 or email [email protected]
Sources

https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/certified-electronics-recyclers

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/u_s_epa_fact_sheet_implementation_study_1.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/national_strategy_for_electronic_stewardship_0.pdf

R2

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice. The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only.


Written by: Shelley Swearingen with input from KL Security Experts

Business Protections Against Fire | Cannabis Facilities

By Shelley Swearingen | September 29, 2020


Coastal Pacific states are currently battling raging wildfires. These western states are no stranger to fire, but the losses don’t always have to be catastrophic. Protecting cannabis dispensaries, pharmacies, growers, producers, and secure transporters from natural disasters is possible; it just takes planning.

Records Protection


Most states have laws requiring the digital tracking of product from seed to sale. Many states also require customer databases be kept & maintained to abide by quantity limits. This data is pertinent to stay within compliance and safeguards must be in place to protect this data. It’s also important to select servers that protect against fire AND water. A unit should be able to withstand the fire and the efforts to put out the fire.  



The ioSafe protects data from fire and water. It can withstand temperatures up to 1550°F for 30 minutes, and water submersion at 10 ft for up to 72 hours.  The internal capacity maxes out at 16TB, and it it’s compact in size: 12 inches high and weighs less than 30lbs.


Businesses, no matter how tech savvy they may be, will always need to store some hardcopies. For this reason, a traditional fire-safe file cabinet should be procured.


FireKing manufactures the best fireproof filing options available. Other brand names only offer half the fire safe protection. These cabinets are available in legal or letter size and multiple drawer options.

Chemical Storage

The cannabis industry is highly regulated. Growers & producers must abide by traditional guidelines for the safe storage of insecticides, pesticides, and other chemicals as well as cannabis specific regulations just to stay in compliance. 

Fire or other natural disasters can cause hazardous chemicals to turn deadly. If not stored properly, fire could cause ignition and explosion. The acquisition of proper storage can prevent against additional damage.

The AG400 is the best choice for the storage & safe handling of chemicals. This unit is rated to meet OSHA requirements and withstand up to 4 hours of fire.

Product Storage

Cannabis regulators are primarily concerned with safeguarding citizens against the proliferation of marijuana on the black market. For this reason, many businesses will implement security provisions that prevent surreptitious entry but may not prevent against mother nature.


There are various safes and vaults that can be manufactured to tailor to the specific needs of your business. Protect product from natural forces as well as theft.


Vault doors protect cash and product from diversion as well as natural disasters. Fallen trees could compromise the integrity of a traditional locked door thus enticing those that may wish to profit from your misfortune.  

For smaller quantities of product, a high security safe may suffice. This featured safe is manufactured with narcotic storage in mind – sure to pass compliance inspections. It’s also fire tested to 1850°.

No matter the scale or size of your operation…

KL Security can help facilitate compliance and protection. We’ve helped numerous cannabis facilities nationwide assemble license applications, maintain compliance standards, protect against diversion, and drive revenue. Our consultants are knowledgeable, experienced, and ready to assist.

Call 866-867-0306 or email [email protected]

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice. The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only.

Recycling Reefer: Proper Disposal of Cannabis Product in Massachusetts

There is no doubt that opening a marijuana business is complicated. Even taking out the trash has stringent requirements. Any marijuana refuse has to be secured, documented, and disposed of properly. Mass Ann Laws ch. 94G, § 4 (a ½) (xxviii) gives the Cannabis Control Commission power to regulate the disposal requirements for marijuana establishments. It also encourages the Commission to promote recycling within the industry. 

To properly recycle cannabis plant parts, they must be ground and mixed with other organic materials: food waste, soil, mulch, other plant waste. This will render the product unusable and ready for compost. If the facility does not have the physical space to compost the material on-site, the cannabis compost material may be sent to a facility approved to handle such materials, 935 CMR 502.105.

The department of Environmental Protection within the state of Massachusetts mandates that records be kept of any hazardous wastes created, stored, treated, disposed, or transferred for disposal, Mass Ann Laws ch. 21 C, § 6 and Mass Ann Laws ch. 111F, § 16. The Cannabis Control Commission of Massachusetts provides links to all disposal options and waste service providers on their website: https://mass-cannabis-control.com.

Secure Transport and In Transit Tracking of Plants and Product for the Cannabis Industry are also available

The marijuana industry is highly regulated at every level. It’s no surprise that waste management would be any different. It is also feasible that out of all processes to be overlooked within the planning of a Cannabis facility would be that of waste management, “…one of the top five cannabis cultivation violations for 2018 was cannabis waste management.” Commendatore, Cristina. “The Complicated World of Cannabis Waste Generation (Part One).” Waste 360, July 2019, https://www.waste360.com/legislation-regulation/complicated-world-cannabis-waste-generation-part-one

as a partner of the Total Harvest Coverage network, we assist cannabis facilities with designs, plans and deployment of compliant solutions to help them become more successful.

KL Security offers solutions to these rigorous regulations in the form of reinforced vault rooms, TL Rated DEA Approved safes, electronic data management storage and video surveillance solutions. Record keeping will undoubtedly be most efficiently be done electronically, and must be stored in a safe location to ensure access by local officials at a moment’s notice.

For more information on cannabis security plans and facility design, architectural programming and more, call 1-866-867-0306