Rank: Forum user 
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Hi All,
I am currently looking into a lone working policy and I would like to draw upon my fellow peers experiences to see whether anyone has successfully managed to utilise a mobile app (IOS or Android) system to help manage lone working? If so, what were the strength's and limitations of using this type of system.
To give a little bit of background information, the lone working is undertaken rarely (maybe 30 separate occasions per year) and would typically be for low risk surveys in occupied building.
Any thoughts/advice/tips welcome
Thanks
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Rank: Super forum user
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If people are working in manned offices (assume not yours) do you need something, could a call in and out process to your head office work?
We do lots of lone working and people did not like the phone apps- they were difficult to use.
Firstly I would suggest you identify what you need the app or device to do, work with the people who use them and then consider what fits your needs best.
Happy to discuss further if you want
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Rank: Forum user 
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We have service engineers who are field based, we have just rolled out an App from Play Store called CheckedSafe, this is used on their Android phones, its not a compulsory option for the engineers to use it, and is subject to having a mobile phone signal to make it work. Has been used once in an Emergency, but usage is pretty low if I am honest, it does have an SOS panic button on it, but takes time to open the APP (It will become compulsory at some stage).
I have also used a Lone Worker device previously in my Social Housing days, this was a better solution, sensed if you fell, it also had a safety cord which if removed normally meant you had done so in error, rather than an angry Tenant trying to shake you into submission.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi
Yes we have experience of the apps. We have a lone working protocol in place that relies on avoiding lone working but where it is essential uses a contact protocol. We had an increase in a particular risk for staff working alone and supplied key staff with smartphone apps following extensive trialing. We have been providing these for over a year. Feedback is the apps work and are easy to set up. Glad to say in that period they have never been used in anger.
If you some details PM with your email.
J
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Rank: Forum user
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There is an article on this very topic today in the i paper. Discussing a new app called 'companion' using google maps to track via smartphone. However, a spokesperson from a personal safety organisation was wary, as she felt that it got in the way of more practical measures, and using and being distracted by smartphones is not good for situational awareness.
I am also sceptical of reliance on smartphones with the constant battery sapping and unreliable connectivity.
By all means add as option if the pros overcome cons, but use lower tech solutions as primary.
I sense that there really is little risk anyway - being on your own is not actually dangerous.
It is the circumstances and activities which create risk.
Worth reading the article tho.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Well said sadlass.
Non technical solutions is the basis of our protocol. We only went down the route of providing the additional app because some of regional our staff faced increasing risks from abusive and threatening members of the public when going about their work.
One of the key features of the app is that the user can set a "timed" alert going into a meeting where they have concerns or reservations. So, set the alert for 1 hour, if they do not cancel the alert on the hour the ARC text's them, if they fail to respond or cancel the alert the ARC calls them, failure to respond and the ARC activates and agreed escalation process.
The connectivity issues have largely been addressed now.
Jonty
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Rank: Forum user
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There are a number of companies that provide this sort of thing, have you looked at Identicom for example?
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Rank: Forum user
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There are lots of aps out there for lone working, often doing much the same thing and offering much the same functions.
We've tried several as we have workers based in the community but they all fall down on the same issue - the mobile signal where we are based (Isle of Wight) is bare to non-existent in some areas and without this the aps don't work!
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Emma
There are some that claim they don't need mobile signal to work, as I have raised that question with a few of the companies as I used to have guys working in the middle of nowhere in Scotland where like you phone signal is non existent.
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