Lone worker protection for utility workers
Lone working is a key part of the job role for many employees in the utilities sector. The sector, which includes water, gas and electricity, employs a huge number of workers who face significant daily risks of injury, with large numbers of engineers working with dangerous elements, often on their own.
Service engineers visiting people’s homes to carry out repairs or those working in field sales cold calling customers to get sales, face the risk of verbal abuse or even physical attacks, whilst the different daily working addresses means it can be hard for employers can keep track of exactly where workers are.
There are also many roles in this sector that see workers spending their time outdoors, such as those maintaining supply in remote areas. This could include unmapped locations and areas with little to no mobile signal, possibly being based at different locations on a daily basis. Lone workers carrying out their jobs in these remote areas may experience great difficulty in receiving help whilst employers responsible for staff working outdoors and in remote areas will face a constant worry for their safety and wellbeing if suitable lone worker protection is not in place. A lone walker alarm will give protection to staff.
Our risk assessment
To carry out a risk assessment you need to think about what might cause harm to your employees and decide whether you are taking the reasonable steps needed to prevent any harm.
A risk assessment is something you are required to carry out by law. We have teamed up with lone working specialist trainer Jackie Dolan and created a comprehensive risk assessment for people within the utilities industry.
LONEALERT Solutions for working in the utility industry:
As with all sectors the level of risk depends on the job role - which can differ drastically. Workers could be working in people’s homes, dealing with customers who are deprived of a supply that is taken for granted, or working in extremely remote areas, by large water areas, high voltage electricity, at heights or with volatile materials. We have a variety of solutions that will help you, all of which are controlled by The O.W.L, so you can mix and match solutions to suit your needs. The O.W.L allows you to set up personalised or companywide escalation procedures that will come into effect as soon as an alarm is raised.
LONEALERT Access:
What is it?
Accessed via The O.W.L, landline, mobile phone or smartphone, LONEALERT Access is a simple, cost effective solution to benefit lower risk roles within this sector.
How it can work?
A worker, typically office based, is working on a report and needs to travel between a few assets and locations to verify information. Using the LONEALERT Access license on their phone, they simply key in their location and an expected duration and send this to The O.W.L. As all assets are labelled with a code, the worker simply sends this code in, rather than a full address, and The O.W.L knows where they are. After they finish, they simply log off from The O.W.L and all is well. Fast, convenient and cost-effective, Access is always in the pocket of occasional lone workers.
LONEALERT Instant:
What is it?
The Instant solution includes all products within the LONEALERT Access range, and adds access via a range of dedicated devices. GPS equipped with fall detection, panic and one button timer creation.
How it can work?
A Revenue Collections officer has an unenviable job, but it is water off a duck’s back. As they arrive in an area, they simply book in with a timer and details of the house, or street, where they are working. The Instant sits discreetly on a lanyard around their neck. In the event that they feel threatened, they quickly press the Panic button which connects them to our Control Room who can listen in, record what they hear and dispatch assistance as appropriate.
LONEALERT Plus:
What is it?
Plus includes LONEALERT Access, and all the safety features of Instant, but adds high durability, IP67 rated devices, with LCD screen for improved user feedback and advanced notifications, with Bolt-Ons for indoor locating workers.
How it can work?
John’s role requires him to travel all day to various locations on the network and ensure everything is running as it should do. He could be working at height, in confined spaces and a wide range of environments. His hands are full – either with tools or paperwork. Wearing his LONEALERT Instant means that he doesn’t have to worry about lone worker protection. He just does his work, and the Instant updates the O.W.L regularly with his location. Should he have an accident the alarm will be raised Instantly and help will be sent.
Locating John is made even easier in large locations by using Bolt-Ons. As he enters each facility the Plus device connects to an indoor locating beacon and advises The O.W.L of his exact location, even indoors! In a particularly hazardous area, he swipes an RF Tag which both reports his location down to room level and automatically sets up a timer event for John. When he finishes, he simply swipes the tag and he is booked out of the room, and off from his timer.
LONEALERT Anywhere:
What is it?
Including all products within the LONEALERT Access range, the Anywhere solutions is great for those who work in outdoor areas with very limited mobile signal.
How it can work?
Working in an area with poor mobile signal can be challenging. Anywhere devices can provided to staff, so even without mobile signal they can log-in and out of LONEALERT with GPS locations and raise a panic alarm if needed.
