With British Summer Time officially ending on October 27, evenings will start drawing in and mornings will be darker – meaning increased personal safety risks for lone workers, a product firm says. iPointlive boss Steve Cole says it is the perfect time of the year for companies to re-examine their duty of care responsibilities.
Mr Cole said: “Dark winter nights and mornings, along with poor weather conditions, can bring added complications for employees, from increased road traffic accidents to personal safety issues. Now is the perfect time for firms to evaluate the policies they have in place to protect the estimated six million lone workers currently employed in the UK. Robust policies not only protect the safety and wellbeing of employees and give piece of mind to workers, but can also ensure that firms can help reduce the risk of prosecution under the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter Act.”
The Act, which came into force for work-related fatalities from 2008, means large and medium-sized companies can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter for deaths arising from management failures which constitute a gross breach of their duty of care.
The firm says that one way in which firms are able to comply with their duty of care is by implementing an intelligent employee monitoring system such as iPointlive’s Mobile Monitoring app, says Mr Cole. The software, launched in August, according to the makers delivers end-to-end real-time tracking and monitoring solutions via an employee’s existing GPS-enabled smartphone, turning the device into a monitoring tool that works whether employees are travelling via company or private vehicle, public transport or on foot.
Mr Cole said: “Knowing where all of your lone workers are and offering them real-time welfare checks at any point during the day not only provides reassurance to regulators – but most importantly gives piece of mind to you and your employees.
“Our software also carries out one simple check to show that all lone workers have returned safely to their designated base or home, no matter what time of the day or night.”
For more information visit www.ipointlive.co.uk or call 01564 711012.
