Facilities Management and protecting workforces in regulated environments

Preventing the threat of fire is complex. In the UK, post-Grenfell Tower the government has charged the Health and Safety Executive with establishing a new building safety regulator to oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings. The Draft Building Safety Bill, published in July 2020[1].

“will introduce a new era of accountability, making it clear where the responsibility for managing safety risks lies.”

For developers and management companies, carrying out and updating the correct risk assessments, maintaining regular inspections and ensuring all staffs are correctly trained are vital and complex tasks.

Controlling and monitoring fire safety

And when fires do occur, the consequences can be very serious. In 2018-19, there were nearly 183,000 fires reported in the UK and over 250 people died[2]. A major resource counters this threat: the fire and rescue services in the UK employ over 40,000 staff, including more than 32,000 fire fighters. In 2018-19, they sustained 2646 injuries in service[3].

Controlling and monitoring passive / active fire safety and the response to any emergency is a multifaceted task: all compliance and regulatory requirements must be met and inspections and training kept up to date and proven to be so. For thousands of personnel, whatever their level and function.

The smartphone: gateway to better operational control

Blockchain technology now allows these vital tasks to be completed and verified with complete control and peace of mind. In combination with a smartphone carried by every individual worker, it ensures that fire life safety becomes a shared responsibility, based on trust.

The power of blockchain

At Catenae, we use the power of blockchain to deliver solutions that allow organisations to gain better control over their operations.

Data entered on our blockchain-based systems can never be altered. These are seamlessly integrated into products like OnSite WorkID, a digital wallet that allows the user to prove their identity, status, qualifications and certification; and OnSite TaskManager, a remote workforce management solution that allows the secure scheduling of shifts and the tasks within them. Both these are delivered within an app on a mobile device.

Accountability and trust

In practice, this enables the smooth operational management of thousands of people across multiple locations, shift patterns and job functions, while recognizing their individual skills and needs. With undisputed blockchain technology making them truly accountable. And importantly, also giving them complete confidence in the processes used to manage and protect them.

[1] Gov.uk, Draft Building Safety Bill, July 2020 [2] Home Office: Detailed analysis of fires attended by fire and rescue services, England, April 2018 to March 2019 [3] Home Office: Fire and rescue workforce and pension statistics, April 2018 – March 2019 #one, #two, #three