How should inspectors handle confidential or sensitive information encountered during an inspection?

• A. Treat information as confidential, restrict access to authorized personnel, and follow agency data handling and privacy policies.
• B. Publish all information in a public report.
• C. Store sensitive material on unsecured devices.
• D. Share it with facility contractors for review.

Answer: (A)

Confidential or sensitive information must be safeguarded and handled under the agency’s privacy and data-handling rules. Only people with a legitimate need to know should access it, and it should be stored, transmitted, and disposed of using approved security measures. Following this approach—treating the information as confidential, restricting access to authorized personnel, and adhering to agency data handling and privacy policies—protects individuals and operations from unnecessary risk and ensures legal and procedural compliance. Publicly publishing the information would breach privacy, storing it on unsecured devices creates exposure, and sharing with contractors without proper authorization undermines confidentiality.