Scheduling fire and EMS personnel is a constant challenge for fire/EMS departments, no matter how large or small they may be. Pen and paper just don’t cut it. Neither do homegrown solutions based on spreadsheets, where making all changes manually can result in hours of cutting and pasting.
As for desktop scheduling solutions? They are a big improvement over the first two, but not as good as mobile scheduling systems that can be updated whenever they need to be made, wherever the scheduling officer happens to be at the time. This is why the combination of BATT3’s FireRoster web-based scheduling platform and Zebra’s rugged tablets are the best choice for anyone in charge of staff scheduling. With BATT3 and Zebra, scheduling is transformed from an onerous, nerve-wracking chore to an easy-to-manage staffing solution.
ENDING HEADACHES WITH FIREROSTER
Made for first responders by first responders, BATT3’s FireRoster is a complete scheduling solution for all kinds of fire/EMS departments, from small volunteer departments in rural and remote areas to the largest of professional departments in major urban centers. This is because FireRoster has been created to be an easy-to-use, intuitive and interactive solution to the challenges of fire/EMS staffing.
To do this, FireRoster clarifies and simplifies the staffing process on an ongoing basis, reducing the time required to fulfill this function while keeping employees informed and satisfied. For instance, it allows fire/EMS staff to check their assignments, initiate trade and leave requests, and respond to staffing needs via the platform using their phones.
Moving to FireRoster and away from pen and paper and/or manually managed spreadsheets also helps to minimize input errors and missed requests. As well, using FireRoster provides a clear history of the department’s staffing process, which can be invaluable should disputes arise.
Because each fire/EMS department is different, FireRoster’s layout can be customized easily to align with their administrative style. To make this possible, the platform comes with built-in controls so that administrators can set their department’s schedules by station, resource, part-time, full time – however they like to do it.
Speaking of controls, FireRoster is managed using an efficient web-based dashboard. This dashboard allows staff members to find departmental messages, new tasks and user-defined notes with a few mouse clicks. FireRoster also has a robust messaging feature that allows its users to communicate with each other via email, text or using the dashboard. Message groups can be established using categories such as rank, shift or teams. Administrators can even preprogram recurring messages for monthly training or meetings.
When it comes to compiling staff scheduling reports, FireRoster can generate the data for you — making it painless to find out who worked, when they worked, and which work codes they were assigned. These reports can be formatted as timesheets to integrate into the department’s payroll program.
As for sharing staff with partnering agencies? This typically complex process can be managed easily using FireRoster. It allows participating agencies to view and print daily roster information as needed.
Finally, FireRoster is designed to allow staffing changes to be populated automatically. It even tracks staff overtime hours, keeping costs down when deciding who to call back to work when extra people are needed.
ACCESSING FIREROSTER ON ZEBRA RUGGED TABLETS
Because BATT3’s FireRoster is web-based, it can be used on phones, computers and tablets – basically, wherever and whenever you need to. For mobility and reliability on the fireground, consider running FireRoster on rugged tablet computers such as Zebra ET8x 2-in-1 tablets powered by Microsoft Windows Pro. These are truly “two-in-one” devices, because Zebra ET8x product line can be used as standalone touchscreen tablets for maximum portability, or as laptop computers by connecting them to QWERTY keyboards. The Zebra ET85 comes with built-in 5G WWAN connectivity (plus Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS), which makes it perfect for use with FireRoster anywhere. When configured with the passthrough antenna (PTA) option, you get increased consistently superior wireless services even in remote areas.
Of course, taking a tablet computer to an incident scene is asking a lot, which is why the Zebra ET85 powered by Microsoft Windows Pro is truly tough. For example, it complies with the MIL-STD-810H standard for surviving a 4 foot drop to plywood laid over concrete. (Add an optional rugged boot to the ET85, and the drop height can be increased to 5 feet.) The ET85 also complies with MIL-STD-810H’s requirements with respect to resisting vibrations, solar radiation, fluid contamination, and thermal shock (-4°F to 140°F/-20°C to 60°C operating/-22°F to 158°F/-30°C to 70°C nonoperating).
But toughness doesn’t end here. The ET85 is built to meet IEC 60529 Clause 13.4 for sealing enclosures to resist first, dust, and fluids, plus IP65 for tablets with open ports, keyboards and docks. Its electromagnetic compatibility is even compliant with MIL-STD 461G, EN 55032 and EN 55024.
BATT3’s FireRoster web-based staffing solution and Zebra’s rugged tablets such as the ET85 are the one-two combination that knocks out fire/EMS staffing problems for good. They are a good choice for fire/EMS departments that need staffing solutions – which is all of them.
Learn more about using mobile tools to manage scheduling and coordinate a safer response by watching this on-demand webinar.
Visit Zebra.com for more information on Zebra’s rugged tablets.
