We use option 2. We don't accompany the documents to destruction. That
is why we hire a company which is NAID certified, and whom we have
inspected and are comfortable with. If we weren't comfortable with them,
or if we were needing to spend time accompanying the documents we might
as well do it ourselves. If you want something done right do it yourself
is a fine motto to never get around to doing what you need to.

I recommend finding someone you can rely on and then rely on them.

-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Terry Schofield
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 1:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Shredding process evaluation


Hello, List.  I've spent much of my morning reading through the
archives; I'm
now ready to seek advice from the experts.

There's a long and frustrating story leading up to this question, but
I'll spare
you the details and throw out this question.

Question:  If you were to recommend a process for destroying /shredding
paper
records, which of the following two options would you choose:

Option 1 - An on-site vendor brings a truck to our campus, and drives to
each of
our four buildings collecting the contents of locking 64-gallon
containers and
shreds them in the respective parking lots. No one from our company is
tagging
along to witness the destruction of the materials.  A Certificate of
Destruction
is provided at the conclusion of the destruction, indicating the number
of
containers shredded. The Vendor, who is located out of state, is not
NAID
certified.  Not much information is available about the vendor because
their
website is a home page with no information available.  I believe they
are a
one-man operation.

Option 2 - An off-site destruction vendor, who comes to our site,
collects
locking 96-gallon containers from each of the four buildings and
replaces them
with empties.  No one from our company is accompanying them to collect
the
containers. Vendor takes the locked containers to their facility,
located about
20 miles from here, and shreds the contents of the collected containers
- no one
from my company is witnessing this destruction.  A Certificate of
Destruction is
sent to us providing the number of containers shredded.  The Vendor is
NAID
certified, and we have a successful relationship with them as our
offsite
storage vendor.

Additional details:
Cost is not a factor.
Materials being shredded could include our HR records, but other than
that, no
other "personal" information.
Materials being shredded also include business data for our member
companies,
and confidentiality is essential.
We are a profit-neutral company, and are heavily regulated by FERC.

I realize there are probably many other factors to consider, but given
the
situations described, do you see one as a riskier option than the other?

How critical is it to accompany a vendor and witness destruction?

I have a definite opinion on this.  I would really like to know which
option you
would choose and why.  I'm trying to assess if I'm off base with my
opinion, or
gather points to build an argument to support my opinion.

Thank you all for your anticipated feedback.

Terry Schofield
Sr. Records Management Analyst
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
(610) 666-4519


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Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance