Staff safety solution Safepoint has been appointed by the East of England Co-op – the fourth largest consumer co-operative in the UK – to offer a tech-based safety solution to protect its growing fleet of lone delivery drivers. Each delivery driver is now equipped with a wearable Alert Button allowing users to request emergency help – anytime, anywhere – with a single tap.
The East of England Co-op has recently partnered with grocery delivery app Snappy Shopper to offer home delivery from 32 of its 122 food stores across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. This new service enables Co-op customers to purchase items and have them delivered directly to their door in as little as 30 minutes.
During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the UK government added food delivery drivers to the list of UK key workers, demonstrating their importance in society. Whilst drivers are working long hours to meet increase in demand, they are also at a high risk of infection – delivering to those self-isolating and asymptomatic – potentially exposing themselves to the virus. Delivery drivers are recognised as carrying out an essential role, but compared to their counterparts, are in some cases offered the least protection.
Callum Coombes, CEO of Safepoint, says: “Protecting lone workers in transport is not only a matter of safeguarding your employees but your business too. Safepoint is extremely proud to be partnering with the East of England Co-op to provide a solution which will ensure their fleet of delivery drivers feel safe when out on the road and delivering to their valued customers”.
Lee Hammond, Head of Security for the East of England Co-op, says: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is always our first priority. With the introduction of our home delivery service, we wanted to make sure our colleagues felt safe as they travelled across our trading area”.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that ‘up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve someone who is at work at the time. This may account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week’. Driving on the roads will always present a danger – but for delivery drivers there are additional risks to consider when working both on-site and with the public.
Safepoint’s safety solution makes use of automated alarms with no need for a mobile phone signal – ideal for rural areas in the East Anglia region. Alerts can be triggered in a number of ways – if the user taps the panic button on the app or Alert Button, if the device detects a fall, or if the user fails to check-in within a limited time. Alerts are then monitored and received at Safepoint’s GuardianPlus Response Centre – a fully accredited state-of-the-art monitoring and alarm receiving centre (ARC), manned by a team of highly skilled and qualified experts, trained to deal with emergency situations.
Lee Hammond adds: “As a fellow local business and having collaborated with Safepoint for some time at the ARC, we’re extremely proud to be strengthening our relationship. The technology they have in place is incredibly easy to use, which is important for our colleagues when they are out on the road. Allowing us to track the progress of our delivery drivers and respond swiftly to any calls for support, is a comfort to our colleagues as they carry out their vital role for our communities.”
Callum Coombes concludes: “The convenience sector has really ramped up their online and delivery offerings as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We know how important these services are for people, particularly when they are unable to leave their homes for essential items. We’re happy our technology can help play a part in keeping not only the delivery drivers safe, but the public too”.
Safepoint’s partnership with the East of England Co-op is alongside the rollout of the Snappy Shopper online home delivery service across 32 of its stores in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, with plans to roll out the service to further stores over the next 12 months.
For more information about Safepoint visit www.safepointapp.com
For more information about the East of England Co-op visit www.eastofengland.coop