Blackline Safety is a technology leader driving innovation in the industrial workforce through IoT (Internet of Things). With connected safety devices and predictive analytics, Blackline enables companies to drive towards zero safety incidents and improved operational performance. Blackline provides wearable devices, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and enhance overall productivity for organizations with coverage in more than 100 countries. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, Blackline provides a lifeline to tens of thousands of people, having reported over 200 billion data-points and initiated over seven million emergency alerts. For more information, visit BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Sasha, a meter reader with a West Coast-based utility operator in the United States, often works alone. One day, as she was performing the fairly routine task of turning off a customer’s meter, she found herself in a perilous situation. She was shouted at by the customer who was angered by her presence on his property and threatened to sic his aggressive, large guard dog on her. Reacting quickly to the physical threat, Sasha pulled the red SOS alert on her G7 safety device to call for help.
REACTING QUICKLY TO THE PHYSICAL THREAT, SASHA PULLED THE RED SOS ALERT ON HER G7 SAFETY DEVICE TO CALL FOR HELP.
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| DID YOU KNOW? Many workers across the utility sector are field-based, performing activities like responding to gas leaks, fixing or installing meters, and replacing pipelines. These actions carry a degree of risk including unsafe city locations, falls and other accidents, exposure to high voltage and dangerous gases, weather incidents and irate customers. These workers may be in areas where cellular coverage is unreliable or alone. |
In Blackline Safety’s in-house Safety Operations Centre (SOC) – which monitors Sasha’s device 24/7 while she’s on job – an agent saw the alert come in and responded at once. The agent called the device using two-way voice communication, and spoke with Sasha directly, who relayed the details of the frightening encounter. She asked that the police be dispatched to her location.
The SOC agent wasted no time and swiftly contacted EMS dispatch to request police assistance. The agent remained on the line with Sasha, keeping her calm and informed while the situation unfolded. Sasha had managed to hide in a safe place across the street before the property owner came back out and started making threats again.
THE AGENT CALLED THE DEVICE USING TWO-WAY VOICE COMMUNICATION AND SPOKE WITH SASHA DIRECTLY.
Within a matter of minutes, the police arrived on scene to handle the incident. They quickly assessed the situation and ensured that Sasha was safe from harm. The customer was apprehended and charged with making threats, and Sasha was able to complete her job safely.
Thanks to Blackline Safety’s SOS alert system and fast response, a potentially dangerous situation was averted. And Sasha had peace of mind, knowing she had a reliable way to access support whenever and wherever she needed it.
Approximately 15-20% of the workforce in North America are lone workers. Of those, 44% felt unsafe while at work and almost 20% struggled to get help after an incident (EHS Today). Thankfully, on this day, Sasha wasn’t one of them.
This real-life incident is a true story, but names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.
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