Building a lone-worker system to overcome workplace challenges
With the costs of breaching HSE regulations on lone-worker safety rising, and the regulations themselves becoming more stringent, the duty of care employers have towards their lone workers is more important than ever. ANT Telecom is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 16th April 2014 at 1pm where attendees can learn how we've worked with customers to provide systems that:
' Keeps lone workers in touch with colleagues
' Raises an alarm in an emergency, even when staff are unable to do so themselves
Don't let your workers fall off the grid
In an industrial environment, lone workers may be maintenance staff working alone, night staff monitoring alarm systems out of hours, or even site managers in locations where they are the only staff member present. These individuals work in a variety of situations that make it challenging for them to keep in touch with colleagues and difficult to locate them in an emergency. For example, electromagnetic interference may block communications and, in many cases, the sheer size or remoteness of the location or the fact that a site is underground, can make communication and locating people problematic. If a lone worker is the only person on site, they need to be able to respond to events across the site as they occur, from wherever they happen to be at that point in time. If these issues are not addressed, then the effectiveness of your lone workers can suffer because they are unable to communicate with their colleagues reliably. Crucially, it can also make their work more hazardous. If they're injured, rescue may be delayed because people monitoring the site are unaware that there has been an accident and don't know the casualty's location.
Raising the alarm
If there is an accident on site, or in an emergency, the other vital function of a lone worker system is the ability to send alarms to colleagues so they can be located and rescued. There are a variety of different methods used to raise an alarm in an emergency. Most systems feature a panic button allowing lone workers to quickly request help at the push of a button, even if they cannot talk. Other systems use 'tilt' sensors, which trigger an alarm if they sense the wearer falling over. Another popular system requires the staff member to 'check-in' by responding to a message at pre-arranged intervals; if they miss a check-in, an alarm will be raised. These last two solutions have an advantage in that they will raise an alarm even if the individual has been rendered unconscious or otherwise unable to raise the alarm themselves.
For most businesses, a combination of both alarm and communications systems will be needed to create a lone-worker system that can adequately meet their needs.
The variety of systems on the market means that for many businesses like yours, selecting the best solution can be a major undertaking. ANT Telecom takes the time to understand the unique requirements of your business so that we can work with you to devise a lone worker system that's just right for you. We can select from a range of technologies such as IP DECT, Digital Radio, VoWiFi and Private Mobile Networks and can help you identify the right technology to perfectly match your requirements.
On Wednesday 16th April, at 1pm, ANT Telecom is hosting a webinar to show you the benefits a tailor-built communications solution can deliver. With 30 years' experience working with the likes of Covance, Severn Trent Water as well as pharmaceutical giants and international whiskey distillers this is a must-attend event for anyone who is interested in helping their business keep turning, keep running, and keep safe. To sign up for the webinar, visit www.anttele.com/webinar.
