Video surveillance of construction sites in France: Update on regulations and confidentiality requirements

Therefore, I suggest you review the current laws and regulations regarding video surveillance of construction sites in France, including privacy rules and requirements for storing and sharing images.

The need to protect privacy

In France, the protection of privacy is a major concern when it comes to video surveillance. On construction sites, workers, visitors and the public may be filmed, but it is important to ensure that their right to privacy is protected. Here's how :

Inform workers and visitors: Workers and visitors must be informed of the presence of CCTV cameras on the site. This can be done through posters or other clearly visible means.

Minimum data collection: CCTV footage should only be collected to the extent necessary to achieve the surveillance objective. Images should not be used for any other purpose, such as monitoring the actual work of employees.

Secure storage: CCTV footage should be stored securely to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure. Images should only be accessible to authorized persons.

Limited Retention Period: CCTV footage should only be retained for a limited period, typically 30-90 days, unless needed to resolve an incident or investigation.

The regulation of video surveillance of construction sites in France

In France, the regulation of video surveillance of construction sites is governed by several laws and regulations, in particular:

The Labor Code: The Labor Code in France defines rules concerning video surveillance in the workplace, including on construction sites. These rules state that video surveillance may only be used for reasons of health and safety, theft prevention and the optimization of production processes.

French data protection law: French data protection law governs the collection, processing and use of personal data, including CCTV images. The law sets strict rules on how images can be collected, stored and used.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): GDPR is a European Union regulation that governs the collection, processing and use of personal data. Construction companies in France must comply with the GDPR when using CCTV cameras on construction sites.

Image storage and sharing requirements

In France, construction companies using CCTV cameras must also comply with other requirements regarding the storage and sharing of images. Requirements may include:

Image storage: CCTV images should be stored securely and only accessible to authorized persons. Images must be stored for a limited period, typically 30-90 days.

Image sharing: CCTV images can only be shared with authorized persons. Persons accessing the images must be authorized to do so and the images must only be used for the purpose for which they were collected.

Data Protection: Construction companies should have security measures in place to protect personal data collected by CCTV cameras. Security measures may include data encryption, use of strong passwords and restricted access to images.

In summary, the regulation of video surveillance in the construction sector in France is important to ensure that the privacy of workers, visitors and the public is respected. Construction companies must comply with applicable laws and regulations regarding the collection, storage and sharing of CCTV images.

While CCTV cameras are a valuable tool for improving safety and preventing theft on construction sites, they should be used responsibly and in accordance with the law. Construction companies must ensure that workers and visitors are made aware of the presence of CCTV cameras, that data collected is minimal, that images are stored securely, and that requirements for storing and sharing images are respected.

By following these rules and implementing appropriate security measures, construction companies can use on-site video surveillance responsibly and effectively.

Do not hesitate to call on a professional if you have a construction site to secure, but do not have the time to set up, organize a security plan, correctly place the cameras and know how to store the data.

Tribune by Nicolas Mouly, Marketing Director of Bauwatch France (LinkedIn).