Sept/Oct 2005

Lone worker protection is the prime objective behind a decision by Mears, a leading social housing repair and maintenance provider, to fit a satellite tracking and communications system in the van fleet used by its service team.

The company has chosen the Masternaut system, which is monitoring the precise whereabouts of working operatives and alerting control if safety is of concern. Real-time information on operatives' location is delivered via the Internet. The system also acts as an anti-theft device, alerting controllers to unauthorised vehicle use.

The Masternaut system also provides job scheduling, allocating of the nearest and most suitable resources to deal with each repair job, including emergencies. And it provides proof of service by recording arrival and departure times.

Mears provides building, mechanical and electrical services to over 400,000 public sector homes in the UK. Jobs are mostly passed on by council contact centres. Activities include response repair services, where personnel are out and about alone working at homes owned by councils, housing associations and ALMOs, and it is here in particular where the new service is seen as invaluable.

In the first phase of the implementation, Masternaut is being fitted in 75 vehicles operating in the North West.