50k runners and still there are lone workers!

For the past eight years I have been lucky (unlucky some would say) to run the Great North Run. Trekking up to the North East each autumn has become a ritual made stronger this year because my daughter also ran in the Junior Great North Run.

This year was also interesting because Connexion2 was asked by Nova International, the organisers of the GNR (and other great runs) to help them make sure some of their lone workers were protected and that race day management could see the location of these key staff.

So how come the world's largest half marathon with 50k runners and well over 100k spectators still has lone workers at risk?

The main lone workers we were tasked to assist were the drivers of the baggage buses. At the start of the race, any luggage required by the 50k runners is packed into dozens of double decker buses to be driven to the finish area. These drivers are therefore carrying a large amount of valuables over an extended route (so they avoid the closed off race route and surrounding areas).

Race day management were also keen to use Connexion2's web based tracking platform to be able to see their locations in real time as well as receive email alerts when the buses had arrived at the finish.

For more details of the job we did, please follow this link or call Connexion2.

Lone workers in retail

Over the past year I have seen an increase in the deployment of lone worker solutions to retail clients. Historically, retail have spent heavily on improving site security but with the exception of fixed panic alarms (normally a button under the desk at the point of sale) they haven't focused on worker security.

So what has changed?

Talking to clients some or all of the following factors often seem to be in play:

1. Risk assessment reviews carried out by the retailer have identified the growing risk of attack to workers, particularly those involved in keyholding. Attacks often occur to workers when opening/closing the store or when on route to or from the store.

2. A growing appreciation that verbally communicated abuse is damaging to workers and can often be a precursor to physical abuse. Frequent verbal abuse (such as racial abuse, sexual harrassment or threats) can be a principle reason for staff turnover.

3. A desire to capture better evidence of incidents in order to improve the likelyhood of police involvement in a robbery related incident. Audio evidence can also help identify the severity level of the incident.

4. Technology limitations of existing fixed panic alarms (PA's) can lead to high false alarm rates and withdrawl of Police URNs. Range limitations of local radio systems also fail to protect workers outside of the store (e.g. when on route to/from the store).

5. Increases in store opening hours and lone working (to keep staff costs down) means greater risks.

For all of these reasons, retail employers are right to look to better protect their workers. Not only for safety and security reasons but also to help mitigate their business risks, improve relations with the Police, reduce insurance costs and to protect valuable business brands.

Connexion2 is helping retailers achieve all of these benefits and more...