Managing risk with a radio system

By Keith Edwards, managing director, TES Radio

It’s probably self-evident that business risks are mitigated by good communications. It’s perhaps less clear that some communications technologies just don’t cut the mustard – and may constitute a risk in themselves.

This is where radio systems come into their own. Unlike cellular mobile communications, radio systems are “always-on”; there are no network outages and they don’t get switched off in civil emergency situations.

Likewise, if you want to build redundancy into your business connectivity, microwave links can offer dedicated bandwidth at a fraction of the cost of leased lines. There are many fewer points of potential failure too – no utility company ever accidentally dug up a microwave link!

However, there are also some very practical radio system features that you need to consider as key risk management tools.

If you employ staff that work alone, in remote areas or in hazardous environments your business will benefit from Lone Worker and Man Down functions. These will allow you to regularly check on colleagues, who will need to respond to confirm their safety and availability.

Failure to do this will make the radio signal an alert to somebody who has the ability to monitor emergencies, such as the closest first responder. In addition, the Man Down function detects if your colleague is moving, or if the radio is positioned at an unusual angle for a period of time, before alerting designated colleagues.Amongst the benefits of our systems are Health and Safety compliance, call recording (audit trail), workforce safety, and cost-effective protection your business assets.