Lone working employees at Vale of Aylesbury Housing are in control when it comes to managing their own safety thanks to the technically advanced, next generation Identicom lone worker device.
Vale of Aylesbury Housing are the first to adopt the 8 Series Identicom lone worker devices aiding in employees managing their own safety when working alone. The device is uniquely styled as an ID badge and enables lone workers to assist in their dynamic risk assessment and discreetly raise an alarm if they feel their safety is compromised.
The 8 Series Identicom devices have been purchased through SoloProtect, the leading lone worker safety solution from Connexion2. The solution includes the device, 24/7 manned monitoring, SIM card and mobile network usage, device training and monthly reporting as standard. The SoloProtect solution is fully compliant with the updated BS8484:2011 (the British Standard for Lone Worker Device Services) and is currently the most efficient way to elicit a Police response in the U.K., one level above a 999 call.
Vale of Aylesbury Housing is a not-for-profit Registered Social Landlord providing affordable homes for people in Aylesbury, Buckingham and the surrounding villages of the Vale. The social landlord has over 16,000 residents and manages over 7,000 tenanted homes as well as 607 leasehold homes.
SoloProtect has supplied 130 Identicom 877 lone worker devices to a range of employees who work continuously alone as well as those who occasionally work alone including the letting, rents, welfare and the facilities team.
The Identicom 877 devices were released in 2012 and offer a superb range of functionality and great versatility. The devices benefit from automatic ‘Man Down’ detection for any of the Trust’s users facing environmental risks, such as electricians, plumbers, roofers, ground workers and caretakers. The devices are also one or two-way audio configurable, allowing the Alarm Receiving Centre monitoring the alert, to communicate directly to the user. When combined with the updated GPS technology available in the devices, the Alarm Receiving Centre can enable a quicker, more informed and location specific response.
Previously the employees had used mobile phones combined with an emergency button to raise the alarm should a lone worker feel threatened. Now Identicom, together with on-going support from Connexion2 and their existing risk assessment activities, provides the basis for successful BS8484 approved lone worker protection.
“The Identicom devices, purchased through SoloProtect, provide us with a number of benefits”, says Leslie Goodman, Facilities Manager at Vale of Aylesbury Housing. “Not only is it less expensive than our previous lone worker device but we also get a management support system through SoloProtect, which is extremely useful. Our employees are currently undertaking training on Identicom and as well as being very keen to use the device they are very positive about the additional benefits and support it will bring”.