Salvaging Government Records
Published 21st November, 11:47am
From Hazard Management Cayman Islands’ Joint Communications Service (JCS)
Salvaging Government Records, 2:00pm Thursday, 20 November 2008
The National Archive has one staff member, Ms Tricia Bodden, on Cayman Brac, helping District Administration and other government departments to assess the condition of their records and to provide advice on the salvaging of records.
The Archive would like to remind government employees that, since the National Archive and Public Records Law and the Freedom of Information Law were passed, government records may not be disposed of at will. Government employees that identify any damaged records, should contact Ms Bodden on the Brac or for further advice email: CINA@gov.ky, or telephone: 949 9809.
The National Archive offers the following steps to guide government employees with salvaging:
Salvaging Vital Records:
- Ensure that the area is safe to enter
- Assess the condition of the records and contact the National Archive or the representative working on the Brac
- Salvage vital records first as they are a priority in ensuring business continuity
- Place materials on a higher shelf or move to another location if possible but DO NOT DISCARD materials at will
- Remove as much water from area as possible
- Control the temperature and humidity by opening doors and windows or by circulating the air with fans, if possible
- Re-package damaged items, packaging the wettest first. Be careful when handling wet materials as they may be fragile
- Pack files vertically spine down in boxes. Do not lay flat. Do not pack too tightly
For further information contact: Susan Watler