Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water manages the collection, treatment and distribution of water in Yorkshire, supplying around 1.24 billion litres of drinking water each day.
With 62,000 miles of water and sewerage mains and 700 treatment works to look after, lone workers at Yorkshire Water face a diverse number of potential hazards.
The Deep End
Prior to implementing lone worker safety devices, the major utility supplier used a telephone-based system with mixed results. Environmental Lead Advisor, Dr Matt Hill, who managed the lone worker project, says; “the telephone solution worked to some extent, but usage levels were a concern. Employees didn’t engage with the system as much as we liked, plus it relied upon reception of a single mobile phone network.”
“We employ a large number of lone workers who often work out in rugged and remote environments”, continues Matt. “The diverse nature of their roles and working environments meant that a ‘one size fits all’ solution just didn’t work for us.”
Testing the Water
Peoplesafe were selected to provide a lone worker safety solution partly due to the diversity of their product portfolio.
Our team leaders worked closely with their teams to choose the most appropriate devices. High-risk individuals, such as tanker drivers and reservoir inspectors received Twig devices with roaming sims. The robustness of the device suits the nature of their job, whilst roaming sims ensure the devices have the best chance of working in remote locations.”
By surveying employees before devices were chosen, Yorkshire Water ensured the best solution was delivered. “Public-facing lone workers, such as meter readers, were issued with MySOS ID Badges. These provide a safe and discreet way to receive help if required.”
A Bridge over Troubled Water
“Peoplesafe really became an extension of our team. They worked with our team leaders to understand the diverse nature of our business”, concludes Matt.
