Assistance for Procurement Professionals

Lone working is a complex topic and organisations are under immense pressure to comply with current Health & Safety legislation. However with a myriad of Lone Worker solutions ranging from specialised devices to smartphone software and from tracking providers to security companies offering services, Argyll is continually asked for clarification surrounding the confusing messages circulating, from suppliers, regarding the standards applicable for Lone Worker devices, services and solutions.

This document is written to clarify the facts that an organisation will need to consider if they wish an effective Lone Worker solution, particularly if they require a guaranteed police response. 

Qualifications for Commentary 

Argyll is recognised as a leading independent Lone Worker service provider within the UK and has a substantial pedigree in Lone Worker monitoring. Argyll currently delivers services to more than 250 clients in multiple industry sectors and with duty of care responsibility for almost 30,000 end user subscribers nationwide.

Argyll is a member of the British Standards Institute (BSI) standards review group, for BS 8484 the current British Standard for the Lone Worker industry. Argyll acts as a professional advisor to the review group representing the Supplier and Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) monitoring community.

Argyll is a Principle Member of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and actively participates in the BSIA Lone Worker Industry Steering Group.

Argyll contributes reliable and honest commentary to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and to ACPO(S) for Scotland.

“We need clear understanding around the processes that will determine risk and ultimately result in police response.

Whilst technology becomes more and more reliable – people don’t. Mistakes are made and false alarms occur (false activation remains at least 80% of all alarm activations). How do we manage that to ensure we get it right when it is most needed?

The relationship between police and the industry is vitally important. We simply couldn’t move forward without the support of the BSIA. That relationship extends beyond the associations to the individual providers and we certainly value the relationship that has been built up with Argyll.”

Chief Inspector John McTear: Strathclyde Police & ACPOS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BS 8484?

  • BS 8484 is the only standard applicable for the delivery of Lone Worker services within the UK
  • The British Standard BS 8484 was originally published by the British Standards Institute (BSI) in September 2009 following a substantial (almost 2 years) engagement with Lone Worker industry stakeholders including the security industry, device manufacturers, clients and police
  • BS 8484 is being republished in September 2011 following a full industry lead review. This review has addressed many of the inherent weaknesses of the original publication and has recognised the nature of sub-contractor relationships within the industry
  • BS 8484 is designed to address the quality and suitability of key components used for the protection of Lone Workers. These components include the Supplier, the Device, the Monitoring Provider and the Response Provider. All are required for the delivery of a robust and effective Lone Worker solution
  • BS 8484:
    • Provides bench mark standards for the quality and security vetting of service providers and staff engaged in the supply of Lone Worker services
    • Sets minimum standards for the storage and handling of personal data
    • Sets minimum safety features required in devices carried by Lone Workers
    • Sets minimum manpower levels, response times and resilience standards for suppliers, monitoring companies and responders.
  • Argyll is pleased to confirm that it easily exceeds the BS 8484 standard.

How will I know if my Supplier is BS 8484 certified?

This is remarkably simple since a BS 8484 supplier will:

  • Provide their certificate confirming their accreditation by a UKAS certification body to BS 8484.This should be at least to Part 4 (Supplier Framework) although some suppliers may offer more comprehensive services. You can check the certificate validity via the accreditation body
  • Provide you with a data handling policy that shows how your personal data will be handled, processed, managed and retained
  • Identify and disclose in writing all sub-contractors engaged in the supply of your service
  • Provide additional certificates of conformity for those sub-contractors in support of their compliance with the relevant section of BS 8484 e.g. section 5 for devices and section 6 for monitoring
  • Verify that all personnel involved in handling your personal data will be security screened in accordance with BS7858
  • Provide evidence that your personal data is being held in a secure environment.

My current supplier is using a BS 5979 ARC is this enough? 

  •  No, BS 5979 on its own, is not enough
  •  BS 5979 exists to provide standards for the management and operation of Alarm Receiving Centres (ARC). BS 5979 has two categories (CATI and CATII). Both categories can provide clients with a high level of confidence in the sustained, robust delivery of alarm monitoring services. However the principle difference between the categories is that an ARC operating to BS 5979 CATII is the police preferred standard since this provides more physical security at the operations premises in order to cater for high security monitoring applications
  • BS 5979 does NOT define standards for ARC’s engaged in the delivery or performance expectations of Lone Worker services
  • BS 8484 refers to a requirement for BS 5979:CATII for monitoring service providers if you require a police response for your Lone Worker service Consequently your BS 8484 supplier must either own, or sub-contract with, an ARC accredited to both BS 8484 and BS 5979 CATII
  • ARC’s engaged in Lone Worker service provision must comply with BS 8484 in order to obtain a URN from police to guarantee a response to Lone Worker service alarms
  • Argyll is pleased to confirm that it exceeds the requirements contained within BS 8484 & BS 5979 CATII.

How can a supplier guarantee police response?

  • The only way a supplier can guarantee a police response is to be fully certified to BS 8484. This means that your supplier, any sub-contractors, the device used and the monitoring provider, must all be certified to BS 8484
  • Police control centres operate within a strict policy for responding to alarms. This policy requires ARC operators to identify each alarm activation via a Unique Reference Number (URN)
  • Policy for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). In Scotland, a separate policy is issued by ACPO(S)
  • Both ACPO and ACPO(S) are concerned about the rising numbers of currently unregulated Lone Worker devices and systems and the potential adverse impact of unregulated false alarms and the requirement for police attendance
  • ACPO conducted national trials with a small number of Lone Worker service providers (including Argyll) operating to BS 8484 and BS 5979 CATII. ACPO have recently issued a statement giving their reaction to the new standard (see below)
  • ACPO policy has been updated and now refers to BS 8484 to give new guidelines to Police Control Centres for the issue of URN’s to Lone Worker devices or services. Only those ARC’s complying with both BS 5979 CATII and BS 8484 may obtain the required Lone Worker URN
  • ACPO(S) has been assessing Lone Worker alerts raised via Argyll and have also reviewed the results of the ACPO national trials. ACPO(S) will adopt BS 8484 imminently.

“ACPO welcomes the introduction of BS 8484 for the management of Lone Worker Services.

Prior to this standard calls for assistance for Lone Workers were ad hoc with no control or regulation over service providers. BS 8484 has given the police service a framework to work with in order to bring them under the umbrella of the ACPO Security Systems Policy for police response. (Appendix V of the Policy refers). BS 8484 should also assist police to identify those reputable service providers and have confidence in their ability to reduce false calls to the police and allow officers to respond with confidence to genuine calls for assistance.

Lone Worker services are different from static intruder alarms therefore ACPO will evaluate the impact they have on the police service over a 12 month period starting on 1st February 2010. During this evaluation ACPO will liaise regularly with the approved monitoring stations and clients to see if any amendments or improvements are required.”

Ken Meanwell: Staff Officer of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Security Systems Group.

The supplier claims they have police approval via Secured By Design is this the same?

  • The ACPO Secured By Design (SBD) is a Crime Prevention Initiative that exists to assess security products, including Lone Worker Devices (LWD’s) with the aim to provide the general public with a ‘police approved’ brand marking that offers reassurance of the suitability of the security product as being ‘fit for purpose’
  • It is entirely voluntary for LWD manufacturers to achieve this ‘brand’ mark
  • The lack of SBD does not mean that a LWD will not comply with BS 8484
  • SBD does not negate the need for device manufacturers to achieve compliance with BS 8484
  • SBD does not guarantee a police response following any Lone Worker incident
  • Only BS 8484 guarantees the device suitability for Lone Worker services and it is the only standard that meets police response criteria.