Ringway lone workers benefit from Skyguard

Personal safety device for lone workers proves its worth for infrastructure services business

INFRASTRUCTURE services specialists Ringway have invested in Skyguard personal safety devices as a way of protecting their lone workers from verbal or physical abuse from members of the public or in the case of a medical emergency.

Users of the discreet, easy-to-use device are connected to the Skyguard call centre via a portal which holds information about the user, including any existing medical conditions.

There are two functions on the device to raise an alarm: one is an ‘SOS’ button, which connects to the Skyguard internal call centre within 30 seconds; and the other is a ‘man down’ function, which sends an automatic alarm to the call centre if the device suffers a sudden impact.

If the alarm is activated the call centre will attempt to make verbal communication with the user through the device, to check whether or not the emergency services are required. No call will be closed until the call centre has ensured the user is OK.

If no contact can be made with the user Skyguard will mobilize a response, sending their in-house security team to attend the location. The device includes a tracker that will allow the response team to locate any user who requires assistance.

According to Ringway, Skyguard has already more than proven its worth on a number of occasions.

During the evaluation trials, the device had to be used for medical assistance, alerting the emergency services who attended the injured party within seven minutes of the device being activated.

Another incident occurred when a Ringway winter maintenance spreader diriver hit a patch of black ice causing the vehicle to leave the carriageway and fall on to its side.

Although the driver was not seriously injured, he was wearing his Skyguard device and pressed the SOS button.

He was able to speak to the Skyguard team through the device while waiting for the ambulance, which was on site 10 minutes after the incident occurred.

Ringway say feedback on the Skyguard response from those involved is excellent, highlighting the importance of these devices as a lone-working safety measure.

So far, the company has bought 450 of the devices and rolled them out across its highway infrastructure service business. Ringway Jacobs are also planning to adopt the device for similar lone-worker tasks.