GPS tracking systems
Lone Workers and Corporate Responsibility: It’s Your Duty to Know Where You Stand!
GPS tracking systems can help you meet Government requirements with regards to ‘Duty of Care’ obligations and responsibilities but what exactly are these responsibilities and how do they affect lone or mobile workers?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSW) 1974, employers have a strict responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of all employees under their care. Even though there is no strict legal prohibition on working alone, the broad duties of the Act still apply in relation to lone or mobile workers.
In order to comply with both the HSW Act and the Management of Health and Care (MHSW) 1999 policies, employers must ensure that the safety of lone workers is no more in jeopardy than the safety of office based employees. In order to do this sufficient assessments and procedures should be set up that meet the laws and standards that apply to their business, then prove that these requirements can be met by lone or mobile workers.
A lone or mobile worker can be defined as anyone who works by themselves or without any close or direct supervision. This can include social workers out on visits, off site sales personnel, caretakers and cleaners who work outside normal office hours and lorry drivers. Lone workers can face a number of different problems or risks than fixed based workers and as an employer it is your duty to assess these risks to lone workers and take the correct steps to avoid or control these risks.
During your assessment of these risks you should consider all aspects of a lone workers role and ask whether or not the role can be carried out safely by one person, is the employee in question capable of working without direct supervision, what additional training should you provide, and how are you going to monitor or supervise that particular lone worker?
In relation to the final question the utilisation of GPS tracking and wireless telematics can go a long way in helping businesses comply with HSW regulations. GPS technology enables employers to monitor and track lone or mobile workers’ every move and location as well as providing a communication link between the employee and managers.
The utilisation of GPS technology and PDA devices means that employees can work effectively whilst on the road but also ensures their safety too. Through specialised tracking software employers can trace mobile workers in real time through an online GPS tracking platform keeping employee safe and businesses functioning.
With more and more mobile workers or lone workers carrying PDA devices in order to communicate whilst out on the road it makes sense for employers to use these devices for a double advantage. Employers have a duty of care to all their employees within their organisation, as do employees who should make every effort to take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work.
As an employer the provision of GPS tracking devices on both vehicles for mobile workers and PDA technology allows you to check employee locations and ensures that employees are co-operating with employers in meeting their legal obligations. Many GPS tracking systems also come with panic alarm features which are particularly vital for lone workers who may find themselves in vulnerable positions.
The panic alarm features usually consist of a communication channel being opened between the employee and their employers enabling any danger to be quickly eliminated or dealt with. The real time feature ensures that at no point is the employee out of reach by the employer thus meeting with all duty of care policies.
When it comes to lone workers then every effort must be made to protect employees whilst at the same time allowing them to do their job. GPS vehicle tracking and PDA tracking enables you to achieve harmony between both these issues and is must for all companies who require employees to work off site alone.
