TalkTalk
TalkTalk, the UK’s leading value for money provider of broadband, mobile and TV services, has turned to Peoplesafe to help protect their Field Engineers whilst working alone and out of hours.
The FTSE 250 Company, which serves over four million customers across the UK, prides itself on creating and sustaining an environment where its employees feel safe, motivated and enjoy their work. This ethos extends to all corners of the business; not least their Field Engineers and Data Centre Engineers who often work alone for unsociable hours.
As a responsible employer, TalkTalk understands they have a Duty of Care to all staff whether they’re office-based or on the road. If an employee suffers harm at work, organisations may find themselves in breach of numerous pieces of Health and Safety legislation. With this in mind, Alan Cowlishaw, Compliance Engineer for TalkTalk, was tasked with finding a proven system for lone worker protection that was both easy to use and cost-effective. After researching the market, Alan chose Peoplesafe as their preferred solution.
With state-of-the-art personal alarms and mobile phone applications, Peoplesafe offers a wide range of solutions to a variety of markets. The service provides a vital lifeline to those who would otherwise be vulnerable.
TalkTalk selected 120 MySOS personal safety devices for use by their Engineers. The keyfob-sized alarm enables users to call for help in an emergency at the touch of a button. With GPS technology, two-way audio communications, fall detection, and voice memo functionality, the MySOS is the complete, fully accredited solution for lone worker protection.
In the event of an incident, a user activates the alarm on their MySOS device. The alarm is sent via mobile phone technology to Peoplesafe’s 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre. There, experienced Alarm Controllers immediately know who the user is, their profession, medical history – even what they look like – (all this information is treated in total confidence).
Because the MySOS is GPS enabled, Alarm Controllers will know where they are. They’ll listen to ambient sound in their vicinity. If it’s safe to do so, they’ll talk to them. They’ll review their individual information and preferred action in case of emergency. Within seconds, a course of action will be decided upon. It may be summoning an emergency service, Peoplesafe’s own National Response Service, or someone designated by the client. Whatever Peoplesafe does, the action taken is designed to neutralise the threat or resolve the incident as quickly as possible.
The small-size of the MySOS was a key factor in TalkTalk’s decision to use Peoplesafe. “All the other options were too bulky and we wanted a supplier that reflected our own agile approach,” states Alan Cowlishaw. “It’s also very easy to use and the price was competitive.”
Alan also mentions Peoplesafe’s online portal – an integral part of easily managing his lone workers. “Peoplesafe enables me to observe the service usage online at any time. Plus, I can easily swap devices between users at the click of a mouse… it’s so easy.”
