A StreetKind kind of initiative!

Body worn cameras and panic alarms help essential workers to feel safe!

Technology can be a life saver! It can also increase safety which improves happiness and productivity.

After being applauded as heroes in the pandemic, essential workers have subsequently reported a doubling of incidents involving physical and verbal abuse.

For Veolia, the leading waste management company, abuse is reported to have arisen due to customers being stuck behind collection vehicles in the streets and from having to queue at recycling centres.

When Veolia launched ‘StreetKind’, it included a comprehensive training programme to build a safer workplace, aimed at taking stronger action against those who abused or endangered frontline staff. Key training components also included defusing situations and knowing how to handle each incident. These tenets are central to the training programme.

THE MAYOR WITH VEOLIA’S STREETKIND INITIATIVE

Veolia’s training also included how and when police should be contacted. This knowledge lessens the risk of being considered ineligible for priority assistance in the future. ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre) operators at MPS’s remote security monitoring centre have the experience to determine nuisance false alarms and to filter them out, only asking the police to engage when absolutely essential.

Beth Whittaker (Chief Human Resources Officer) wanted to see an increase in the public’s appreciation for Veolia’s teams. Team training currently focusses staff on how to respond to incidents. Additionally, Beth is looking to take the most serious action for the worst attacks, including seeking prosecutions. Building a safe workplace environment for Veolia’s colleagues remains the top priority.

MPS stocked the perfect safety products to ameliorate StreetKind’s programme objectives. When the need to escalate a situation arises, an SOS badge (with a one-click button) opens a line to the remote monitoring station (ARC) operator.

The ARC automatically records the conversation (which can be used as evidence) and the Unique Reference Number (URN) can be used to request an immediate police response (when the verified alarm signal is triggered). This response time is far quicker than a civilian calling 999.

Veolia was invited to trial new body-worn cameras from MPS in their national network. The mission was to help in the battle to reduce incidents for their staff. Results, alongside training, have seen a significant decrease in incidents using body worn cameras elsewhere. The visibility of a body-worn camera alone is reported to decrease hostility and aggression immediately. The public do not want their poor behaviour captured on camera, which could mean it may then used in proceedings against them.

MPS’s training at Veolia also included how to use body worn cameras devices to diffuse situations, how to record incidents, how to call the ARC and more. It is comprehensive and importantly, each device also increases the feeling of overall safety, increasing wellbeing.

MPS completed a 5-week trial in Liverpool where it supplied test body worn camera equipment to Veolia. This resulted in zero incidents on these sites and led to Veolia purchasing one hundred body-worn cameras. These will be distributed throughout multiple sites to help reduce incidents and to make staff feel safe.

If you want to see how body worn cameras improve your workplace safety, morale and reduce incidents, you can apply for MPS’s new trial. It comes complete with body worn cameras, training, plus before and after questionnaires. Trial units are limited, so book now to guarantee your trial or request a full demonstration today! Simply call 0800 626 102.