Members of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) Lone Worker Section have shown support for this year’s National Personal Safety Day, an annual awareness day by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the UK personal safety charity. Its aim; to make people aware of simple, practical solutions that everyone can use to help avoid violence and aggression.
This year, the trust is urging young men to ‘Keep it REAL’ by being READY in case an incident occurs, EDUCATED about the dangers they could come into contact with, ALERT to danger and above all, to stay LEGAL. The charity warns that carrying a knife for self-defence not only increases risk but also carries with it a prison sentence of up to four years.
Rachel Griffin, Director of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, says: “Personal safety is an important issue for everyone, regardless of age, gender, where they live or what they do for a living. It is an issue that affects people with and without disabilities and from all walks of life, including children and young people. As much as young men may sometimes feel like they are invincible, they are not and so it is important for them to embrace the ideas behind keeping it REAL.”
The BSIA’s Lone Worker Section is reiterating to those who work in isolation or without supervision, the importance of staying safe.
Craig Swallow, Chairman of the BSIA’s Lone Worker section, says: “Millions of lone workers face personal safety issues daily. Members of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Section will be doing their bit to help raise awareness of National Personal Safety Day on October 7.”
The section adds that there are more than six million lone workers in the UK, across industry sectors, including transport, healthcare and retail. Often, these workers carry out their roles in places or circumstances that put them at potential risk.
For businesses that employ lone workers, awareness of their legal obligations to keep these workers safe is essential, the section says. Failure to do so could, in the worst case, result in accident or even death, along with hefty consequences under new Corporate Manslaughter laws.
As such, it is essential for companies employing lone workers to ensure that a risk assessment is carried out; and that the lone worker has the relevant resources, training and information to work on their own safely. Procedures should also be in place in case a lone worker has an accident or signals an emergency.
Craig Swallow adds: “Encouraging lone workers and anyone else to consider risk, particularly when they are alone is extremely important. Simple dynamic risk assessments have been proven to save lives.”
The Lone Worker Section members have developed devices and mobile apps which connect employees with an emergency response system that has links to the police should an incident occur. They have also published a range of guidance available to download from the BSIA’s website: visit: http://www.bsia.co.uk/sections/lone-workers.aspx.
