The Demonstration Centre at Sprint

The Demonstration Centre at Sprint is proving a success. We have a dedicated centre where clients can have an online demonstration of the units and the web based software. There is a team of highly trained advisors who are able to discuss your requirements and answer any questions that may occur in the conversation. We feel that the Demonstration Centre is unique to Sprint and is another sign of our committment to our clients.

To contact the Sprint Demonstration Centre, please call 0844 264 0730 to arrange your online demonstration and to discuss your requirements.

Milkman attacked in Warwickshire

Yesterday it was on the news that a milkman was attacked whilst doing his rounds. Apparently he disturbed 3 hooded men near to his van who then turned on him and attacked him. The milkman is critically ill in hospital and has unfortunately lost an eye! (see the link on Sky news).

Our Venture Lone Worker handset is designed to help in situations like these. Obviously and thankfully they don’t happen very often, but the handset has a man-down alarm function which in this instance would have instantly sent an alarm to the relevant department and help would been summoned quickly.

As well as the man-down function, the device acts as a mobile phone, a tracking device and can supply full reporting facilities. To discuss your requirements and book an online demo, please give Sprint a phone on 0844 264 0730.

Improving Lone Workers Safety

Recent figures show that 81% of Lone Workers are concerned about violence or aggression, whilst 56% of those in the NHS, Local Government and Housing Associations have experienced aggression at least once in their careers.

The Health and Safety Executive have identified a number of key risks:

• Alcohol and drug use by clients and members of the public with whom the lone worker comes into contact
• Certain geographical locations know to have a higher risk of violence
• Working late evening carries an increased risk of violence, either because of fewer people around or facing individuals under the inflence of class A drugs and alcohol
• Lone Workers in a position of power or authority over customers or clients
• Other members of the public, youths, animals and situations encountered whilst carrying out operational duties

Whilst many HR departments will run safety training courses to reduce the risk of violent and aggressive incidents occurring, it is also good practice to supply the Lone Worker with a tracking device. A tracking device enables the Lone Worker to carry out their duties knowing that their personal safety is being taken care of. Please contact Sprint on 0844 264 0730 to discuss your requirements and to book your online demonstration.

Summer is coming – tracking is essential

Summer looks like it is finally here and the weather people are predicting a long, hot summer this year. During the long hot summer nights, vehicles and plant seem to go missing only too often. The installation of a Sprint Momentum Tracking Device to your van, car or plant will not stop the theft but will allow you to track your vehicles, live, and with the geofencing option, you will know when the vehicle is being taken!

Your Lone Worker and even possibly your Children will benefit from a Momentum Lone Worker Tracking Device. As well as the security of the man-down feature, the device can also be used as a mobile phone. Purchase a device for your child, as they enjoy the hot weather, you have the security of knowing where they are and they are safe.

As well as providing security, both devices will provide full management reporting, allowing for increased efficiency.

To discuss your requirements or to book an online demo, please call Sprint on 0844 264 0730.

CPS advises first corporate manslaughter charge under new act

In the first application of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of corporate manslaughter against Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Ltd in relation to the death of Alexander Wright on 5 September 2008.

Mr Wright, who was employed by Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings as a junior geologist, was taking soil samples from inside a pit which had been excavated as part of a site survey when the sides of the pit collapsed crushing him.

Peter Eaton, a director of the company has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and with an offence contrary to Section 37, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Ltd has also been charged with failing to discharge a duty contrary to Section 33, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Kate Leonard, reviewing lawyer, CPS Special Crime Division, explained: “Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 an organisation is guilty of corporate manslaughter if the way in which its activities are managed or organised causes a death and amounts to a gross breach of a duty of care to the person who died. A substantial part of the breach must have been in the way activities were organised by senior management. I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for this offence.”

Mr Eaton will appear at Stroud Magistrates’ Court on 17 June. He faces charges both as an individual and on behalf of the company.

Plant hire – keeping track of your machinery

Many plant hire companies are moving their manual tracking systems over to specialised computerised systems. The teething problems of early software versions has been overcome and the different systems are now able to work in areas such as multi-branches, invoicing and 24/7 booking.

Telematics is playing an increasing role in plant management. What started as a tracking system to find stolen machines is becoming a management tool, allowing information on items such as stops, starts and idle times. Telematics can also show if machines are used over time periods when they should be inactive, it can show mileage and location, etc.

The information supplied by the telematics device is beginning to be incorporated into this new generation of software, alowing for more accurate invoicing and increased security of the items on hire.

Sprint Telematics can supply tracking devices for plant hire and other specialised units. Please phone 0844 264 0730 to book your free online demo and to discuss your requirements in depth.

Choosing a Lone Worker Tracker System

Is a lone worker system going to solve all your problems? Implementing a lone worker system will not on its own mitigate or remove risks. Most employers find that a lone worker system should form part of a total solution that also incorporates changes to procedures, dynamic risk assessment, a robust (and regularly reviewed) lone worker policy and personal safety training.

The best way to introduce a new system into a workplace is to give employees – or a group of representatives from your employee community – a say in which system you choose. You could use a focus group approach to gain their opinions on the systems. You may find they spot things that you had not. Above all, employees need to know that you are introducing this new system to improve their safety and not in order to track their movements or check whether they are doing their job properly. Explain to staff why you are introducing the new system and why you think it is important. Personal safety awareness training may help employees to realise the benefits of the new system.

It is essential that employees understand how to use the system and remain familiarised with it; this can be achieved through training. It is also vital that the system is used consistently and that there are clear consequences for staff who fail to use it appropriately.

Sprint can help with all aspects of the Lone Worker Tracking Device, from purchase to deployment. Phone us on 0844 264 0730 to book your 10 minute online demonstration and to discuss your requirements.

Lone Worker Venture handset for Local Councils

Sprint is committed to supplying Local Councils with value for money Lone Worker Venture tracking devices. These devices allow the Councils to work within the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1999.

A Council in north Essex has run a six week trial process on the Sprint Lone Worker Venture handset. The trial has been aimed specifically towards the traffic enforcement area of the Council’s operation. As well as providing live tracking and voice capabilities, the handset has been configured to do many automatic alerts\updates that are proving to be invaluable in helping the Council save time and money. All being well, the Council will be placing their initial order for 30 handsets within the next ten days. Following on from this order, Sprint then hope to successfully implement a roll-out of the Venture handset to all departments in the Council that have lone workers.

The Venture handset is a tried and tested device that is backed up by a very resilient software platform.

If you would like to see a web-based demonstration of how this product can benefit your council, then please call Sprint on 0844 264 0730.

Watch Watchdog and see a tracker in use

On the BBC programme Watchdog last night they showed a tracker device in use. It was being used while they tracked some dodgy car dealers driving a car around which the BBC team had planted a tracker into.

In case you did not see the excellent demonstration of a tracker in use, both on a home PC and on a mobile phone, here is the link http://bbc.co.uk/i/sbgjc/

Contact Sprint to discuss your requirements and book an online demonstration.
0844 264 0730

Another new use for our Lone Worker device

It has come to our attention that our Lone Worker device can be used by police forces to help with the witness protection scheme. Tracker devices are given to the witness that are being protected by the police. This means that the police can see where the person is at any given time via the live tracking on the secure web site.

To discuss your requirements for Lone Worker or Vehicle Tracking, please call Sprint on 0844 264 0730 and ask about our online demonstration.