Breckland Council Initiates a Drive to Make Personal Safety Devices Mandatory PPE For Staff

Breckland Council , in Norfolk, employs around 300 people, some of whom spend time working away from the office, in the field, or during unsociable hours.

While no Council job description is currently considered ‘high risk’, Corporate Health and Safety Advisor, Nick Kendrick , is strongly encouraging managers to make Peoplesafe devices mandatory PPE for staff out in the field, where the risk assessment has identified a particular risk, that the device will help to provide an increase in safety.

Nick Kendrick explains:

“Thankfully, we’ve not had to deal with many employees in dangerous situations, but it would only take one accident or incident to change that, and we’re just not prepared to take the risk”

Health and Safety is a key aspect of the Breckland Council ethos and for the last six years, Nick Kendrick has worked with the Peoplesafe technology and support team to provide reassurance and peace of mind for its non-office-based employees.

“We consider a personal safety service a necessity, not a luxury.”

With the benefit of knowing that someone can see exactly where they are, incidents can be recorded, and the Peoplesafe ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre) can listen in, and should a difficult situation escalate, summon assistance from the emergency services if needed.

Where appropriate, Breckland now plans to incorporate Peoplesafe devices as standard council PPE to ensure that employees are fully protected in their role. This step will ensure that they not only continue to meet HSE legislative needs but also up the ante to safeguard their people in the most robust way possible.

Nick Kendrick added:

“When we issue safety boots or similar safety equipment to staff, there is a regulatory expectation that this kit will be used at all times in the appropriate situations. I want the Peoplesafe MySOS to become standard PPE in the same way, so that we can be sure that the employees it is protecting keep it with them as standard and also, most importantly, receive the sufficient training, knowledge, and confidence to use it correctly."

“A pair of safety boots can only ever offer limited protection unless you always wear them. Personal safety technology is the same. You may have never had an incident before, but you could in the future and that’s the point.”

Personal safety technology has become an important component of Breckland Council’s personal safety ‘kit bag’ and not a tick-box requirement. Successful implementation within their safety culture is a priority, and the council conducts regular personal safety awareness training sessions with device-specific training and well-communicated processes.

Nazish Dossa , CEO at Peoplesafe comments:

“By embedding personal safety technology as standard for those working in the field or at all times of the day, employers can provide much-needed reassurance and Breckland Council is one of the forward-thinking employers who realises how important it is that employees need to be protected and feel protected. ?Peoplesafe technology delivers a low-cost solution that can be easily implemented, alongside vital training.”