In this case study article we learn how the use of IDEAL Electrical equipment has helped provide the perfect security upgrade for the NHS Trust.
An overhaul was recently ordered of certain employee safety systems at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, with improvements to lone worker security and safety identified as a priority. The appointed contractor found the perfect match in Vista’s video surveillance products and the FT-45 Feed-Thru Modular Plugs and Crimp Tool from IDEAL Electrical to deliver a high quality, reliable and compliant solution.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has two sites: Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, and County Hospital in Stafford. It is also home to Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke.
From these hospitals, the Trust provides a full range of general acute hospital services for approximately 1.1 million people living in and around Staffordshire, as well as specialised services for three million people across a wider area, including neighbouring counties and North Wales. UHNM is one of the largest acute trusts nationally with over 11,000 staff.
KEY PROJECT FACTS
Customer: University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM)
Contractor: Layer One Installations
Solutions: Vista’s video surveillance products installed using the FT-45 Feed-Thru Modular Plugs and Crimp Tool from IDEAL Electrical
Employee safety concerns
Following a thorough review of working practices in 2021, the IT department identified concerns about lone worker employee safety, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency in the central core IT rooms containing servers (cold aisle containment storage facilities).
In the event a lone worker entered a cold aisle containment unit, and there was an emergency or the worker failed to follow protocol, they could potentially go undiscovered for 12-14 hours until someone else started their shift or the area happened to be entered.
Surveillance equipment to the rescue
The Trust was keen to ensure a safer environment for any employees working alone in potentially hazardous situations or remote locations, whilst also mitigating the risks associated with lone working, such as accidents, injuries and security incidents, and complying with regulations and standards regarding lone worker safety. At the same time, the Trust hoped to increase efficiency and productivity by encouraging lone workers to adhere to safety protocols. The Trust called upon its existing contractor, Layer One Installations, to assess the IT department’s security requirements.
Headquartered in Manchester with a nationwide operation, Layer One Installations offers a wide range of services including structured cabling, fibre optics, CCTV systems, WiFi surveys, uninterruptible power supplies and intelligent security systems.
Following the assessment, the decision was made to install a CCTV system designed to improve lone worker operating conditions in the central core IT rooms containing critical servers and IT equipment across five hospital sites, with the Trust keen to use an NDAA compliant solution.
Marc Jones, Layer One Installations’ Director (pictured), turned to his local specialist wholesaler to assist him in identifying the products needed to fulfil the Trust’s requirements, with the Vista VIP Series of NDAA compliant fixed dome cameras selected as the best fit across the five locations.
Fast, simple and consistent terminations
Given the nature of the project, it was vital the job was completed quickly, without causing disruption to the hospitals and avoiding any costly delays.
So, to enable fast and accurate installation of the CCTV equipment, Marc opted for a tried and tested favourite of Layer One Installations – the FT-45 Feed-Thru Modular Plugs and Crimp Tool from IDEAL Electrical.
Used on data installations around the world, the FT-45 allows installers to speed up and simplify the termination of RJ45 plugs by eliminating the need to trim conductors to length first.
The Modular Plugs feature open ends, enabling installers to feed the conductors completely through the connector before crimping.
With a clear connector design, the conductor order can be checked and adjustments easily made, if needed. The Crimp Tool is then used to trim and crimp the cable in one simple step.
With five installation sites to complete, the ability to execute CAT5e, CAT6 and CAT6a cable terminations correctly the first time was key to the smooth and speedy running of the project.
A job well done
Layer One Installations prides itself on high standards of installation, and the UHNM project delivered just that, thanks to the pre-existing relationship between the contractor and the Trust, as well as Layer One Installations’ prior knowledge and experience of both the Vista range and the IDEAL Electrical FT-45 Feed-Thru system.
Marc says: “The project was a success. We evaluated the client’s requirements and proposed innovative solutions that would be straightforward to work with.
“We knew from previous experience that we could rely on Vista and IDEAL Electrical to provide cost-effective, quality solutions that would reliably do the job, without mistakes or delays.
“We’ve been using IDEAL products for years, so when I knew the project required multiple terminations across numerous sites, the use of the Modular Plugs and Crimp Tool was a no-brainer. A faster, more accurate install was achieved, with the new CCTV system up and running in no time.”
Through the implementation of the new video surveillance solution, the Trust’s IT department has met its objectives.
The CCTV system has enabled real- time monitoring of lone workers, allowing for a quick response in emergencies or accidents, with the IT department now able to proactively identify and address potential safety hazards much more quickly and effectively.
Visit the IDEAL FT-45 Feed-Thru Modular Plug Crimp Tool product information page here
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