March/April 2005

A "lone worker protection" feature has been added as a clickable option to the ServiceNet mobile field service system from Telepartner Systems. This is the company's Web-based pay-as-you-use system.

If a lone worker is embarking on a job which has what the company describes as "a degree of hazard", the worker sends a pre-set text message from his or her phone, smartphone or PDA to initiate a "lone working period". The ServiceNet application, running in a control room, is updated in real time and displays current lone worker status.

If the end of the lone working period comes before the remote worker has reported back, ServiceNet will send a text reminder. If there is no reply at the end of the pre-set period, ServiceNet will initiate audible and on-screen alerts. Further escalation will result in text messages being sent to nominated personnel who can respond immediately.

Telepartner already offers lone worker protection as part of its larger field service packages, as well as a stand-alone package for lone worker. This new option represents a third approach to the challenge.

 

The company says health and safety legislation places a duty of care on employers to protect the interests of lone workers, and is building up demand for lone worker monitoring systems. Hence its expanding portfolio of solutions.