Despicable Me 2

Implementing Lone Worker Protection Devices at BSKYB

Robert GathergoodBSKYB

• Introduction

• BSKYB’s perceived need

• Proposed solutions

• Lone Worker Protection Device

– Trial and Selection

–Challenges

–Key Points

• Examples

Agenda

• I have no professional background or specific expertise in H&S

• I picked up responsibility for chairing a H&S Committee

• Focus was on a group of approx. 40 engineers engaged in potentially hazardous operations some of our unmanned telecom facility sites

and areas of fibre optic network routed under roads and in

some cases canal towpaths:

- Manual handling

- Working at heights

- Working in confined spaces

- Electrical working

- Hot works, to name but a few

Introduction

• What if an engineer fails to arrive for a job and cannot be contacted?

• What if an engineer fails to arrive home and his family cannot contact him?

• What if an engineer has an accident while working alone at one of our unmanned sites?

• What if an engineer has an accident while en-route to a site or home?

• What if an engineer is attacked or threatened whilst en-route to or at one of our sites?

Perceived Need

• What if an engineer fails to arrive for a job and cannot be contacted?

• What if an engineer fails to arrive home and his family cannot contact him?

• What if an engineer has an accident while working alone at one of our unmanned sites?

• What if an engineer has an accident while en-route to a site or home?

• What if an engineer is attacked or threatened whilst en-route to or at one of our sites?

These questions make us recognise and consider not just the task but also:

– The entire journey to/from the place of work and home

– Outside unforeseen influences

Perceived Need

Not usually included inthe standard RA/MS

• What if an engineer fails to arrive for a job and cannot be contacted?

• What if an engineer fails to arrive home and his family cannot contact him?

• What if an engineer has an accident while working alone at one of our unmanned sites?

• What if an engineer has an accident while en-route to a site or home?

• What if an engineer is attacked or threatened whilst en-route to or at one of our sites?

• First Step

– Personal risk assessments

–Review of all lone worker tasks and functions

Perceived Need

• What if an engineer fails to arrive for a job and cannot be contacted?

• What if an engineer fails to arrive home and his family cannot contact him?

Perceived Need

• What if an engineer fails to arrive for a job and cannot be contacted?

• What if an engineer fails to arrive home and his family cannot contact him?

• Communication and Information

–Notification of whereabouts and schedules

Perceived Need

• What if an engineer fails to arrive for a job and cannot be contacted?

• What if an engineer fails to arrive home and his family cannot contact him?

• Communication and Information

–Notification of whereabouts and schedules

–Contact numbers

Perceived Need

• What if an engineer has an accident while working alone at one of our unmanned sites?

• What if an engineer has an accident while en-route to a site or home?

• What if an engineer is attacked or threatened whilst en-route to or at one of our sites?

Perceived Need

• What if an engineer has an accident while working alone at one of our unmanned sites?

• What if an engineer has an accident while en-route to a site or home?

• What if an engineer is attacked or threatened whilst en-route to or at one of our sites?

• Hazard and Emergency Management

–Man down

– Personal threats

…… Lone Worker

Protection Device

Perceived Need

Lone Worker Protection Device

3 Devices Assessed

2 Devices TrialedOver a 4 Month Period

1 Vendor/DeviceSelected

700 Now Deployed

Lone Worker Protection Device

3 Devices Assessed

2 Devices TrialedOver a 4 Month Period

1 Vendor/DeviceSelected

700 Now Deployed

Assessment CriteriaService Features:• Monitoring Centre• BS5979 Compliancy• Costs

Device Features:• Man Down Alarms• Panic Alarms• Battery Low Alarm• GPS Enabled• Choice of Carrier• BS8484 Compliancy

Lone Worker Protection Device

3 Devices Assessed

2 Devices TrialedOver a 4 Month Period

1 Vendor/DeviceSelected

700 Now Deployed

Assessment CriteriaService Features:• Monitoring Centre• BS5979 Compliancy• Costs

Device Features:• Man Down Alarms• Panic Alarms• Battery Low Alarm• GPS Enabled• Choice of Carrier• BS8484 Compliancy

Trial CriteriaService Features:• Alarm Responsiveness• Vendor Responsiveness• Vendor Support• Device Administration

Device Features:• Look and Feel• Ease of Use• Battery Life• GPS Functionality• Mobile Coverage• Reliability

Challenges

• User Reluctance

–Macho culture discouraged take up and use of the LWP

• Data Integrity– User data changes frequently

– Car details, contact details, escalation details, etc all need to be maintained

• Discipline

– Spot checks on all items of PPE

–Review of LWP device usage logs

Quality of the Monitoring Centre is vital

Key Points

Quality of the Monitoring Centre is vital

Consider carefully which mobile carrier is used

Key Points

Quality of the Monitoring Centre is vital

Consider carefully which mobile carrier is used

Regular Data housekeeping is essential

Key Points

Quality of the Monitoring Centre is vital

Consider carefully which mobile carrier is used

Regular Data housekeeping is essential

Service support from the Vendor is invaluable

Key Points

Quality of the Monitoring Centre is vital

Consider carefully which mobile carrier is used

Regular Data housekeeping is essential

Service support from the Vendor is invaluable

Convince the users of the benefits (not just inform them)

Involve (some of) the users in the device selection

Try to make the use of the device a routine part of the day

Obtain and follow up on usage reports

Replace faulty devices immediately

Key Points

To counter user reluctance

• Out of 700 devices there have been 4 genuine red alerts:– 2 x random unprovoked verbal/physical aggression from an external party

– 2 x attempted mugging/theft from an external party

– And many more instances where the device was not used

• To be effective:– The user must have been given a working device and appropriate training

– The user has to carry and activate the device (and maintain the battery charge)

– The service centre has to respond to the call correctly and quickly

– The data held by the service centre must be up to date and accurate

Examples

Questions