Lone worker safety: Almost half in Utilities sector report feeling unsafe at work
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 23, 2022 / Research reveals 46% of lone workers within Utilities have experienced feeling unsafe at work
Research shows almost two thirds (62%) of the lone workers within the Utilities sector have been in a situation where they have needed to contact someone and were unable to, due to lack of cell phone reception. Subsequently, 46% reported feeling unsafe at work. These are the key findings of a survey conducted by TracPlus, real-time tracking and communication platform, and Ground Control, satellite and cellular IoT solution specialist. The survey was completed by almost 250 lone workers, and individuals responsible for the safety and supervision of lone workers.
The study looked at how lone workers in North America currently remain safe and connected when out of cellular range. Despite lone workers within the Utilities industry reporting that their work often takes them out of cell phone range, just 30% of individuals responsible for lone workers confirmed having a means of tracking worker location when they are out of cellular reception. In addition, not even half (42%) of survey respondents from the Utilities sector confirmed having a means of being able to contact and receive communications from lone workers while they were out of cell phone range.
Lone working is a key part of the job role for many employees in the utilities industry. The sector employs a huge number of workers who face significant daily risks of injury, with large numbers of engineers working with dangerous elements. A fact which arguably becomes more poignant, when you consider that 13% of surveyed Utilities lone workers, reported struggling to get help after an accident.
Interestingly, despite over a third (36%) of Utilities lone worker check-ins being conducted daily, those within the Utilities and Transport & Cargo industries were the only survey recipients to unanimously confirm that there was nothing in place to allow lone workers to check themselves in.
As Ben Travers, Group Product Director at Ground Control explains - “Tracking and communication technology not only ensures swift response times in case of emergency, it can also promote significant operational efficiencies. Instead of managers and supervisors spending their time on daily check-ins, they can focus their energy and time elsewhere.”
“We understand that the utilities sector is facing a number of challenges, particularly with regards to ageing infrastructure. But platforms like TracPlus have literally been created to evolve with organizations. Protecting employees and providing peace of mind is a top priority for many, and this can be achieved more easily than ever before.” concludes Mark Woody, North America Business Manager from TracPlus.
About Us
About Ground Control
Ground Control was launched when three leading brands united to create a best-of-breed technology and service provider in satellite and IoT. We provide customers with a remote critical communications solution, through a comprehensive range of satellite and cellular connectivity options whether in flight, on land or at sea. While we manufacture our own modems, transceivers and antennas, we also work with other leading OEMs to ensure that we can pair our customers with precisely the right product for their needs. We work with multiple different satellite airtime providers, including Iridium, Inmarsat, Eutelsat, Intelsat and Globalstar, and many more in the cellular space.
About TracPlus
TracPlus is the trusted real-time tracking and communication platform of first responders, government agencies, militaries, and other critical operators around the world. It has been developed to deliver situational awareness to first responders, irrespective of who owns the asset, what the asset is, who provides the tracking, or what the platform or signal type is – be it radio, cellular or satellite. TracPlus serves more than 1,200 customers in over 44 countries, including CALFire, McDermott Aviation, NASA, California State Police, Queensland Parks, and Coastguard.
Ground Control and TracPlus have worked in partnership for six years, developing essential, cost-effective solutions for organizations and their remote field workers all over the world.
Contacts
Demi Edmunds
PR Content and Communications Manager
demi.edmunds@groundcontrol.com3100 El Camino Real, Atascadero, California 93422
Phone: +44 7741665744
https://www.groundcontrol.com/