BSIA Briefing Finally, economic pressure on organisations has led to longer opening hours for businesses and more employees working on their own. With greater economic uncertainty ahead, and organisations under increasing financial pressure, it’s likely that even more individuals will be involved in lone working – either in fulltime roles, or at least during parts of their normal working day. While some organisations may view lone worker systems as an additional and potentially unnecessary expense, more and more are coming to realise that the consequences of not providing adequate safety systems for their members of staff can be disastrous. Additionally, more organisations are becoming aware of the other benefits that these systems can bring, among them improved staff morale, happier workforces which feel more valued by their employers and more efficient lone working methods thanks to the use of the latest technology which saves time for staff and management. Businesses are becoming more responsible and want to be perceived as such by their employees, customers, shareholders and the wider public as part of their brand values. Technology developments When looking at how lone worker safety and security technology might advance in the future, it’s important to examine how it has developed to date. There has already been a huge number of technical advances in this industry in the space of only a few years. There’s now a wide range of specialist devices boasting different features that make them suited to particular environments and job roles. As is the case with most technology products, devices have become more powerful but shrunk in size, making them more convenient to carry and, importantly for this market, far more discreet. Additionally, the proliferation of (and advances in) smart phones, Apps and accessories has enabled suppliers to offer end user customers a convenient alternative to carrying a separate device by building upon these platforms. There have also been improvements in terms of the central systems and server-side technology provided by suppliers. Bearing this “While some organisations may view lone worker systems as an additional and potentially unnecessary expense, more and more are coming to realise that the consequences of not providing adequate safety systems can be disastrous” in mind, we can expect that there will be more choice in the form and type of product that customers choose to carry with them, more convenient products, increased customisation and flexibility in services and the enhanced use of smart phone and tablet-based Apps. As is evident in any industry sector that’s still developing and evolving, there are challenges to be confronted both now and into the future. Organisations are gaining a greater understanding of the benefits of lone worker systems, but many still see them as unnecessary, only realising their true worth when a serious incident befalls a member of staff (by which point it’s often too late). Staff can also react negatively to the implementation of a lone worker system, seeing it as a way for management to ‘spy’ on them, or they can simply be resistant to changing their daily working habits. Some industry stakeholders have fully supported solution suppliers when it comes to educating the market and developing a British Standard, but there are a few key organisations who have been disinterested in terms of playing an active role. Many serious accidents and deaths could be prevented each year with robust lone worker procedures and systems in place, so every organisation from central Government right the way through to sole traders should be assessing what lone worker safety and security measures they have in place and, where appropriate, championing the cause. Issue of data security Another challenge facing all organisations, and particularly so those dealing with sensitive and personal information, is the issue of data security. With the enacting of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May next year, the Government is clearly – and quite rightly – focused on this subject at present. Any reputable solution supplier that’s certified to BS 8484 will already have a series of safeguards in place to protect the data that they manage. This places our industry in a strong position for that point when the GDPR’s rules come into force. The BSIA’s Lone Worker Section has achieved a great deal since inception, using its expertise to collaborate with key stakeholders such as the NPCC and the British Standards Institution to develop a world-leading industry standard and raise awareness in the marketplace. As a result, lone worker safety solutions have gone from what were once regarded as being niche products and services to what are now viewed as essential pieces of safety equipment. 20 www.risk-uk.com
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