The all-new Lone Worker Protection Product Area has been devised to support and protect the UK’s eight million lone workers*.
Classified as anyone working alone, without close supervision or away from their fixed base, a staggering 40% of the UK’s population is now recognised as part-time lone workers.
Delivered in conjunction with many of the industry’s leading companies and experts, the new Lone Worker Protection Product Area – up-and-running from 14-17 May at Birmingham’s NEC – will offer free-to-attend seminar sessions, educational workshops and a range of services, products and solutions for lone workers.
Patrick Dealtry, chairman of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Steering Group and creator of the British Standard for lone workers, explained: “There is an increased understanding by companies and organisations that it really is important to take care of their employees who may be at risk because of the job their employer asks them to do.”
Dealtry continued: “Last year, a small company was fined GB pound 385,000 for failing to do so. It’s therefore highly relevant that IFSEC International includes a Lone Worker Protection Product Area for the first time.”
Sponsored by Connexion2 – a leader in the field of lone worker security and the manufacturer of the Identicom solution (the most widely used dedicated lone worker device in the UK) – the Lone Worker Protection Product Area will showcase the latest risk control measures and device-based solutions for protecting lone workers and help minimise the risks they face on a daily basis.
Many of the major industry names are supporting the new area and experts will be on hand to advise visitors throughout the show.
How to protect members of staff
Patrick Dealtry stated: “Traditionally, IFSEC International has been focused on technical methods of protecting organisations by protecting their buildings through the use of CCTV, access control and intruder alarms. Protecting the building protects the people and ‘things’ in them that make up those organisations’ activities. Now, for the first time, IFSEC International is giving companies and organisations the ability to discover how to protect their staff when they are perhaps at their most vulnerable: when employees, at whatever level, are out of those heavily protected areas, or alone in them, and away from their employees’ direct capability to protect them.”
Now that the BS 8484 Code of Practice is firmly in place and cases of employee neglect under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act are being prosecuted (in the event of a death), it’s more vital than ever that both lone workers and employers are up-to-speed with the latest guidance and solutions.
Created for security and health and safety professionals, lone workers themselves and senior management who work within companies where lone working occurs, the new Lone Worker Protection Product Area is expected to draw attendees from across the public and private sector (including those in the emergency services, retail, healthcare, logistics/haulage, education, care, utilities and the security guarding world).
Moving up the agenda
Craig Swallow, the managing director of Connexion2, said: “We’re delighted to see the issue of lone worker safety increasingly moving up the agenda in the security industry, as reflected through IFSEC International’s decision to feature a dedicated Lone Worker Protection Product Area at the 2012 show. The area’s inclusion and mix of educational content on show is good news for device vendors, solutions providers and, most importantly, the end users of lone worker products and services.”
Charlie Cracknell, event director for IFSEC International, said: “Whether you’re an employer of lone workers or a self-employed lone worker, you have a Duty of Care to provide solutions to manage risks in the workplace. If you don’t understand the potential risks to you and your business then how can you protect yourself? The Lone Worker Protection Product Area will provide vital education to employers and lone workers from around the UK and enable them to manage risks on their doorstep.”
Patrick Dealtry concluded: “Whether they may be in remote sites, other commercial and domestic premises or other at-risk situations, it’s much more difficult for employers to demonstrate and action their responsibilities when the employee is outside the employers’ direct control. If they cannot do so then the organisation itself is vulnerable to legislation and litigation.”
The message is abundantly clear: “Protect your lone workers and protect your organisation.”
To discuss exhibiting opportunities within the Lone Worker Protection Product Area please contact Peter Poole (event manager within the Security Portfolio at UBM) on (telephone) +44 (0) 20 7921 8284/+44 (0) 7824 417913 or via e-mail: peter.poole@ubm.com.
To register for attendance at IFSEC International or for further information, please visit the website, follow IFSEC on Twitter @IFSEC or become a member of the IFSEC International LinkedIn Group.
Reference
*http://www.argyll-loneworker.co.uk/pr-events/argyll-awarded-secured-design-accreditation/
Further information on Patrick Dealtry and Connexion2
The Lone Working Group was founded and is owned by Patrick Dealtry who wrote the British Standard for the supply of lone worker services, BS 8484, and brought it into being through the British Standards system.
Patrick is chairman of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Group and a passionate campaigner for Best Practice in the lone worker arena. He’s working with the European standardisation organisation to develop BS 8484 as a European standard.
In 2010, Patrick received the coveted BSIA Chairman’s Award for services to standards in the security industry.
BS 8484 was introduced in September 2009. The standard defines both lone worker devices and Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) compliance as well as covering aspects such as sound financial grounding, secure data protection, quality training and full audit capability from the supplier of a lone worker solution.
Connexion2 was formed in 2003 and provides lone worker specialists and end user customers with a range of leading products and services to help reduce physical risk to workers and financial risks to an organisation.
Manufacturer of Identicom, the first lone worker device to be granted ACPO’s coveted Secured by Design accreditation, the company continues to equip organisations in a wide range of sectors to help them meet their Duty of Care to staff.
For more information visit Connexion2 on the Internet or telephone +44 (0)1909 518020