Scottish council protects lone workers with Globalstar satellite trackers

Perth & Kinross Council has begun using SPOT Gen4 satellite communications from Globalstar to safeguard its lone workers.

With lone workers operating across what the Scottish council described as “a wide-range of rural, isolated and hazardous locations”, the latest evolution of the SPOT device will allow them to be tracked via GPS with “enhanced mapping options”.

Perth & Kinross Council has used the lone worker protection system since 2010 to safeguard its structures and flooding team, including specialists charged with inspecting the region’s bridges for structural soundness and flooding risk.

Spanning more than 2,000 square miles of predominantly remote and mountainous terrain, Perth & Kinross is one of the largest regions in Scotland.

SPOT Gen4 is the latest generation of the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger. According to Globalstar, it has “more mapping options, improved water resistance and an enhanced user interface”.

The device also allows tracking of locations via GPS, while also possessing a "one touch SOS button. This sends the user’s GPS location to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Centre (IERCC) over Globalstar’s satellite network.

Gary King, Globalstar’s SPOT regional sales manager said: “We are exceptionally proud that for a decade Perth & Kinross Council has trusted Trackplot and SPOT. Together with Trackplot, we are delighted that SPOT Gen4 has now taken up the baton in safeguarding the council’s lone workers.”