> emergency calling solutions for workplace safety desks
When an emergency call is made via a workplace phone system it is important that the appropriate workplace safety desk is alerted and that the safety staff are made aware of the location of the person in distress.
Some organisations require that all emergency calls are routed directly to an internal safety desk. The safety desk staff then decide how to respond to the emergency. This may include informing the public emergency services by dialling 999.
Other organisations require that all emergency calls are made to the public emergency services directly by dialling 999 with internal safety staff being alerted so that the on-site emergency response can be initiated and co-ordinated.
In both cases it is vital that the appropriate workplace safety desk is made aware of the caller’s location.
The latest generation of workplace phone systems are based on IP-PBXs which cause significant problems for location identification. These problems are caused by the usually beneficial feature of extension mobility that an IP-PBX offers. This means that the caller’s extension number can’t be used to reference their location.
Therefore, a different type of location identification solution is required for IP-PBXs.
911 Enable are market leaders in the USA for IP-PBX location identification solutions. Their E911 Emergency Gateway is designed to track IP-PBX extension phones and is compatible with IP-PBXs supplied by major vendors such as Cisco, Avaya, Microsoft and Aastra.
Detailed information on the 911 Enable Emergency Gateway is available by clicking here with a detailed description of the safety desk application available by clicking here.
[NB Although the information at the above links refers to 911 calling, any emergency dialling code can be used.]
After establishing the location of the caller, the Emergency Gateway would route the emergency call direct to the appropriate safety desk, based on the caller’s location, and notify the safety desk of the caller’s precise location. This can be as granular as required and can include office suite, floor and building information in addition to the site’s civic address.
The Emergency Gateway can also route 999 calls direct to the BT 999 operator via the 911 Enable Emergency Routing Service. In such cases the safety desk would be alerted to the 999 call and would be provided with precise location information for the caller. There is also be an option for audio monitoring of the call.
In addition to these basic features, the Emergency Gateway offers many other features that can aid the on-site emergency response.
One notable feature is the ability to alert key personnel via email and SMS text message that an emergency is taking place in the area for which they are responsible. The message would also include the precise location of the caller. This can be invaluable in ensuring a rapid reponse to an emergency where seconds are vital.
A good example of this would be alerts to staff that are trained in the use of strategically located defibrillators and who have responsibility for providing first-aid in a desgnated area.
Other features of the Emergency Gateway include:
- emergency call recording
- alert and notification profiles based on caller location
- call-back to caller’s phone, or one or more nearby phones
- alternative dial plans for multiple emergency numbers (eg 999, 112, 222, 555 etc)
- support for off-net callers
- reporting and management tools
Any organisation that is serious about Corporate Responsibility and Health & Safety in the workplace should consider what would happen if an employee working alone in their office has a heart attack and makes an emergency call via the workplace phone system.
Would key personnel be alerted to this so that they can make a rapid response to the location of the emergency?
Would the public emergency services be able to locate quickly the person in distress?
If the answer is No to these questions then the right thing to do is to consider a product such as 911 Enable’s Emergency Gateway. Otherwise employees and visitors to the organisation’s premises would not have the protection they deserve and the organisation may have to deal with a Corporate Liability claim in the event that there are any serious consequences.
Please get in touch using the Contact Form if you require more information on the 911 Enable Emergency Gateway.