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Drivers calm danger with right gestures
Page 22
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Using the right body language can help protect a driver from assault if baseball bat-wielding hijackers or panicky asylum seekers confront him. So says Maybe managing director, Bill Fox.
His company specialises in developing management policies and training schemes to help prevent conflict and violence in the workplace. The driver should start by signalling to the other person that he's not going to get aggressive," he advises. He can do that by holding his arms out with the palms of his hands open and held upwards, keeping them at waist height, and relaxing his shoulders at the same time.
He should ensure he doesn't crowd whoever is confronting him, do as he is told, and do it with a 'please' and 'thank-you'.
"Anybody faced with illegal immigrants looking to escape from a trailer should avoid standing between them and daylight, blocking their exit," he continues. "Stand to one side so that they've got a clear path out of there."
Drivers are often alone when they face such hazards, and fear that nobody will be aware of their plight for hours to come. Not all trucks are equipped with tracking devices.
A computerised telephone service called Guardian Angel provided by Belfast-based BlueChip Technologies (028 90 466460) could help.
Anybody making a delivery to somewhere in a dodgy part of town should telephone Guardian Angel, and—using their personal access code—give details and state how long they're likely to be.
If the drop takes longer than expected, and the driver doesn't log off within the stated time, then Guardian Angel will ring him on his mobile to check that he's okay.
If there's no response, then it will alert his home depot. If all the depot staff have gone home for the night, it will call a series of other numbers it has been given until it gets a reply.
A driver who feels he's at risk and has his phone in his pocket, can always hit button 5 if he feels he can do so without making a bad situation worse.
As well as alerting Guardian Angel, it will record 45 seconds of background noise to give listeners—and ultimately, the police—an idea of the type of danger he's facing.
Cost is 6520 per user per month and an account can be set up in one to five working days. Employee training materials, including videos, are available.
Guardian Locator is available as an option. It allows the location of the driver's mobile phone—and thus, hopefully, that of the user— to be identified.
One leading authority on personal safety in the workplace is the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. It's just produced a new booklet that highlights practical ways of keeping workers safe from violence.
Personal safety at work— guidance for all employees
gives advice on everything from risk assessment and reduction strategies to dealing with aggression and post-incident support. At 21.30 plus £2.00 postage and packing, it's available from the trust on 0208 876 0305.