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2020 Tree of Life Dispatcher Badge Release & Giveaway

Every year here at Watson Consoles, our team looks at all of the opportunities to meet Dispatchers in person. By attending as many local and national APCO and NENA shows as possible, we are able to understand the needs of console users, as well as show our appreciation for the safety they provide our community each and ever day of the year.

Dispatch Yoga: 7 Poses To Decrease Stress and Increase Mental Health

Now more than ever, it is important to care for your health. And we aren’t just talking about social distancing and hand washing, either. For 911 dispatchers, both mental and physical well-being are pushed to the limits by long hours at a console desk. Here, these first ‘first’ responders guide people through some of the biggest challenges they may face in their lives, and are under constant stress. But how do essential personnel like dispatchers practice mental and physical self-care to reduce stress when they need to be at a desk for 12 hours a day?

The 411 on Console Desk Cleaning

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, we’ve all been paying a lot more attention to handwashing. Hopefully by now everyone is familiar with how often and for how long (two renditions of “Happy Birthday” or one of “I Will Survive”) we need to be washing our hands.

Watson Consoles at APCO Conference – Baltimore 2019

For the last 84 years, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, otherwise known as APCO, has served as an international leader in the public safety industry. Providing complete public safety communication expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy, and outreach to the public, APCO features commercial vendors with innovative products and solutions for Next Gen 9-1-1, cybersecurity, and much more.

Considerations when Designing a Control Center

As the brain stem for emergency response, PSAPs are critical to smooth and safe operations. A PSAP must provide a stable and distraction-free environment to monitor, assess, and respond to a wide variety of operations and incidents. While issues like focus and response time are often top priorities when designing a PSAP, some equally important factors often are treated as afterthoughts. Here are some design tactics to consider to increase job quality, safety, and satisfaction for dispatchers and operators.

Your Voice: How 911 Dispatchers Can Protect Their Most Precious Tool

With over 240 million calls being made to 911 each year within the United States alone, 911 dispatchers serve as the bridge between callers and help needed. Dispatchers in this position rely on their voices to connect and convey needed information to callers, and are often talking on the phone for close to 40 hours per week.

Green Manufacturing, the Pacific Northwest Way

At Watson, environmental friendliness isn’t just a fad. It is a standard we have been committed to from the start. As a Pacific NW company, Watson Consoles are built to satisfy the need for comfort and convenience within dispatch centers, while remaining committed to doing our part in protecting the environment.

Great Ways to Improve Dispatch Center Air Quality

Indoor air quality plays an integral role in employee health, happiness, and overall morale. Within dispatch centers, proper air quality management holds even greater importance, due to the hours employees put in and need for optimal focus and comfort.

Three Easy Ways to Nail Ergonomics in the PSAP

With work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) becoming commonplace, the importance of ergonomics is undeniable. Due to long, high-intensity shifts, dispatchers are at higher risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which can contribute to as much as one-third of absences and turnover.

Space-Saving Call Center Desks: Inline vs Corner

When it comes to setting up a dispatch call center, maximizing space is always at the top of the list. For years, PSAP call centers have been almost exclusively equipped with corner desks, but that dynamic is changing. Technology has evolved greatly over the years, becoming less bulky and weighing a fraction of old hardware. Desks have evolved to cope with modern computing needs, and old standards are being questioned.

Dispatch Workstations: Manufacturing with Steel

Steel manufacturers throughout the United States are facing challenges associated with managing the cost of goods and wages alongside the need for healthier materials and more environmental sound processes. It is a real WIN for us all when manufacturers rise to the challenge and invest in their communities and their customers. Watson is one such manufacturer.

Along with the challenges, manufacturers have some exciting opportunities to positively impact the domestic manufacturing landscape: design cutting-edge products, provide living wages that boost manufacturing careers in the US, and drive materials providers to deliver high-quality, environmentally responsible products for use in agencies across the nation.

Sustainability: Beyond Dispatch Desk Materials

We are passionate about designing and manufacturing sustainable dispatch workstations that endure 24/7 shift work for a decade or more. Our love for the environment is certainly inspired by the beautiful place we live. Our commitment is evident in how we work and the products we choose to share with you.

Should my Dispatch Center LEED with Red Lists Materials?

The short answer is. “heck no!” And here’s why. As agencies prioritize the health of their teams, they are turning to indoor air quality and LEED certifications for assurance that building materials and interior furnishings meet healthful standards. Red list materials are a no-go for agencies seeking products that are designed with the user’s health in mind. Read on to learn more.

Tough Enough to be a 911 Dispatcher

Daniel Sundahl’s evocative image, above, communicates the emotional stress Dispatcher’s encounter on a regular basis. Our team has the privilege of hearing stories from dispatchers and other first responder teams. We are often reminded how passionate, proud and strong your teams are.

Watson's Dispatch Workstations Contain Healthy Materials

Watson Consoles is known for lasting durability and sophisticated design. These attributes are achieved in concert with a commitment to minimize our impact on our Earth. Learn why a recent materials change matters to the folks that make your 911 dispatch workstations and how the change improves your work environment.