The BSIA is crediting BS 8484-accredited systems with the fact that the lone worker industry is now passing between 0.1-0.2% of all lone worker-generated alarms to the police via lone worker unique reference numbers (URNs).
Alarm receiving centres (ARCs) are also getting better at filtering out false alarms and reducing the number of costly callouts police must respond to. Responding to each false alarm costs the Metropolitan Police £150, says the BSIA.
Nationally, BS 8484-accredited systems systems are estimated to have saved the taxpayer £60m in the past 12 months alone.
BS 8484 certified systems also provide digital audio recordings that can be used as evidence in court to prosecute perpetrators of verbal or physical abuse. And employers can better demonstrate corporate social tesponsibility and fulfil their duty of care to staff, thereby reducing their vulnerability to litigation.
The NHS, local councils, housing associations and businesses in a range of commercial sectors are widely deploying BS 8484-accredited systems.
StaySafe is accredited to BS 8484
“At a time when security concerns, health and safety and police budget cuts are prevalent, the use of BS 8484-accredited systems is playing a significant role in reducing costs and ensuring greater safety to both the public and the lone worker community,” said Will Murray, Chair of the Lone Worker Section, BSIA.
“The lone worker industry continues to work collaboratively with police forces to maintain and build upon this, for our mutual benefit and for those who use these systems on a daily basis. BS 8484 is a world leading standard, developed in collaboration by the UK’s lone worker industry, police and relevant stakeholders, and is a shining example of Britain pioneering new technology on the global stage.”
Ken Meanwell, Compliance Manager, Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, said: “It is encouraging to see how new technologies deployed by lone worker companies are playing a vital role in not only improving employee safety, but also dramatically reducing false calls enabling valuable police resources to be correctly allocated.”
