This is the Peoplesafe half marathon team

Left to right – Alicia Mather, Gavin Rigg, Thomas Atherton, David Atkins, Paul Henderson, Lucy Tointon, Ian Johannessen (Missing from photo – Chris Chambers.

Please help us raise some cash for MERU and Macmillan

http://www.justgiving.com/peoplesafemeru

http://www.justgiving.com/peoplesafemacmillan

A charity that works with homeless people in Cornwall has turned to lone worker experts Peoplesafe to protect its staff.

St Petrocs Society helps single homeless people with immediate problems like food and bedding, and longer term issues such as securing accommodation and paying rent. The society runs outreach programmes, supported housing projects and advice centres across the county.

The charity turned to Peoplesafe after its previous lone working solution provider let it down.

Operations manager Richard Bryant said: “As an employer we have a duty of care to our staff who can be faced with challenging situations and we must do all we can to ensure their well-being. “Having equipment that links them up to a 24/7 monitoring centre makes staff feel safer too.”

Peoplesafe have provided St Petrocs with Identicoms, which are identity badges incorporating a panic alarm and a listening-in device; Sonim XP3 Sentinel mobile phones, which are said to be the toughest in the world and have features including GPS, and specially adapted lone worker smartphones.

“The advice and support offered by Peoplesafe was exceptional,” said Richard. “They listened carefully to what we wanted and provided us with equipment and a service that really suits our needs,” he said. “Staff now can get on with their job of helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society knowing that someone is watching out for them.”

St Petrocs was set up in 1986 at the instigation of the then Bishop of St Germans, based in Truro. Today it is supported by the current bishop, the Reverend Roy Screech, and many local churches, businesses and organisations. It also has a “friends” support group. Ian Johannessen, managing director of Peoplesafe, said: “By issuing lone workers with these devices St Petrocs has shown that they take the safety of their employees very seriously. “They face a tough job out on the streets of Cornwall and anything that can make that job a bit easier and safer must benefit not only the staff, but also the people they work with.”

For more information about St Petrocs Society click below:

According to new research commissioned by Orange, while nearly half (46%) of people in full time employment identify themselves as lone workers, the term actually applies to over two-thirds (71%), including those who work alone in situations such as being late in the office (30%) or travelling to meetings on public transport (25%).

The Orange Guide to Working Safely Alone can help advise businesses in the UK on how to support their lone workers and what they could do to help meet their legal responsibility to keep employees as safe as possible when working alone.

As advances in smartphones and communications technology enable remote connection to business networks, nearly one in five (18%) people now spends over 50% of their time as a lone worker. The research revealed that half of those questioned (49%) admitted they’ve felt uncomfortable while working alone, yet 45% did not take action as they were nervous about the consequences (42%), or felt threatened by a person’s behaviour and didn’t want to make it worse (37%). The Orange Guide to Working Safely Alone addresses these findings and aims to empower employees to be more confident in worrying situations, offering tips on how to act to avoid situations escalating. With additional expert tips and guidance from Suzy Lamplugh Trust, this guide will be available for employers and employees to download for free from the Orange Business website.

Martin Stiven, Vice President of Business at Orange, part of Everything Everywhere said: “No matter what size your business, keeping employees safe has to be a priority. We worked with Suzy Lamplugh Trust to gain their expertise for developing the Orange guide to working safely alone.

This follows on from two strategic partnerships we announced last yeariv, which allowed us to offer specialised solutions to public and private sector organisations with lone workers. These help provide 24/7 peace of mind for employers and employees alike when off-site through tailored support options, including a discreet panic button and GPS tracking.” “Orange recognises the growing need to provide businesses with easy to use, reliable tools that can help them take care of their employees’ wellbeing in the way that suits them best, and the launch of this guide supports that aim.”

Catherine Skinner, Director, Suzy Lamplugh Trust said: “This guide is a great starting point for people to understand how to respond to threatening or uncomfortable situations. It can also direct businesses to further courses and information if they want more detail for any reason. Access to Orange’s network of business customers will help us raise awareness amongst employers of personal safety for those members of staff who work alone, even if that’s only for 30 minutes a week.”

Full press release

Lone worker guide

Peoplesafe and Orange

We are running the Sheffield Half Marathon on the 8th May 2011 to raise money for two of our favourite charities.

Any contribution is highly appreciated, we will keep you updated on our training progress!

M.E.R.U

MERU provides custom-made items that are not available commercially. We are often looked on as a ‘last resort’, when no solution can be found, and often the need is urgent. We do not take on projects where a ready-made solution can be obtained, though we can often advise or refer people to other sources of help.

Once we have accepted a project we first carry out a thorough assessment, involving the health, social care and education professionals working with the young person. We then design the item needed, and this often requires a huge range of different skills drawn from within our own team and from outside resources. This may involve several trial versions which need careful testing. The final product is then manufactured on site, in our comprehensive workshop facility by our highly skilled engineering team. A thorough risk assessment process takes place to ensure each item is safe, appropriate and effective. It is then provided for the young person to use, and we are on hand to carry out any maintenance required during the lifetime of the product.

Visit their website below for more details

http://www.meru.org.uk/

And click below to sponsor us!

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. We provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. We are all affected by cancer. We can all help. We are Macmillan.

Visit their website at:

http://www.macmillan.org.uk

And click below to sponsor us!

Two housing associations responsible for thousands of homes in the Worcestershire area have teamed up with lone worker safety expert Peoplesafe to protect frontline staff. Worcestershire’s biggest landlords Worcester Community Housing (WCH) and the Rooftop Housing Group have equipped workers with discreet alarms disguised as identity card holders.

 As well as the two Worcestershire housing associations, Peoplesafe has a long portfolio with housing associations across the UK and is committed to helping social housing staff through the current difficult times by boosting confidence among high risk employees. The Identicom device allows workers to perform a ‘safe and well’ check and has a ‘red alert’ button which opens an audio channel to Peoplesafe’s 24-hour monitoring centre if they are faced with verbal or physical violence. The device has a GPS option allowing the user’s location to be instantly pinpointed. The device can also include a ‘man down’ motion sensor which raises the alarm if the Identicom is immobilised or subject to an impact. WCH, which has a total workforce of 180, has 70 Identicoms in operation. Community wardens, trades operatives, income recovery staff and allocations managers have been issued with the device while pool units are available for office-based staff making occasional unaccompanied visits.

Nina Chinery, Head of Supported Housing, said: “Our previous system involved using a mobile phone where staff entered a PIN number and a time limited period. This was not actively monitored and an alert would only be raised if the employee failed to ‘log off’. “We needed to respond to the concerns of our lone working staff and their unions. The Peoplesafe units provide a discreet arrangement which give our staff confidence in that they can call for help, if they need it, at any time of the day or night. Staff feel much safer now knowing they have an immediate ability to access help if they encounter a problem.”

Bob Callaghan, Facilities, Health and Safety Manager at the Rooftop Housing Group, said with recent expansion of the business the company had renewed their contract with Peoplesafe and increased the number of devices in operation because of the company’s excellent service and the high usage of the devices among their staff. He commented: “Increasingly we find that members of our workforce are operating away from their desk and at irregular times. The range of staff we have using the Identicoms includes housing officers to community liaison coordinators and building inspectors. In fact, even our group chief executive has a unit.

“Feedback from staff has always been positive with the main impact being the feeling of safety and security. Identicoms give them the confidence to enter unsupervised areas and deal with potentially difficult situations. Our experience is that our residents and other members of the public also respond positively to the units. Seeing our staff wearing them actually provides them with a feeling of security as well. We wouldn’t send any of our lone workers anywhere without them and they have proved a great help in enabling us to fulfil our duty of care to our employees.” Legislative rulings such as the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2008 mean that employers have a legal responsibility for ensuring the safety of staff.

Peoplesafe is one of the UK’s leading providers of simple and lightweight lone worker safety equipment and monitoring. Unlike many of its competitors, it operates independently of any device manufacturer, instead offering services tailor-made to individual needs. Peoplesafe can integrate its unique software into PDAs, BlackBerrys and smartphones including the Sonim XP3 Sentinel – the world’s most rugged mobile phone. All Peoplesafe’s products fully comply with the British Standard 8484 code of practice for the provision of lone worker device services. In addition, Peoplesafe’s holistic approach means it can also offer individual risk assessments, training and legal guidance. Ian Johannessen, Managing Director of Peoplesafe, said: “We recognise the important role that housing associations play in our communities. We are very pleased to be working with these two major landlords in the Worcestershire area to provide a technical solution to ensure the safety of their staff and help them meet their employers’ duty of care.”

Snow Pictures

To enter please email your picture to sales@peoplesafe.co.uk with your name, company, address and telephone number. The top 5 pictures will win a free hamper! Winners will be announced on Monday 14th December.

Keep checking back for new entries!

Client Entries

Submitted by Cindy, RRM Partnership

Submitted by Mike, British Gas, Buxton

I parked my car out on the main road (in Buxton, Derbyshire) so that I would be able to get out easier in the morning – woke up to find it like this ! Suffice is to say, it did not go anywhere so I pinched my mother-in-laws 4×4 and used that instead !

Submitted by Sophie, Outreach Sefton, Bradford

Please find attached to this email a photograph of one of our Home Care Workers, Yvonne Hedley. She is working in Bradford where we provide Home Care to over 40 elderly and disabled Service Users. Yvonne braved the snow storm to do the shopping and deliver it to our most vulnerable Service Users. Most of our Care Workers have had to abandon their cars and walk from house to house in an attempt to continue to provide care. They are a credit to our Company and to the Social Care Sector! (Kara Nelson, Outreach Sefton)

Submitted by Simon, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management – Southampton

 Peoplesafe’s snow pictures

Sonin XP3 Sentinel – Perfect for hazardous conditions – Built in Man down Montion Sensors for slips, trips and falls

Almost two foot outside our Sheffield offices!

Submitted by Lucy  - Marketing

View from my house, wheres the car?

Submitted by Louise, Client services

Louise and Rachel’s transport method to get home!

Sumitted by Paul, Product Development Manager

Pictures from Ireland – one word – brrrr!!

Submitted by Sim, Sales Manager

hahahaha!

Submitted by Alicia, Field Sales Manager

View of Alicia’s garden in Chesterfield

Submitted by Martin, Sales Director

Doveridge, Derbyshire

Win a Free Hamper with Peoplesafe – Send us your best ‘At work snow pictures’ 

Send your entry to sales@peoplesafe.co.uk with your name, address and telephone number 

We are giving 5 hampers away so get snapping and enter today – See our picture below!

Almost 2 foot of snow outside our offices in Sheffield!

Track your staff and ensure their safety with Peoplesafe 

The ‘big freeze’ that gripped the whole of the UK this week  has highlighted the dangers faced by lone workers, particularly those who rely solely on their cars to perform their lone working commitments.

 Heavy snow, treacherous black ice and sustained periods of sub-zero temperatures have all ensured that what should have been simple journeys normally in some cases become highly dangerous ordeals.

Do you know where your staff are? 

Do you know if they are safe and well? 

Do you have a lone worker system in place?

Does it work…everytime?

How can Peoplesafe help?

Peoplesafe offer a variety of ways to keep your lone workers safe. Even using a simple mobile phone, Peoplesafe can provide a method of keeping lone workers safe

• GPS enabled mobile phones can transmit a workers location at regular intervals to a managers desktop
• Checking in and checking out of hazardous conditions is made easy with the Peoplesafe ‘Amber Alert’ System
• A red alert can be raised at any time to alert our 24/7 monitoring ststaion where our operators are trained to handle all emergency situations
• We will locate and assist the worker in an emergency
• Motion Sensors can detect if a worker is mobile and safe

General tips for working in the snow

• Ask yourself the question ‘is this journey really necessary or essential or can it wait? If it can’t be postponed, check the weather forecasts and keep updated on local travel information. Plan routes to favour major roads which are more likely to have been gritted and also ensure you have sufficient fuel for the journey.
  General winter driving advice
• Batteries/Electrics – According to motoring organisations, winter driving requires special care and a little extra preparation to avoid a breakdown or accident. Excessive use of  lights, heaters and windscreen wipers places high demands on car batteries, particularly if the car is driven mainly in dark rush-hour trips. Motorists should therefore avoid running car electrics any longer than necessary – turn the heater fan down and switch the heated rear window off once windows are clear.
• Antifreeze – A 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water in the cooling system is needed in winter. This gives maximum protection down to  -34° centigrade, without it, severe engine damage can occur.
• Vision -  Improve vision by making sure that the windscreen is clean inside and out. Use air conditioning for faster demisting and to reduce condensation on cold windows. Clear snow from the roof as well as from windows. Snow piled up on the roof can fall onto the windscreen obscuring your view and can also be a hazard to other road users.
• Lights - Check that all bulbs are working and that headlights are clean. You must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced. You may also use front or rear fog lights but these must be switched off when visibility improves as they can dazzle other road users and obscure your brake lights.
• Tyres – Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth. At least 3mm of tread is recommended for winter motoring. Don’t reduce tyre pressures to get more grip as this reduces stability. Check you have a working jack and wheel brace, and that you know how to change a wheel if necessary. Consider changing to winter or all season tyres which give better grip in cold wet conditions.
• Driving in snow and ice – Stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow and so gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving. Select second gear when pulling away, easing the foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin. Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear well in advance remembering to  always apply brakes gently.
• Be Prepared !  – Go to your vehicle at least 10 minutes early to give enough time to prepare the car. Carry a fully charged mobile phone or other lone worker safety alert system, along with a torch, blanket, warm coat, boots and shovel. A flask of hot drink, cold water and supply of emergency food is advisable should you become stranded for long or even overnight periods.
• In the event of a breakdown/becoming stranded – Consider your surroundings. If you are located in a remote area it may be advisable to remain in your vehicle until help arrives. If you decide to leave your vehicle, leave a note in a prominent location inside stating where you are going and be physically prepared for the elements outside, however remaining with your vehicle is often the safest option.

Further guidance:

Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s safety advice over the festive period Click Here

Highway Agency advice on driving in the winter Click Here

Award winning housebuilder Crest Nicholson has been shortlisted for the Safer Workplace category as part of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s National Personal Safety Awards. The trust was set up in the memory of an estate agent who went missing while working alone and the awards celebrate the work being done across the UK to keep people safe from violence and aggression.

Peoplesafe has provided the Crest Nicholson sales teams with 78 Identicom i757s identity badges, which feature discreet personal panic alarms and have a unique ‘listening-in’ facility.

Martyn Price, head of health and safety for Crest Nicholson, said: “At Crest Nicholson we place a huge amount of emphasis on looking after our staff, and in a people-oriented business such as ours, the sales teams are one of our greatest assets. Guaranteeing their safety in the workplace is a massive priority and it is therefore a great honour for us to be in the finals of this award.

“One of the benefits of working with a company such as Peoplesafe is that it has not only provided us with a highly respected lone worker solution for our particular needs, but has also carried out face-to-face training with all of our staff. They keep in regular contact with the Identicom users, to remind them of simple, but important things, like remembering to recharge the device, and this has been particularly helpful in terms of ensuring that essential safety measures always stay front of mind.”

Crest Nicholson is one of the leading regeneration developers in the UK. With nearly 70 sites around the country, the company is renowned not just for building new homes, but for creating vibrant sustainable communities. The company places an emphasis on delivering well-designed, quality and affordable homes and, with a dedicated sales team committed to supporting this objective, guaranteeing the safety and security of employees is of paramount importance. 

Users of the Identicom can raise the alarm if they are at risk or feel uneasy in any given situation. Pressing a dedicated panic button will alert Peoplesafe’s 24/7 monitoring station, allowing staff to listen in, locate the user and arrange the appropriate action to assist them. There is also a “safe and well” check, where lone workers can contact the monitoring station, leaving a message and location, which will “time out” after a specified time, prompting the user to be contacted to check they are alright. If they do not respond, this will escalate to red alert mode.

The i757 Identicom issued to Crest Nicholson’s employees is a GPS version of the Identicom, allowing for a more accurate location in the event of the alarm being raised.

Ian Johannessen, managing director of Peoplesafe, said: “By issuing lone workers with these devices Crest Nicholson has shown that they take the safety of their employees very seriously.

“Having 24/7 monitoring can take a lot of the worry out of having lone workers out in the field and it means businesses can get on with the job more efficiently and safely – and workers know that they are being looked after. It makes sense on all sides.”

It is estimated that 6.8 million people spend all or part of their working day alone.  Peoplesafe is one of the UK’s leading providers of simple and lightweight equipment and monitoring to keep employees as safe as possible.

Unlike many of its competitors, it operates independently of any device manufacturer, offering services based on the needs of individual lone workers.

As well as the Identicom, Peoplesafe supplies its clients with specially adapted PDAs and Blackberrys, and the Sonim XP3 mobile phone, said to be the most rugged in the world. All the equipment is backed up by the 24/7 monitoring station and the knowledge that all Peoplesafe’s products fully comply with the British Standard 8484 code of practice for the provision of lone worker device services.

Peoplesafe’s other clients include housebuilders Persimmon and TaylorWimpey, retailers like Argos, Halfords and Carphone Warehouse, and leading car parking company Q Park.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust was set up in memory of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh who went missing after going to meet a man, called Mr Kipper, who wanted to view a house in Fulham, west London nearly a quarter of a century ago. Suzy’s body has not been found. However, she has been presumed murdered and legally declared dead. Her parents Paul and Diana founded the trust to highlight the risks people on their own face and to offer advice, action and support to minimise those risks.

Jo Walker, campaigns and communications officer at the trust, said: “All employees who come into contact with the general public can potentially be at risk of violence and aggression. However, anyone on their own – without the support and back up of colleagues – is more vulnerable than most. Lone workers need systems and procedures that protect their safety.”

The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony in London on November 20.

Lone workers are particularly vulnerable to attack or accidents at night, although the level of risk varies depending on the location and surroundings. With the clocks going back this weekend, employees may feel worried about working or travelling home when it is dark as visibility is restricted and can be hard to judge surrounding environments

Lone working systems are the best course of action if an incident does occur, however common sense and training may help to prevent potentially harmful situations arising.

Personal Safety Tips for your employees working in the dark

• Plan ahead. Make sure you know where you are going and how to get there. If you are catching a bus or train, find out the times to avoid waiting for long periods at bus stops or stations.
• When walking, stick to busy well-lit streets whenever possible. Avoid danger spots like quiet or badly lit alleyways, subways or isolated car parks.
• If you do have to pass danger spots, think about what you would do if you felt threatened. The best idea is to head for a public place where you know there will be other people, for example a garage or pub.
• Avoid passing stationary cars with their engines running and people sitting in them and whenever practical walk facing on coming traffic to avoid curb crawlers.
• Stay alert and keep your mind on your surroundings – remember if you are wearing headphones or chatting on a mobile phone, you will not hear trouble approaching.
• If you think you are being followed, trust your instincts and take action. As confidently as you can, cross the road turning and look to see who is behind you. If you are still being followed, keep moving. Make for a busy area and tell people what is happening.
• Try not to keep all your valuables in one place. Instead place valuables such as wallets in an inside pocket or use a money belt.
• Try to keep both hands free and don’t walk with your hands in your pockets.
• Consider carrying a personal safety alarm, which can be used to get help immediately and discreetly.

(Suzy Lamplugh Trust Website 2010)

The mobile industry must do more to promote the efficiency and productivity benefits it can offer both public and private sector organisations, according to leading industry figures.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the Government’s Spending Review (October 20), in which chancellor George Osborne outlined spending cuts totalling over £80 billion and public sector job losses of more than 490,000, industry voices said workforce management will be a hot topic going forward and mobile technology offers a viable solution.

Lone worker technology provider Rocksure Systems managing director Ian Johannessen (pictured, bottom right) said organisations will make cuts from back-end operations and look for efficiencies as they aim to protect front-line services, and said: “There are many ways businesses can be more efficient in the use of smart technologies, such as smartphones, to manage workers, allocate them jobs and track their working day.

“Workforce management is a huge huge opportunity for businesses to save money without compromising on quality of services.”

But, said Johannessen, the mobile industry must better promote the services it can offer. “The mobile sector is probably not doing enough. There has been basic PDA applications around for a long time, but they have been clunky and expensive.

“We are now talking about workforce management for the masses through smartphones, and the mobile industry is doing a good job but needs to get the success stories covered better. We need to talk about examples more than features.”

Iain Sinnott, former Timico head of indirect sales and now director of his own company SMECO, (pictured, bottom left) agreed in principal with Johannessen, but said business must do more to help themselves.

Sinnott said: “From the mobile and communications side we have to find a better way of expressing to businesses that a way to pay people 10 per cent less is to get them doing 10 per cent more.

“But likewise business have to wake up and learn that lesson. Businesses should listen to us more carefully about which products can deliver what they’re looking for in cost savings.”

Sinnott added that business bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the CBI should be doing their bit to drive interest in mobile technology.

Sinnott, who is in the first throws of acquiring customers for SMECO, which launched on September 1, said: “I’m in the midst of cold calling people, and frankly they’re not listening enough this early in our relationship to hear what I’m saying. Bodies with influence on the business community have to get employers to open their eyes and look at the tools available.

“The danger is businesses get scared and start believing that the only thing to do in a cost cutting environment is to cut costs and not do anything else, when quite the opposite is true in fact.”

Quocirca principal analyst for service provision and mobility Rob Bamforth (pictured, top right) said there will be opportunities arising as a result of the spending cuts, although they will vary from business to business. Larger existing telecoms suppliers may even find themselves frozen out, he said.

He said: “Larger, incumbent suppliers will find themselves not quick enough to respond and not nimble enough to deal with these opportunities. Smaller, more nimble organisations will be better placed.

“And if you’re an existing supplier, you’re likely to be squeezed harder as companies and government departments look beyond you to save money as you’re already in place.”

Bamforth said outsourcing will be the main way businesses look to cut costs going forward, although, again, there will be winners and losers.

“The two ends of the value chain will become increasingly important. Those close to customers, and those close to the core technology, such as networks, will benefit. Those in the middle, consultants, integrators and the like, will struggle more as they are only adding value and running a margin-on-margin business model.”

This, Bamforth said, suits the network model well as they have a connection to customers supported by the underlying network technology. However, their success will depend on if they recognise these strengths. “They have strong assets in their customer base and the network itself, but will they be able to deliver?,” Bamforth asked.

Unified communications provider Outsourcery chief executive officer Piers Linney (pictured, top left) said outsourcing will be evidenced through the increasing use of cloud-based technologies.

“Companies are looking to new technologies to empower them to be more competitive and agile in tough market conditions, which will enable them to do more with less,” he said.

“This is fundamentally changing the way in which companies are working as they take advantage of the cuts to drive change within the business which has included adoption of practices such as remote working and outsourcing.”

Linney continued: “The fastest adoption is from companies on a fast growth curve but we are finding that all organisations are looking to benefit from the savings and efficiencies that are possible from cloud technologies.

“It now makes absolutely no sense for a small or medium-sized business, and even many smaller corporates, to invest in and maintain IT and communications infrastructure.”

Full article: http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2010/10/industry-must-talk-more-with-business/