Posted By martinw How urgent is the work? Can phone calls not wait a few minutes, presuming you do not work in an ambulance response centre :-) But, if you have a night phone service as some offices do, can there not be a facility to switch incoming calls if not answered by the switchboard to nominated mobiles? This can be programmed into our work phones where I am: can it be done to the switchboard where you are?

Posted By martinw In the event of evac at night, could you agree with the day staff that they might be, on a one-by-one basis, on call when asleep at home -not to be called out, but simply to answer calls until the person at work is back in the building? During this period you could push for funds to update your systems to allow full call forwarding? Or why not give two numbers out for night emergency calls so that if one does not work the person calling can get that number? Depends on the severity of the call or how quick someone is needed, hence RA would need to be updated of course: just 999 otherwise? Or do you have another centre somewhere which could agree to field calls, and you provide the same promise to them.

Posted By Cliff Davis So, lets say theres a fire in the next room, are you seriously gonna carry on manning the phones whilst Rome Burns!!!! There is a reason why evacuation procedures are in place and this procedure over rides all others surely. Another idea would be to be able to divert switchboard calls to a mobile, enabling people to at least get out of the building.