The safety issue we had impacted the following users:

Field staff working alone in remote areas; crews working in areas with poor reception for cell phone, radio or satellite communications.

The safety issue we had was:

Finding effective check in procedures for field staff working alone in remote areas can be challenging. Radio communication can be spotty on certain road systems or areas and satellite phones are expensive and not always reliable. Workers who will cover a lot of ground throughout the day and may need to make changes to their travel/work plans require a lot of flexibility which can be difficult for their check in contact to follow.

Our innovative approach was:

The SPOT transceiver has been used effectively by industry for a number of years; the company has come out with an innovative new product that adapts to smart phone technology and allows users to send messages instead of just static ‘OK’ messages

The difference it made to our safety operations was:

Better communication between field workers and office staff or home.

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Users purchase the SPOT Connect adapter (MSRP $149.99) and can use it with their iPod touch, iPhone or Android smartphone. A subscription is required ($99.99/year) to activate the use of text message or email check-in’s. Pre-determined check in messages can also be used. The GPS tracking features which allows staff at the office to monitor the activities throughout the day which allows workers to make changes to their travel plans that can be followed.

Supporting resources:

Click here to find the nearest SPOT Connect retailer to you. www.findmespot.ca