The long awaited Data Protection Act 1998 is now in force. The Act received Royal Ascent in July 1998 but, after a series of delays, has only just come into force: on 1 March 2000. The new legislation extends, and will eventually replace, the Data Protection Act 1984. For employers, the legislation has important implications for how employee data can be handled. One of its main effects is that data protection principles will now apply to paper records. This means that for the first time, many employers' personnel files will be caught by the legislation. Rights of individuals to ensure that their personal data is only used for its intended purpose are also reinforced, as are rights of employees to access their personal records.As reported in November 1999, the issue most likely to affect facilities managers relates to information security, whether data processing is taking place within their own building or on the premises of a contractor. So, for instance, companies must ensure that doors to computer rooms should be locked and that the information (whether electronic or on paper) should be adequately protected.
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