Remote monitoring unit incorporates a GSM alarm for the protection of vulnerable employees working alone and helps meet Health and Safety obligations
In order to keep up with the demand from hospitals and pharmaceutical companies many laboratories are now operating 24-7, which can result in employees being left alone for part or throughout their entire shift.
Realising that their lone workers are vulnerable from attack, illness or an accident, laboratory managers have been looking for a means of safeguarding their personnel to comply with Health and Safety procedures.
Triteq, a design engineering company, has responded to requests for a remote monitoring unit (RMU) for laboratories by designing a state-of-the-art device that combines remote monitoring and GSM alarm in a single unit.
Easy and quick to install, the unit can be mounted close to where the operator is working.
Powered from a standard 220/240V mains supply, the RMU includes a panic button for immediate assistance and a timer facility.
Operating on a cycle time of typically 30 minutes, the timer emits an audible alert until reset.
Should the lone worker be unable to reset the timer, the RMU will automatically raise an alarm and send a user defined SMS text message to a predetermined mobile phone number or if required multiple messages to several phones.
Costs for sending messages are minimal as a pre-paid Sim card can be used with a small amount of credit available to cover the cost of any alarm messaging.
As the alarm is sent via GSM it is not necessary for the unit to be linked to a landline phone.
The Laboratory RMU is based on Triteq's existing remote monitoring unit currently being used by the cellular telecoms sector to protect lone workers operating at cellular base stations sites.
A tried and tested device with in excess of 5000 units in daily use, the use of GSM not only allows for easy installation and relocation around a laboratory to meet specific user requirements, but also provides a fast response capability whenever needed.
Employers have legal and moral responsibilities for the health, safety and welfare of their employees and it is also their duty to assess risks to lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risks where necessary.
The Health and Safety Executive states that the following procedures need to be put into place to monitor lone workers: In case of illness or accident, lone workers should have the means to respond to emergencies.
Regular contact must be maintained with the lone worker and a supervisor.
Lone workers should carry automatic warning devices, which should activate if a specific signal is not received periodically.
The new Laboratory RMU from Triteq helps laboratory managers meet these requirements in full as well as providing peace off mind to both employers and employees.
