Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do you help me provide Duty of Care for my staff?

The Health and Safety Executive in the UK (HSE) states that under UK law, employers have a duty of care to protect the health, safety and welfare of all employees while at work.  We ensure that you receive relevant personal safety or lone worker training to meet your specific risks.  Here are some of the key areas which we would consider for your organisation:

• Geographical Locations.  Certain areas of towns or cities e.g. town centres or council estates, are known to have a higher risk of violence
• Late evening/early morning work.  Working during these times carries an increased risk of violence because there are generally either fewer people around, a greater number of "unsavoury characters", or people under the risk of alcohol or drugs
• Nature of the job.  In some jobs lone workers hold positions of power or authority over customers or clients which can cause resentment and cause people to be more aggressive.
• Clients or customer behaviour.  For a number of reasons, clients or customers can be highly emotional, unpredictable or aggressive.
• Other people or situations encountered whilst doing the job.  This includes members of the public, youths and animals.
• Travelling, visiting homes and carrying money or wequipment are also identified as key risks.

Q: What Anti Bully courses do you provide?

We provide anti-bully courses so that children (and adults) can face up to inappropriate and often violent behaviour from bullies and other undesirables.

MAX provides specialist childrens' assertiveness and self defence courses:

• Ages 6-12     MAX CATS Child Assertiveness Training Series (CATS)
• Ages 12-16   MAX Teen Assertiveness & Protection Series (TAPS)

Click here for the TAPS coursewhich is the same methodology as the CATS and Adult Fear Adrenal Stress Training (FAST) - different language and realistic scenarios for a teenage audience.

These courses teach children and teenagers how to handle various difficult situations that most will have to deal with at some time.  Most of us have to deal with a bully at some time in our lives. 

The two age groups allow us to tailor the courses to the particular needs, learning methods and language used by each age group. 

The children's courses share certain key elements of the adult FAST course, including confronting strangers and potential assailants, however we also deal with anti-bullying and anti-abduction skills. 

We also help adults dealing with workplace and social bullies.

Q: What Lone Worker security devices and staff systems can you provide?

Lone Workers might need backup technology or you might require premises-based security systems.

These are however not a substitute for awareness & assertive skills that can save lives by avoiding problems in the first place. Perhaps your processes, current communication equipment and building layouts are causing problems in the first place.  We can help review where you are and then take sensible steps forward.

Range of Equipment

• Anti-rape alarms and useful defensive equipment including our own self protection device (free on every course) 
  
• MAX Mobile - ideal for Lone Workers, healthcare requirements (e.g. diabetes or epilepsy) and child monitoring.  No need to buy extra equipment and a service designed around your needs, very flexible.
  
• Other specialist equipmnent such as overt panic alarms, covert badges which double as comms devices
• Wireless, disguised close circuit TV (CCTV) for staff or home applications

The choice is bewildering.  Ask a specilaist to help you decide what is the right equipment.  Just buying equipment doesn't mean that you are complying with your duty of care. We will happily come and provide a personal safety risk assessment for your team.  Ask us to visit you.

To find out more, please send us an enquiry

CCTV

CCTV solutions ranging from a single Web camera to view the coffee machine to multiple security camera systems across multiple sites and large geographical areas.

Recent developments in digital compression techniques allows the delivery of CCTV images both live and recorded across the internet and cellular networks.

Access Control

Extensive experience with supplying access control systems for single and multiple doors and buildings.

Systems designed to integrate with the physical building and the electronic control system to minimise the impact on users.

Utilising unique coded radio devices such as RFID tags and/or biometric technology it is possible to:

• gain access to the building
• logon to your workstation
• credit and debit in-house and public services
• time and attendance
• track and trace coded item movement
• integrate to CCTV for event recording
  

Q: How can you help someone suffering from Domestic Violence?

MAX can help you avoid and get out of the nightmare of domestic violence - which it is estimated is endured at some point by 25% of the female population and approximately 10% of the male population.  We have and continue to work closely with various charities, women's refuges and the police where necessary.  We offer understanding and practical support to help rebuild confidence and we have links to established specialists who can help.  See a reference from a women's refuge.  Please call us on 0844 8700 629 or send us a noteto see how we can help those suffering from domestic violence and their children.

Q: What Benefits does your Personal Safety training provide?

The HSE estimates that the average cost to a buisness is between £13,000 and £17,000 if a staff member becomes a victim of violent crime. Far better to invest in their and your business well-being to provide:

Safer, more confident employees; Improved morale; Better working relationships; Better productivity; Improved staff retention; Comply with your Duty of Care; Less time off due to hospitalisation/stress; Tax deductible expense. 

Learn more about the causes and prevention of conflict:

• Provide for your own self protection
• Learn how to recognise warning signs quicker
• Destress and have fun learning how to defend yourself effectively
• Become more self aware
• Learn how to avoid confrontational situations
• Training tailored to your experiences and fears
• We train you in the use of legal reasonable force
• An empowering experience
• A practical teambuilding event like no other!

Looks like a great deal.

Q: How realistic and useful is your personal safety training?

We only teach practical and simple techniques which work.

A comment from the Bar Manager of a multimedia arts centre:"Verbal confrontations very realistic, tailored to our business, very useful as most likely to be used". 

The Business Manager of a children's charity: "As well as being a lot of fun, the training provided me with a number of easy to remember techniques to enable me to defend myself if needed, and the confidence to be able to put these techniques into practice".

We test you in a safe environment.  You get great confidence because you get to see what you did in self defence on camera when the MADMAXMAN came for you.  It doesn't get any more real than this without someone getting hurt. Train for the worst and be equipped with the confidence to talk your way out of trouble or defend yourself if you have to. Click here for the FAST programme.

Q: How do I book a self defence course?

To book a self defence course please call  0844 8700 629 (24 hours) to discuss your requirements - or click here to send us an enquiry.  Don't delay and think about it - talk to us now to see how we can help.

Q: What do I need to know about the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007?

The Corporate Manslaughter Act which came into effect in April of 2008 is an indication of how serious the government is about ensuring directors seriously think about best practice health and safety.  We can help.  0844 8700 629.

The good news is that no new health and safety obligations are imposed on companies reference their duty of care.  The sobering news is that the evidential requirements for pinning blame on individuals is much reduced and directors can much more easily be seen as culpable if a worker dies in the course of their employment, when the death could have been prevented (see below).

If a company is already complying with its responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act:

The HSE states that under UK law, employers have a 'duty of care' to protect the health, safety and welfare of all employees while at work.

then they will be complying with the new act.  However:

• It is no longer necessary to identify a company's 'directing mind'
• The breach of duty does not have to be the only or even major, cause of the death
• Directors and senior managers can be prosecuted as individuals
• If found gultiy of gross negligence manslaughter thewy can be jailed for up to three years

The following are just a couple of failures which would make a specific organisation vulnerable:

1. The poor training of front-line workers, particualrly those in safety-critical positions
2. Procedures not followed by front-line workers and junior management.

Q: How can you help me make my people safer at work?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publish a useful guide on managing work-place violence - click here for more information. If you want to make your business or organisation or club safer, here are a few areas to consider:

• MAX will advise not only on improving the safety of your staff at work, but also to and from your premises.
• We can advise on the right sort of electronic/mobile communications technology back up
• We can reduce risks associated with going to see certain customers in unpleasant or unsafe locations.
• We look at the root cause of conflict, so that we prevent it from happening in the first place
• MAX can help resolve intimidation issues at work.
• We can very quickly instill confidence into your workforce which will help them cope under the most severe pressure.
• If you have cultural misunderstandings which inhibit good working relationships and productivity we run diversity workshops and team building events that will help. 
• We can conduct risk assessments which will include the placement of furniture and provision of electronic security devices and procedures.
• We have advised on handling drug dealing on premises and abusive, threatening behaviour.
• We ensure that you can show that you have appropriate measures to cover your duty of care for your staff at all times and in all locations.

Q: How fit do you need to be for any self defence course?

Any level of fitness because we teach technique, rather than fitness.  We coach you at your own pace on any course. 

This is not just what we want to do - it's what you say we do - we have a policy of continuous improvement and always ask specific questions and welcome feedback anonymously from our clients.

Q: Can you provide bodyguards or protect goods in transit?

MAX have connections to well respected close protection organisations - commonly known as bodyguards.  If you need experienced, trained personnel to plan and accompany business executives or valuable documents or equipment across the world please send us an enquiry.  We know specialists in the following areas:

• Close Protection
• Goods in transit protection
• Corporate Security Services
• Operation Management
• Risk Assessments
• Policy Auditing and Development
• Security Management Development
• Business Facilitation
• Security Training
• Executive Security Services
• Event Management
  

Q: What should my staff wear on a self defence course?

You can wear what you like!  This is because everything that we teach can be used whatever the clothing you are wearing. 

We ask participants to take off jewellery and lock this away safely.

We also recommend comfortable, loose fitting clothing with a crew neck/polo neck top for mild exercise because you may not want to accidentally damage your best suit!

Q: Family & Business Personal Safety Packages & Gift Vouchers

Gift vouchers from MAX can be tailored to your requirements and used as presents, rewards and incentives for any of our personal safety and conflict management courses.

We can organise an event in beautiful Derbyshire in partnership with  Peak District Tourism or Conference Derbyshire let us know how we can help.

Choice of Vouchers:

Family Personal Safety weekend experience packages in Derbyshire

Language Training (English. German and French plus other languages on request)

3 Hour Fundamentals Gift Voucher

4 hour Lone Worker Safety (Theoretical) Gift Voucher

4 hour Lone Worker (Practical) Gift Voucher

Fear Adrenal Stress Training (Adults) (4 hour course)

Teenager Assertiveness Gift Voucher (3 hour course)

Childrens Assertiveness Gift Voucher (2.5 hour course)

Gift vouchers are transferable and we also hold open courses where they can be redeemed.  Alternatively if you use these as a staff incentive, we can organise a team building course for a specific organisation once you've collected at least 10 vouchers.

If you would like to discuss an alternative use you have in mind, please contact us on 0844 8700 629 or send us an enquiry

Q: Can you suggest other anti-bullying organisations to talk to or get in touch with?

There are many organisations offering constructive advice and support to help combat bullying. Here are a few.  If you would like to be listed on our website please let us know. 

http://www.safeandsoundderby.co.uk/ Safe and Sound reaches out to those who are at risk of or who are being sexually exploited

http://www.teachers.tv/bullying/link has an excellent in-depth list of websites covering:

• Teacher Support
• Pupils and Parents
• Charities
• Government Advice
• Organisations
• Interactive Games