In the past, employers have approached lone worker solutions as something they ‘have to have in order to comply with legislation’ rather than something that improves working practices and provides piece of mind to employees that their safety and security is safeguarded at all times.
In our experience, the key to ensuring employees adopt a lone worker solution is by purchasing one that is compatible for the devices they want to use or one that is compatible with the device they already use. It’s also important that employers don’t think that just because it’s ‘new’ that people will embrace it – they won’t. In most cases quite the opposite happens, especially if they already carry a number of other devices. This is why we recommend employers think about the environment that their employees currently work in. And, if they already have communication devices to talk with colleagues, suppliers and each other, that they assess whether it is possible to utilise this existing technology - as investing in a lone worker system is actually not always necessary and the solution needed could simply be a case of making existing infrastructure work smarter.
The fact is, the range of mobile solutions – whether it be a smartphone, radio or DECT system – is wide, but by looking at their existing technology, an employer can remove the risk of duplicating devices and systems unnecessarily and as a result is more likely to implement a solution that is best suited to its employees and the environment they’re in.
Moreover, lone worker alarm solutions aren’t just about triggering an alarm. What’s vital is that help arrives quickly and efficiently, so employers need to think about this too. Employees are less likely to use a solution if they have no confidence that help will arrive once they sound the alarm. Therefore, reviewing the entire process from start to finish – who will be alerted by the alarm, who will respond to it and who will investigate the alarm in more detail and locate the injured person – will provide employees with the reassurance they need should an incident occur. Having a system that enables employers to conduct an audit trail after every incident will furthermore help them improve the process.
It’s only through developing a full understanding of business needs that employers can identify the best-fit solution and seeking the counsel of a trusted telecommunications partner can help them to review available solutions and make an informed choice on the right one for their employees, their business and their budget.
To learn more about the types of lone worker solutions for different mobile devices or advice on your existing infrastructure, please give one our friendly team a call on 01494 833100 or email info@anttele.com
