[GLLUG] Charity WiFi, a bit off topic

[Marco van Beek]

Okay, here is my take on this.

**IF** you need to be able to call the emergency services from a 
particular location, then the only acceptable connection is with a good 
old BT Openreach line, and usually with a phone that is powered from the 
line itself (i.e not a walkabout). In this case, no other connection / 
type of phone supplier / manufacturer will accept liability for a 
connection to 999 / 112.

There are no **LEGAL** requirements that I have ever seen, and a lot of 
BS about stuff that "is the law" when it isn't. Most of these things are 
in codes of practice, etc. . So if your fire evacuation procedures 
require you to call the fire brigade, then you will need a phone to do 
it. Of course, they also tell you to get out of the building, so where 
the phone is becomes an issue.

The question really comes down to risk assessments. If, for example, 
there is a case for lone working in a server room, a phone you use to 
call a supervisor every hour might be a solution, but you would need a 
reliable phone to do so. On the other hand, if you are wandering all 
over a warehouse like a security guard, a fixed phone is of little use.

Most H&S comes down to you (or your supervisor / manager / MD) deciding 
what is the safest practicable way to do something. What the law says is 
"as safe as is practicable". That includes considerations of cost, and 
if someone can actually do what you are asking them to do. If they 
can't, or the fix makes it even more dangerous, it isn't practicable.

Regards,

Marco



On 18/04/18 08:23, stuart taylor via GLLUG wrote:
> hi,
>
> i have a query about an emergency phone in the room. one of the trustees has objected to having this.
>
>> Sent: Monday, March 26, 2018 at 9:14 PM
>> From: "James Courtier-Dutton" <james.dutton at gmail.com>
> [stuff deleted]
>
>> Also, there are some legal requirements around phones, so you might
>> need a phone in the room and patching phones through the network
>> cabling is easy.
>> I think the legal requirement is that in case of emergency, there must
>> be a working phone nearby to call 999.
>>
> does anyone know if it is a legal requirement, health and safety standard, or what? and is there any documentation i can refer to.
>
> stuart
>