A high value cage is a requirement for TAPA FSR certification.
The following information is intended to provide clear guidance regarding the FSR requirements for high value cages.
High Value Cage Size
The FSR says that the high value cage must hold at least 6 cubic meters of cargo. That means that 6 pallets of cargo can be stored in the high value cage. Six cubic meters of cargo means six pallets of cargo on the floor of the high value cage. It does not mean one meter square of cargo space stacked six pallets high.
Walls and Roof
The walls and ceiling must be hard. That means made of hard material such as bricks or fence material such as a metal grill or chain link fencing. If the high value cage uses the building or room ceiling as the top of the high value cage, the walls of the cage must extend up to the roof. There can be no gap between the high value cage walls and the roof.
Gaps in the high value cage should be smaller than the cargo stored in the high value cage. This prevents high value cargo from “accidently” falling out through the wall or side openings. This is also applicable to any opening below and above the entrance to the high value cage.
Door Locking Device
There must be a locking device on the door. Electromagnetic door locks should not be used because the door will automatically open if there is a power outage. Fail secure locks on doors are good electronic locking alternatives. Deadbolt locks with keys can also be used. Some high value cages are designed with emergency exit doors for employees.
CCTV Cameras
The high value cage needs two CCTV cameras. One camera should be mounted to monitor the entrance of the high value cage from the outside. It is best that the CCTV camera be mounted as to record the face of the individual that opens the high value cage.
The second CCTV camera should be mounted inside the high value cage to monitor cargo and activities inside the high value cage. The TAPA FSR says if the cage is too small, the inside CCTV camera is not necessary. This should not be used as an excuse not to mount a CCTV camera inside the high value cage.
The value of the internal high value cage CCTV camera will depend on the cargo stored inside the cage. If the components are small, such as calling cards, an inside CCTV camera is more important than if the stored cargo are sealed pallets of printers.
High Value Cage Access
Access to the high value cage must be controlled. The easiest way to control access is through the use of electronic door locks and key fobs. The use of key fobs allows management to control access through IT profiles. If a person is authorized to enter the high value cage, the employee’s fob can open the high value door. The electronic fob also provides traceability of who entered thee high value cage and when. Electronic fob access also helps management better conduct their quarterly denied access reports.
It is possible to have a paper based entrance register that users update each time the high value cage is opened. A paper register system will probably use physical keys to open and close the the high value cage. The keys to the high value cage need to be strictly controlled. Each time a key is given to an employee, the key issuance must be documented on a key control register. The high value cage key must not be given to other persons without the transfer documented on the key control register. The key register must be controlled at the end of the shift to ensure all keys are secured.
If the high value cage is accessed by more than 10 persons, the electronic method of entering and recording access must be installed.
Regardless if an electronic or paper program is used, the approved access list for the high value cage must be reviewed monthly to insure those persons with access still have an access need.
Terminated Access
The approved access to the high value cage must be removed immediately when an employee leaves the company or no longer needs access. The most effective way to facilitate this when using an electronic fob for access is to tell the IT department to deactivate the employee’s electronic fob immediately. Normally the IT department is informed when a person leaves the company so that all passwords to the system are deleted. The electronic fob is normally considered part of that electronic access system.
If a paper system is used, Human Resources needs to tell the person responsible for the physical high value cage key that the departing or terminated employee is no longer authorized to have the high value cage key. The name of the departing employee should be removed from the list of authorized persons to enter the high value cage.
Alarms
High value cages also need to have alarms installed to detect unauthorized entry. The alarms may be installed on doors, use static motion detectors in the cage, or use CCTV camera motion detection features to sound the alarm. Door alarms can be activated when the high value cage doors are closed… or left open for longer than 60 seconds.
Inspections
There is an FSR requirement that security equipment such as electronic card / fob readers, lights, CCTV cameras, etc. must be inspected a least once a week. The FSR requires that the perimeter of the high value cage be maintained in good condition and inspected monthly for integrity and damage. Perhaps the high value cage can be included in weekly inspections of the other security equipment. Of course, applicable work procedures should include a provision that the high value cage be inspected whenever it is used.
Procedures
All of the requirements mentioned above must be written in documented procedures.