Well the first question is why you think they need this sort of technology.  I am assuming that these are  tracking devices rather than just alarms and that they are monitored by someone external.

Is it that all of the mobile workers did not like the system or is it that a few gob[expletive deleted]es are stirring up trouble?

When I looked after 100 or so government inspectors, our Union was in the lead, demanding that we spend money and getting some sort of system provided to them when they visited farms etc. In fact they insisted that human rights required that we do this. They also knew that we would not be tracking them routinely as we had better things to do.

I you feel that there is no significant risk to them then by all means get rid of this options, but if something goes wrong the question will be asked why you did that.

So with such a wide dispersion of staff how quick is site attendance should an alarm be sounded?

Who attends given the Police, Ambulance, Fire, Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue have limited resource and possibly other calls of similar or higher priority?

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

So with such a wide dispersion of staff how quick is site attendance should an alarm be sounded?

Who attends given the Police, Ambulance, Fire, Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue have limited resource and possibly other calls of similar or higher priority?

What has the workload of the emergency services got to do with anything? Are you suggesting the company should now employ its own emergency services nationwide? 

Yes, there is a hierachy of people within the organisation who will be informed which eventually leads to a call to the respective emergency services.

Edited by user 16 January 2020 18:10:09(UTC)  | Reason: Spelling is disgusting

I my current role we are supplying staff and students with an app for their phones (we are a University). The app features a Big Red Button and when the person pushes it automatically raises an alarm at the security desk. The beauty is that not only does it raise the alarm but is also notifies security staff of the location of the caller (so far as GPS data allows). It is currently set for the campus and adjacent streets only but it can be set for any area (not sure how wide that is). In addition is has a check-in function. When this is set, the app first calls you back after the time limit has expired. If you don’t respond then it automatically raises the alarm with security. We use it when staff and students come in at weekends etc to do stuff and might be lone working.

We have not made its use compulsory and its take up is less than we hoped for especially amongst students.  We invested in the system after a number of incidents involving outsiders coming onto the campus to cause trouble.  

And one of the events that could trigger the need for this kind of app is a mugging/ride by... where the phone is taken. What's the best way to advertise a phone to a thief? Get it out to use it.

I think Roundtuit was trying to be helpful with the limited information from your OP. For example, a lone worker alarm is different from a lone working tracking device with an alarm feature.

Ok here’s my thoughts for you. It appears you have conducted a Lone Workers risk assessment. One of the controls to manage lone working risks is to track people and issues them with a communication method to keep them safe in emergency situations.

Therefore, it is compulsory for them to abide by the control measures you employ (assuming the RA is suitable and sufficient). For example, if PPE is a control to manage risk, employees must wear it. If your lone worker device is a control measure to manage lone working risks, then employees must comply with the control measures and wear it. These devices can be costly and carry an ongoing cost for the organisation so make it compulsory and policy that they carry them at all times.

On the point of Human Rights, health and safety Law/s trumps these Laws so I would not worry about these on safety grounds. But… using these devices to track the whereabouts of people or using them in HR-related cases may not be acceptable.

Hope this helps.