In times of emergency, the role of a dispatcher is essential to provide a calm, professional, and compassionate experience for first responders. This important position requires a high level of skill and training to manage high-stress situations and ensure the safety of those in need. A well-designed console can play an important role in the training process by creating a workspace that is both ergonomic and conducive to a learning environment.
Providing Physical Space for Shadowing:
Shadowing, or side-along training, serves as an important part of training. These practices will allow a trainee to demonstrate their abilities to function and provide excellent decision making while still close enough to receive constructive criticism. Workstations that can easily convert to add usable workspace between stations can make shadowing more effective. Watson Consoles’ team table solution creates functional space with a minimal impact on your center’s footprint.
Creating a Positive Environment for Mental Health Practices:
The constant exposure to stress and trauma in a high-pressure environment may take a toll on a public safety communicator. Frequently these can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Demonstrating sit-stand functions or climate controls on consoles can provide a better learning experience and a more supportive workspace. These simple additions to a challenging training environment can go a long way in preparing a workspace that provides comfort, ease of use, and fosters positive mental health wellness. Intentional ergonomics help dispatchers cope with the trauma they experience while maintaining a healthy work environment.
Opening Clear Communication Channels:
Training extends past the initial training period to every day. Dispatchers work with a wide range of departments and utilize the experience of their coworkers to constantly improve. A center should be planned to consider how improving communication fosters continuous learning opportunities and growth within the space. For example, inline consoles can bring teams together and encourage effective communication by promoting seamless interactions with unobstructed lines of sight. Having dispatchers positioned together within a single workspace can encourage spontaneous collaboration and give easy access to the supervisor’s support when needed. This key consideration in console design enhances transparency and reinforces a sense of belonging within the larger team.
A dispatcher’s console serves as an essential setting within the training environment, allowing space for effective shadowing, supportive ergonomic and environmental controls, and room for collaborative communication.
“Since we installed our Watson Consoles, we now have room for two people to work together in one console. Training has never been better.”
- Gallatin County 911
Watson consoles are designed with telecommunicators in mind. Contact us and let us help you design a center that fits your training needs.
A special thank you to our partners at We Speak Dispatch for collaborating on this blog!
