Archive for June, 2011
Avoiding Industrial Espionage with On-Site Paper Shredders

Shredding documents on site vs. off site mitigates security risk for many business enterprises.

Industrial espionage is rife. Newspaper headlines are often filled with tales of defecting executives and disgruntled employees that have been accused of selling company secrets to rival businesses, and there seems to be no end to the lengths that some people are willing to go to in order to steal company data.

How serious is it? U.S. Intelligence officials estimate the financial cost of such actions could run as high as $250bn a year in lost sales for American businesses. Volkswagen, Coca-Cola, Google, Renault, Motorola, Intel, and General Electric have already fallen victim to industrial espionage, and more will surely follow.

If these examples prove anything, it is that you cannot afford to take chances with your data. The more control you have over company documents the better, and when the time comes to dispose of sensitive materials, you need to do it right.

For instance, do you send your paper shredding to an off-site vendor? The risks of doing so are greater than you might think. Here are five reasons why shredding your documents on-site and in-house is better for your security.

1. Regulatory Compliance – The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act dictates that businesses disposing of credit check data need to do so securely so that it cannot be compromised in any way. Similar safeguards are required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. On-site paper shredders are a great way to fulfill these regulations immediately, and without further legal action.

2. Risk Mitigation – The less people that have access to your confidential information, the better. Paper shredders are a sound risk reduction strategy because they instantly remove access to a given document and ensure that it cannot be used against you now, or in the future.

3. Identity Theft – It is one of the biggest growing crimes in recent years, yet something that is easy to guard against with the judicious use of a paper shredder. Give your clients the protection they deserve and shred their confidential data in-house instead of calling in outsiders.

4. Court Room Confidence – In the event of industrial espionage, American companies are protected by the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, so long as the secrets that were compromised were subject to reasonable security measures. In other words, if it was recovered from a dumpster, left in a coffee shop, or it fell out the back of an off-site shredding truck, your hopes of successfully prosecuting those responsible may well be diminished. Don’t take chances. Shred your documents when you are finished with them.

5. Peace of Mind – Can you really trust outside shredding companies to guarantee your documents are handled securely? How well do you really know your shredding company? What is their record like with other customers? What about their drivers, their procedures, their schedules? The peace of mind you get from doing something yourself cannot be matched, because you know that it has been done right. Shredding documents in-house ensures this.

Document security is not something you can afford to be lax with, because the moment you let your guard down, your company is left exposed, and the risk of data loss is increased. So if you’re truly concerned about industrial espionage, and the effects that it could have on your business, invest in some in-house paper shredders. It may just be the best decision you ever make.

 
EPA Findings on Fine Particulate Matter & Clean Air

How Clean Air Regulations Impact the Business Environment

Dahle CleanTEC Paper Shredders reduce fine particulate matter & improve air quality in the office.

As a direct result of the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been closely monitoring the quality of the air we breathe each day. This includes outdoor air, as well as indoor air from offices and other industrial buildings. An important part of that research has been the examination of particulate matter, but how important is it, and why should it matter to you? Let’s find out.

What is Particulate Matter?

The EPA defines particulate matter as “a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets that are found in the air.” Examples include dust, smoke, soil, sand, pollen, mold, and dirt. It exists both indoors and outdoors, but the type that the EPA pays the most attention to is the fine particulate matter that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. This type of pollutant is hazardous to our health.

What are the effects on human health?

The size of particulate matter is the greatest factor in determining how harmful it can be. In short, the finer the particle, the more dangerous it is. The EPA notes that studies have proven that exposure to particulate matter can cause, or aggravate, asthma, bronchitis, irregular heartbeats, lung functions, and some cancers.

Of these conditions, asthma is becoming the most prevalent. It has been identified as a serious and growing problem by the Dept. of Health and Human Services. Over 20 million Americans currently suffer from asthma, and 5,000 deaths are reported each year. Both indoor and outdoor pollution is known to heighten the symptoms of this respiratory ailment.

What are the implications for businesses?

The chances are high that your corporation is already taking steps to improve the air quality in your office environment. For instance, particulate matter filters are very common on indoor air conditioning systems. However, what about the particulate matter that is generated from your printers, copiers, or paper shredders?

Dahle takes this matter very seriously and has introduced a revolutionary line of shredders that are tailor made to deal with this very issue. The Dahle CleanTEC shredder range includes a closed filtration system that captures particulate matter at the point where it is first created – the shredder’s blades. This paper pollutant is then channeled towards a 3-ply filter that permanently traps up to 98% of fine dust in order to provide you with a cleaner, healthier workplace.

So, if you are interested in improving the quality of air in your office, call one of our representatives to find out more about these hi-tech paper shredders.

 
Dahle’s CleanTEC Shredder Technology

Will the EPA eventually regulate the air quality and dust in business offices?

Improving Air Quality in the Workplace through Paper Shredder Technology

Did you know that some businesses in Scandinavia have separate, contained rooms for their paper shredders? This is because of the very real threat posed by the tiny dust particles that are created during the operation of a traditional paper shredder. You can’t always see the dust, but scientists have proven that it’s there, and they have been studying the effects that it has on the health of workers in an office environment.

Printers, copier machines, and paper shredders all contribute to the air you breathe in the office, and the contributions they are making are not healthy. Obviously, the more of these machines you have, the worse it gets. Micro dust is being added to your work environment every day and the smaller these particles are, the more harmful they can be.

For the home user who shreds infrequently, this is not a serious concern, but for businesses that shred more frequently, and for sustained periods of time, this is very much a concern. These micro dust particles can be hazardous to your health, and have been known to contribute to various respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and sore throats. Allergic reactions, migraines, and conjunctivitis are also associated with paper dust pollution, so isn’t it time your office started to take this seriously?

The new Dahle CleanTEC paper shredder range is designed to help you do just that. They have an innovative air filtration system that is built-in to the shredder. It is mounted right next to the cutting cylinders so that it can collect the dust directly from the source before channeling it through a closed system until it reaches a filter.

The 3-ply air and dust filter is mounted on the rear of the paper shredder and can collect up to 98% of these fine paper particles. It binds them together so that they don’t contaminate your environment and can last up to six months or more before it needs replaced. The filter is also environmentally friendly because the non-woven material that it is made of is fully recyclable.

Other pioneering features on these shredders include enhanced safety controls, automatic oilers, an energy-efficient power management system, and a sensor that prevents you from overloading the cutters.

So, if you are interested in improving the air quality in your offices, Dahle’s CleanTec shredders are a great way to get started. They’re clean, efficient and a responsible way to show you care about the health of your workforce.