L'alarme des travailleurs isolés aide les collègues à retourner au travail
We have a strong safety focus in DFDS. We launched our Safety First programme last year, aiming to increase safety at terminals, warehouses and vessels.
Important initiatives to increase safety have already been launched across DFDS. One of these is a new lone walker alarm system in Peterborough, UK.
The need for the device was made apparent after some colleagues from the Peterborough Group returned to work after serious health concerns.
Operations Manager James Ferguson says: “As part of their phased return to work, we wanted to ensure the complete safety of our colleagues as they were eager to return to the business. Due to the requirements of their particular role, there would naturally be times when members of that team would be working alone for a short period of time.
Since we started to use the device within the Transport BU of the Peterborough Group, we have also found that it increases the safety for our colleagues who work alone in our warehouse operation at Peterborough. As of today, there are 3 devices currently being used throughout DFDS within the UK.”
The company Solo Protect is the supplier of the alarm system which makes it possible to reach out for help in different ways. If a colleague was to have an issue when working alone, they can either pull the lanyard pins from device, press one of the buttons for help or if the device senses you have been immobile for a period of time, it will trigger the alarm. This will then automatically call the support centre where an operator can speak to the colleague through the device and arrange the support of the emergency services if necessary.
Regional Transport Manager Darren Smith says: “I’ve found it very useful to be able to help a colleague get back to work and feel confident that if any issues arise whilst working alone, they wouldn’t feel stranded and we would be able to get assistance to them as quickly as possible. It has allowed colleagues to return to work, whereas without the device, we wouldn’t have been able to do so because of the nature of the operation.”
James Ferguson adds: “This is a great example of how different parts of our business have come together to ensure we are working with the maximum safety of our colleagues in mind. The device has been received very positively by all colleagues who use it and I’d recommend it to any part of the business where colleagues are working alone. If you require any more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to either Darren Smith or myself”.
Ian Putterill, Warehouse Operative Peterborough, using the lone worker alarm