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Posted By Jonathan Compton
We send individual workers out on 'patrol's' of pretty run down housing estates. At night. I recently went out with one of the guys and I feel that these people should not be walking the streets alone. They have large distances to cover in cars and estates to patrol on foot. They also deliver letters that people may not be pleased to receive and are constantly presented with gangs of youths in the street taking and/or dealing drugs.
So the risks are assault and abuse as well as the issues of break downs and illness.
But I have been told that we cannot send people out in pairs as it would cost too much.
Am I being over cautionus? Or are there accepted industries where this takes place?
I'd love some input...
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Posted By Dave Merchant
The same problem happens in a vast number of industries in the public sector (care workers, social services, court officers etc.) and private (meter readers, bailiffs, parking wardens, maintenance engineers, home delivery drivers etc.) and each take a different attitude. Some rely on the person being able to summon help (e.g. traffic wardens have their radios), others use two-person teams (common for court officers, wheelclampers etc) and others simply avoid making their staff stand out as a fair target (e.g. by not carrying cash or tools if working alone). Ultimately someone is entitled to a "workplace" that is as safe as is reasonably practicable, and for these people the streets are their workplace. You can't clean up the community, but you can do a lot to make that person less enticing to those who'd want to do them harm.
If the Post Office can send a lone worker to every house in the country and keep an acceptable level of PI/robbery then it's perfectly possible for others to do it, but the best (cheapest) method will depend on how your business works.
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Posted By garyh
Wasn't this the title of a song by Ralph McTell?
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Posted By Brigham
Got the very same issues with some of our workers and there is no easy answer. There is good information on the Suzie Lamplugh Trust website. We issue personal panic alarms and give guidance on trying to defuse situations. We ask our staff to be aware of developing situations and if a member of staff has issues, we liaise with the local Police for advice in these areas and if we are in any doubt, the operator will not go into these places. We looked at doubling up our staff but we decided against it as it might be placing two people at risk and there is no tangible evidence to suggest it is safer. We tell our staff to dress according to where they go and we do not insist on any dress standard. You might want to issue mobile phones to allow the operator to contact someone as he goes into and leaves a dubious area. In reality there isn't much you can do to stop attacks other than keeping staff out of these areas but that defeats the purpose of your work.
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Posted By Jonathan Compton
Thanks for your input, it's good to get some other perspectives. Especially the one about postmen...
Merry Christmas
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Posted By Pauline Dixon
Hi Jonathan,
Could I send you some information to your email address that will help with your situation?
Regards,
Paul:)
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