Managing risk in full fibre provision

Continually reviewing and improving the health and safety of staff and contractors is a top priority for fibre providers, with best practices in occupational health and safety measures the goal of all altnets. At the forefront of these efforts is Vorboss, a founding member of the Safety and Health in Fibre Telecoms (SHiFT), and here, Chief People Officer Jayelene O’Callaghan shares insights into the company's approach to managing and monitoring risk.

What kind of training and resources do you provide to staff to mitigate health and safety risks? 

Vorboss has a training academy and on-site facility to ensure our team can execute their jobs safely. The academy serves two purposes: to train and educate new Installation Technicians to prepare them for the job and to refresh training for current employees so their knowledge and safety skills are up to date. 

To ensure the ongoing safety of our teams, we have a point of work risk assessment that allows our teams' locations to be monitored in the event of a serious issue so that our HSE Team can act promptly. 

We are also constantly asking our employees for feedback via a form that is viewed by the senior leadership team each week. Employees are then encouraged to speak with a team leader or a senior member of leadership or seek support from either our HSE team or external health provider.

What unique risks does your rollout location bring to staff?

The installation teams work in Central London and face a variety of citizens, some of whom may pose a risk to them. The reality of working outside in Central London is that our team are subject to abuse, both verbal and physical, but we do everything in our power to prevent this.

We also ensure our teams know we take any offence against them very, very seriously and will continuously follow up with authorities. 

How do you collaborate with local authorities and communities to ensure the health and safety of staff?

We work with local police and councils to provide feedback on trends and concerns on the streets of London. We recently had the City of London police and a member from Whitechapel Mission come to talk to the team about working safely in London. 

Providing this type of education is crucial for our teams to be safe and able to enjoy the work that they do.

What role does technology play in enhancing health and safety measures and what innovations have you employed?

We have built our own app where all health and safety risks are noted and actioned immediately so our team can continue to work safely out in the field.

We provide welfare vans to ensure our teams are looked after and offer a safe space for the team to rest throughout the day. This is in addition to first aiders and mental health first aiders who work on-premises and in the field to support our teams.

How are you balancing the need for a faster rollout whilst ensuring the well-being of staff?

Our company’s growth is largely down to the employees out in the streets, and as we have grown, we have always put their safety ahead of anything. We have made decisions to make their lives better and will never compromise on health and safety. 

For example, we collaborated with employees on uniform choices to benefit them in the field. Most industry uniforms are not designed for women, so the team worked with design to ensure that the uniforms were practical yet safe for everyone to wear.

Vorboss was a founding member of the Safety and Health in Fibre Telecoms (SHiFT) Group, and we recently won the Sunday Times Best Places To Work (Big Company) and were Highly Commended for Best Places To Work for Women. Being part of the SHiFT Group and being recognised by the Sunday Times is a testament to our commitment to the well-being of our staff.

Do you think others in the industry are doing enough to ensure the physical well-being of staff?

At Vorboss, we are leading the effort to monitor the well-being of our employees. Companies should continue to think outside the norm when it comes to providing safe places to work, particularly in the telecoms industry.