Ringway Jacobs, a leading highway services provider, has improved levels of safety and fleet risk reduction, as well as increasing the support provided to its drivers, following the adoption of an industry-first, video-enabled lone worker protection service. Earlier this year, the company completed the roll-out of the integrated technology solution from Peoplesafe and SureCam, which is designed to safeguard its team of drivers and gain added peace of mind across the fleet operation.
Ringway Jacobs needed a personal safety solution for its highway inspection team – responsible for walked, visual inspections of footways and carriageways – that offered added protection above and beyond a traditional dashcam. All too often, these operatives are seen as the ‘face’ of the highway authority and in danger of violent and abusive behaviour from road users. Meanwhile, they are frequently working in remote locations, so face higher risk from slips, trips and falls, as well as traffic collisions both inside moving vehicles and at the roadside.
The video-enabled lone worker service integrates the Peoplesafe Pro smartphone app with SureCam’s video telematics platform to provide drivers with a quick and easy way to request assistance. It supports the driver both in and outside the vehicle, something not possible with any standard in-cab SOS button function device. This means real-time data can be sent to a designated alarm receiving centre (ARC) to enable proactive management of emergency situations.
Drivers simply scan a QR code using the Peoplesafe mobile app to register their unique user ID, which confirms who is driving the vehicle. This automatically enables controllers in the Peoplesafe ARC to access audio communication along with supporting video footage captured from cameras fitted on 163 Ringway Jacobs vans and specialist vehicles, as well as incident data, when an alarm is raised. The added audio and visual insight also ensures that the most appropriate action is taken quickly, efficiently and safely, with immediate access to emergency services if required.
David Bonehill, Head of Fleet at Ringway Jacobs commented: “Health, wellbeing, and safety are at the heart of everything we do, so our aim is to always provide a safe working environment for our employees. This latest initiative, developed with our valued partners at Peoplesafe and SureCam, has not only increased compliance of our lone worker processes, but also extended and enhanced the levels of protection we can provide our drivers.”
Naz Dossa, CEO of Peoplesafe said: “We have taken our existing lone worker solution to the next level through this intelligent partnership with SureCam that places the end user first. The most significant impact we have seen is the peace of mind it provides to both employers and employees, making it an attractive proposition to those fleet operations, such as Ringway Jacobs, that prioritise people’s safety and welfare.”
