Openreach launches app to maintain engineers protected from abuse


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The app gives GPS location monitoring and an SOS button to shortly contact the police

At this time, Openreach has introduced the launch of a brand new employee security app aimed toward tackling the rampant abuse its engineers face whereas on the job.

The app, created in partnership with Peoplesafe, consists of numerous security options designed to help workers within the discipline. These embrace an SOS button and fall alarm connecting to a 24/7 management centre, GPS monitoring for correct emergency response, two-way audio and direct police dispatch, and commute monitoring and important occasion alerts.

The app might be put in on all units carried by Openreach engineers and might be optionally available for workplace workers.

“Fall alarms are activated by sensors within the individual’s cell phone, whereas the SOS alarms may be set off with a easy press of the handset. Emergency providers may be on their manner inside minutes which is simply unimaginable,” mentioned Adam Elsworth, Security Director at Openreach. “Whereas Peoplesafe will solely be obligatory for our discipline groups (because of the nature of their work) we hope all of our individuals will use the app to have peace of thoughts and help if and once they want it.”

Openreach recorded 700 incidents of both bodily or verbal abuse since April final yr. These embrace “being spat at, pushed down stairs, threatened with canines and knives, punched and kicked and even barricaded into properties and vans”.

The corporate additionally says it has seen a rise in racially motivated incidents.

“The Peoplesafe app provides our individuals an added layer of security whereas on the job and significantly for a lot of of our colleagues that work alone for lengthy intervals of the day. It additionally helps us to handle an space we’ve much less management: assaults by members of the general public,” mentioned Elsworth.

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