One of our new exhibitors this year is Equivital. We spent some time chatting to Anmol Sood, CEO of Equivital to learn more about their approach and the specific ways they can help businesses mange the risks to lone and remote workers.
Anmol told us “Remote workers need the same level of protection that on-site workers have. But this may not be as easy or practical in many instances, for example postal workers, oil rig workers or agriculture workers. By harnessing the power of wearable technology that offers real time alerts for the wearer and operational team, a connected lone worker is no longer so alone.”
“Environmental issues can impact on worker including the effect of weather and heat. We know that workers that need personal protective equipment (PPE) may be more susceptible to the heat and heat strain. If they are exposed to heat, whether that is directly or just in temperate conditions, it can impact their cognitive function and decision making. Operational procedures like work rest cycles, team rotation and timely breaks for teams onsite go a long way to ensure their safety. And of course, there is the old age saying of safety in numbers. As a lone worker however, without a buddy system, without the checks and balances afforded to onsite workers, this could have serious implications to the wellbeing of the worker”.
So how can these risks be controlled? We asked Anmol how Equivital can help workers stay safe. “What if a worker, wearing PPE and working in high temperature conditions, was connected to a central operational team? They could oversee key data, including body temperature, vital signs, body position and GPS location to ensure that their worker remains able to do their job.”
“A connected worker system goes beyond a standard communications channel. Lone workers have access to radio system and mobile phones to keep in touch with teams, but what if, due to the heat for example, they are in danger and yet don’t actually know it yet? A small increase in temperature for a worker in PPE will impact their cognitive function without them realizing. It may be then too late to give that worker the adequate help that they need. The same could be said if a lone worker wonders too far into a no-go zone or has a fall and is unable to reach their phone or radio. How are operational teams going to know that a worker is in a precarious position if they are relying on a single communication channel?
We believe that a connected worker, using technology that does not get in the way of the user, that can be used in extreme conditions and connects the wearer to their teams makes a safer and happier worker. They know that their teams have their back, even when working on their own.”
You can find out more about how Equivital‘s products can help your remote workers by chatting to their team at LONE WORKER SAFETY Live on 12th October at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Tickets are available now (and selling out fast) on our registration page.