The Calico Group, a housing group in East Lancashire, has given front-line staff lone worker device (LWD). In a contract with Connexion2, Calico has 150 Identicom devices including some with ‘man down’ detection.
Calico’s neighbourhood officers, float support officers and home support officers use the standard Identicom units while those working in more isolated places such as plumbers, gas engineers and carpenters will have the device with ‘man down’, in case they suffer a slip or fall. Previously Calico had used mobile phones, with an emergency code, to raise the alarm if a lone worker felt threatened. However this was found to be cumbersome and unreliable. Alerts went to Calico’s head office and if key staff were at a meeting or out of the office, an alert might go unnoticed for some time. Kerry Tattersall, Health and Safety Manager at Burnley-based Calico, said: “We invited six companies to pitch for the business and then short listed two companies’ devices to trial. The staff thought the Identicom device was fabulous and said it was a million times better than their previous system. All of the lone working staff now love the Identicom device and think it is brilliant.”
Now, when a user is entering a new or potentially hazardous situation, the user can activate the ‘Amber Alert’ function, this allows them to leave a 20-second voice message about who they are seeing and where, and what risks they are facing. This is accessed by the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) should there be a ‘Red Alert’ later on the device. In such an alert, ARC staff can discreetly listen in to what is happening and assess what’s required – involving the police if necessary. All audio captured through the device is recorded for future use as admissible evidence in court if required.
As manufacturers of Identicom, Connexion2 supply solutions direct to market through the SoloProtect brand while supplying indirectly through a number of authorised partners. Identicom has also been awarded ‘Secured by Design’ status by the Association of Chief Police Officers for England & Wales.
Supplied as part of Connexion2’s SoloProtect package, the Identicom fully managed solution comprises of fixed and inclusive monthly billing, SIM Card, all network use, a 24/7 audio-link facility to an ARC (alarm receiving centre), device training, monthly reporting on usage and a dedicated Customer Support team. Connexion provides SoloProtect solutions to thousands of lone workers in the UK – all are compliant with BS8484 (British Standard for Lone Worker Device Services) and as such guarantee a Police escalation at a regional level when required.
The Calico Group has four companies; Calico Homes, Calico Enterprise, East Lancashire Women’s Rescue and Ring Stones. Calico Homes manages 4,500 homes across Lancashire; Calico Enterprise works with others on projects across north west England; East Lancashire Women’s Rescue provides services for victims of domestic violence and abuse; and Ring Stones, a new company, does house maintenance and building.
About Connexion2
Formed in 2003, Connexion2 is approved through audit against sections 4, 5 and 6 of BS8484 – the British Standard for Lone Worker Device Services. Website: www.connexion2.com
