Daily Function Checks of the CCTV System
The number one failure found during TAPA FSR audits is related to the mandatory CCTV system function checks.
The TAPA FSR requires that all CCTV images be inspected on all operational days and that there be a CCTV work procedure for the inspection of the CCTV camera system. The FSR also requires that records of the function check will be maintained.
The Mistakes
The most common mistake is that the operator assumes that the live CCTV camera feed is what should be monitored. The second mistake is to rely on operational CCTV software to evaluate the usability of stored CCTV images.
The problem is that the live camera may show an image, but the image is not being recorded on the hard drive.
The second problem is that the system may show space being used on the hard drive for the storage of images, but the only sure way to evaluate the usefulness of a stored image is to look at it.
In other words, just like vacation videos and photos, the storage card may be full… but everything is out of focus or pixelated.
What is the Function Check Process?
The person responsible for the daily CCTV function check needs to have a routine to make sure ALL CCTV cameras are working and stored images on the server are useable.
Inspect the CCTV system as one of the first things to do after starting work. If there are problems, it will take a little time to coordinate the necessary personnel of subcontractor to perform corrective actions.
Enter the CCTV administrative system. Try to see as many live CCTV images feeds at the same time. If a CCTV live feed is black, the camera is probably not writing images to the hard drive and needs to be repaired.
Change the CCTV system time to two hours before the actual time. If the CCTV function check is being done at 08:00, set the CCTV system time to 06;00.
If it is possible to see more than one stored CCTV image on the scree, set the CCTV system to show 9 or 12 stored images on the monitor or screen.
Check each CCTV camera image to be sure that the image on the screen is focused, pointed in the right direction, and is free of debris such as snow, ice, dust, dirt, spider webs, etc.
Check the date and time for each image on the screen. If the cameras record continuously, all camera images should have the same date and time. If an image has a different date and /or time than the other images, the system might be showing the last good image in the system for that camera.
If the stored CCTV image is black, the CCTV system did not record an image for that CCTV camera and the problem needs further investigation and corrective action.
If the shown stored CCTV image date and time is from 06:00 today, the image is being stored / recorded properly.
After the images on the screen have been evaluated, the next set of images needs to be checked until all the stored images from all the CCTV cameras have been inspected. This means if you have 250 CCTV cameras, 250 CCTV cameras must be inspected each day.
The results of the CCTV function check should be recorded on a daily operational CCTV function check register.
Problems identified during the daily CCTV function check need to be reported and repaired as soon as possible
All these instructions should be written in the work procedure regarding CCTV function checks.