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Reducing the Insider Threat |
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Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service podcast. Each episode
will bring you cutting edge news and information about how FSIS is working to ensure public
health protection through food safety. While we’re on the job, you can rest assured that
your meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, properly labeled,
and packaged correctly. So turn up your volume and listen in.
Host:
Hello, I’m with the Office of Food Defense and Emergency Response. As you develop your
food defense plan, one aspect to consider are threats to your business. This includes
the insider threat, which is to say the real risks of insiders gaining access to your
product and facility and to collect information.
An insider is someone with the access to inside knowledge of your company. This allows
them to take advantage of the weaknesses at your facility with the intent to cause
harm. Insiders may include current or former employees who may hold a grudge against
the company, truckers making deliveries, and contractors providing cleaning and
maintenance services.
One way to decrease potential insider threats is for plant owners, managers and
employees to increase their awareness of several factors. These could be potential
actions and behaviors that could indicate someone may be collecting information for
criminal purposes.
Some examples of these actions are:
- Someone expressing unusual interest in your production processes.
- An employee or visitor in an unauthorized area.
- Unauthorized access to company information like blueprints and flow diagrams.
- Unusual photographing or observing of the facility.
- An individual making threats, either verbal, written or physical.
- Patterns of irregular behavior.
- And unexplained changes in work schedules or attempts to be alone in the
facility.
If an employee or other person exhibits any of these behaviors it could indicate a
potential threat to your customers, employees and business. Contact your local law
enforcement to report any suspicious activity.
For additional food defense information, talk to your FSIS inspector or front line
supervisor, or go to the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov.
Food defense! It’s about protecting your customers, your employees, and your business.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your feedback on our podcast. Or if you
have ideas for future podcasts, send us an e-mail at podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To learn more
about food safety, try our web site at www.fsis.usda.gov.
Thanks for tuning in.
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