Road Worker Safety Greatly Improved With Portable CCTV Units

Amberon Ltd, the national Traffic Management supplier, have devised an innovative deterrent for aggressive behaviour which will help prevent altercations at road work sites.

Following an increase in incidents involving conflict across the sector in 2014 &15, Amberon set up an action group to review the incidents and develop unique solutions to deter the incidents happening again.

The group comprising managers, supervisors and operatives looked in detail at what could be done to improve the situation. Following initial workshops, the group determined 3 main goals for improvement going forward;

Firstly, deter conflict between the public and the Gateman from taking place.

Secondly, to deliver better education and training for the Gatemen on how to de-escalate an incident as well as an aim to improve public perception through more information.

Finally, aim to remove opportunities for conflict altogether.

The CCTV units form part of a wider strategy which is cleverly named ACCESS.

ACCESS is the acronym applied to the full suite of considerations that Amberon is aiming to utilise across its business by working with its partners through 2016 and into 2017.

A – Airlock

C – CCTV & BWV

C – Conflict Resolution Training

E – Escort Vehicles

S – Signage & VMS

S – Site Supervision

Additional measures introduced include body warn cameras, Conflict Resolution Training and additional signage to provide more information to motorists including the use of Variable Message Signs.

Road closures will also have the newly adopted Airlock System which controls how vehicles enter a works area and can be supported with unique electric escort vehicles.

Any incidents that do occur despite all the above measures will be logged and hot spots identified. The measures will also help Amberon and their clients seek prosecutions against those that threaten the workforce.

The group undertook significant research into the compliance with Data-Protection regulations and determined that access to recorded data had to be restricted to authorised staff, only SIA CCTV Operators Licence holders may view and handle footage – training courses were then identified and completed by relevant contracts managers in line with a comprehensive Policy Document outlining requirements and systems.

Although the CCTV units represent something new to the industry, the results of applying all of the considerations in to one package has resulted in a workforce that feels safer and acts with responsibility.

Amberon would welcome engagement with any interested parties in discussing these considerations and the wider issues in further detail as we recognise that there is still a lot that can be done to improve the safety of road workers.

Please contact Daniel East, National Sales Manager on [email protected] for more details.