A Member submitted a claim for the significant cost of re-keying after a contractor lost a set of master keys. Thankfully, the keys were recovered before the re-keying work had been carried out. This “near miss” provides some useful lessons for Members.

The Member has a sophisticated system of issuing keys to contractors, using a “lock box”. This is an electronically controlled cabinet which allows contractors to enter their code number to enable the cabinet to open. It then provides access to remove those keys specifically available to that contractor. Contractors are aware of the practice, protocol and procedures for the safe handling of keys and, in particular that all key sets are to be returned to the lock box on the same day that they are removed.