Everyone is connected through their phone. From advanced smartphone models to simple flip phones, people use them to send text messages, make calls, study for their assignments and even apply for jobs. Businesses, in particular, are starting to use mass text messaging to keep both their customers and employees up-to-date on important news and updates. When workplaces can become hazardous environments for employees at the drop of a hat, it’s your responsibility to get the word out as quickly as possible so people can stay safe. Read below to learn more about mass alert systems, how they function and the nature of texting in today’s society.
What Are Text Messages Used For?
Did you know text messages are read on average in just under five seconds? Studies have even shown up to 80% of American adults texting, making it the most common cell phone activity over gaming, sending e-mails and even making calls. Over 80% of people use text messaging for business purposes, with another 15% saying that half their messages were for meetings, updates and scheduling. One of the best functions of mass text messaging is its ability to counteract common workplace hazards.
What Are Common Workplace Hazards?
Mass text messaging is one of the most effective ways of warning employees and customers of workplace hazards and current events. The year 2014 saw over 4,300 worker fatalities in the construction field, adding up to 20% overall. The most common workplace emergencies, even now, are fires — the National Fire Protection Association reports that a fire department anywhere in the United States will respond to a fire threat every 16 seconds on average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well, estimates that fires cause as many as 10,000 employee injuries and 200 employee deaths every year. Because of this, mass text messaging is one of the most effective modern tools at your disposal.
How Do Text Messages Keep People Safe?
According to OSHA (short for Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration), first aid must be available within three to four minutes of any emergency. If a worksite is more than three to four minutes away from an infirmary or clinic, there should be at least one person on-site trained in first aid and available for all shifts. They should also be available for medical advice, consultation and written emergency medical procedures.
What Other Hazards Exist?
There are other occupational hazards that need to be addressed through mass text messaging. Surveys conducted by OSHA have found more than 5,000 people injured every year in explosions and fires on the job — the annual cost of workplace fires has cost American businesses more than $2 billion. Additional hazards include, but are not limited to, electrical outages, flooding, disease epidemics and burglaries. Mass text messaging is a necessary tool to counteract the spontaneous nature of hazards and keep people safe.
Why Should I Use Mass Text Messaging?
Employee alert systems are quickly becoming the status quo among safe and up-to-date businesses. They are used to keep both employees and customers privy to any and all hazards that may be present in the area, alongside more mundane necessities like general updates, scheduling and special occasions. According to a study conducted by OpenMarket, over 70% of Millennials text 10 or more times per day. This number is not expected to go down anytime soon — with mass communication software, your business can be safer, smarter and more efficient no matter what.