The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has published a one-page ‘quick’ guide to purchasing lone worker protection products and services. The aim is to aid employers of UK vulnerable lone workers in choosing the right product to protect their staff.
More than six million people in the UK work in isolation or without direct supervision, often in places or circumstances that put them at potential risk. However, given the range of products available for lone workers, choosing a supplier can be difficult, the trade body says. The BSIA operates a dedicated Lone Worker Industry Group, bringing together suppliers of lone worker protection products, manufacturers of lone worker devices and representatives of lone worker alarm receiving centres.
Compiled by the BSIA’s Lone Worker Industry group, this one-page guide covering the assessment and mitigation of risk, and what to look for in a potential supplier. It also provides essential, easy-to-understand guidance to the more complex topics of British Standards, Alarm Receiving Centres and ensuring police response.
Alex Carmichael, Technical Director at the BSIA and co-author of the guide, says: “Buying a Lone Worker Service can be confusing as there are many providers, devices and monitoring options available, and many considerations to make before you start. This guide provides step-by-step information to help employers make the right considerations to procure a lone worker service that’s right for their business. The financial repercussions of neglect of duty of care can be significant, and in some cases, far outweigh the cost of implementing a lone worker protection system. We hope that the BSIA’s new buyers’ guide will help companies starting off on this journey to consider all the options available and make the right choice of supplier.”
The guide can be downloaded from the BSIA’s website. Or, for more information on lone worker protection visit the BSIA’s dedicated Lone Worker online homepage at www.bsia.co.uk/lone-workers
