Tutors delivering training for a workforce development company have been equipped with a lone work safety device. Staffordshire-based edudo, which provides courses to the unemployed (edu4work) and those in work (edu@work), is offering the MySOS device from Skyguard to its employees.
It’s to protect lone workers when faced with a learner who is displaying emotional, unpredictable or challenging behaviour. The wearable device enables staff to alert colleagues to issues, or in extreme cases can send an alert to a monitoring centre operated by Skyguard, which can offer support or call in the emergency services.
Managing Director of edudo Ronan Smith said: “One of our top priorities as an employer is to look after the welfare of the edudo team. So it follows that lone working, finding yourself in unpredictable and challenging situations from time to time, personal safety is an issue we must take very seriously. Thankfully, none of the edudo team has in fact ever been harmed or needed to contact the emergency services, but the eduguard alert system allows me to sleep a little easier, knowing that if one of our tutors or support staff needs assistance, professional support is only the touch of a button away.”
Skyguard’s Marketing Director, Will Murray, added: “We are delighted to be working with edudo by providing 24/7 support and backup to their lone working staff. The safety of employees in the workplace is often an afterthought in many organisations, so it’s commendable that edudo have taken the lead on this in their industry.”
All of edudo’s permanent lone workers in the field are going through dedicated training on the multi-functional device, which also has a ‘fast dial’ button, for staff to make contact directly with their line manager, to receive advice and guidance on personal safety, safeguarding and health and safety. The device is GPS enabled – so it can transmit its exact location to the monitoring centre when the alarm is raised. Skyguard is also able to bypass the 999 system for a police response if required, due to its accreditations, saving time in an emergency. edudo is exploring the possibility of issuing the device to learners to help protect them when travelling alone.
Pictured from left are edudo Centre Manager and Learner Operations Anthony Hubbard; and edudo Customer Coordinator David Betteridge.
About Skyguard
Established in 2000, Skyguard offers personal safety devices linked to a purpose built, UK based, 24/7 Incident Management Centre certified to the standards BS 8484, and BS 5979 Category II. Visit http://www.skyguardgroup.com.
