Lone Workers
lone worker alarm and require a police response through a 999 call. Lone worker services that are fully compliant with the BS8484, are now able to apply for a Unique Reference Number (URN) from a police force in order to escalate the incident directly at a regional level, ensuring a more direct and guaranteed police approach. In July 2011, ACPO updated its guidelines to state that any BS8484 compliant solution should also be certified by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited body.
Psion and Connexion2 has worked together to couple mobile computing devices, used in the field, with a BS8484 compliant lone worker application so that companies can offer their employees additional protection. The units are equipped with a special GPS system that will detect its location even if GPS signal is temporarily interrupted. It is also known for its rugged engineering having been tested to withstand drops from six feet to concrete.
gyroscope and a digital compass. The sensors, working in combination, can be an ideal solution for a “man down” type situation. For example, if a user collapsed through illness, the EP10 would recognise the shock of the fall but then wait to detect any movement for a short period before triggering an automatic red alert. If the device was dropped but then picked up it wouldn’t react.
The type of lone worker solution suitable for reducing risk depends on the business and its employees. Some prefer a lone worker application such as Identicom that sits on a non- dedicated device that has another primary function. An Identicom mobile solution is for users facing infrequent risk typically. Therefore a dedicated device solution may be deemed unnecessary or too costly for whatever reason - this should be clarified by a risk assessment. Typical users could be area managers in the retail sector, delivery drivers, or on time service providers, managers who travel regularly.
of risk, reflected in an appropriate solution. This affects the key functions that are required whether it be any or several of Audio evidence capture, Man-Down alarm or GPS location data.
Organisations are quickly realising the hazards of lone The key driver for any solution should be an understanding Devices such as the Psion EP10 also have an accelerometer,
working and therefore the importance of keeping their employees safe has become an increasing concern. In addition, the Health and Safety Executive estimates the cost of a single physical assault to an organisation is in excess of £20,000. When compared with the cost of implementing an effective training and lone worker safety solution, which costs around 35 pence a day, the potential savings for well-prepared organisations are impressive.
With the issue of lone worker increasingly moving up the agenda, better solutions are needed in this industry. The true scale of potential for corporate manslaughter fines is so far unproven given that a large multi-national corporation has yet to be charged of this offence but this risk will continue to increase now that the new law has been put into effect. In the end, companies have a moral obligation to assure their work environment is as safe as possible.
*Source: The Telegraph, 18 February 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/8331798/First-corporate- manslaughter-conviction-industry-reaction.html
**Source: Attack Statistics taken as an average for 2008/09 from a variety of sector sources including the NHS, Retailers against crime, and Inside Housing. Slips, Trips and Falls statistics are taken from the Health & Safety Executive
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