When you’re working, you might have a radio assigned to you. It’s really important that you use it to keep in touch. Your Team Leader can show you how to use it, but these notes will help.

WHAT IS CONTROL?

Control is the communication and safety hub for the whole site. It operates 24 hours a day and is the go-to place for help with anything you can’t solve amongst your own/with your team. If you see something which concerns you or, for example, you need a First Aider, contact Control. All medical, safeguarding, infrastructure and safety issues go through Control. Control can be found on Channel 1. To get there, turn your channel selector as far as it will go anti-clockwise. If you’ve got a general information request like “What time does the Tea Tent close?” please ask your Team and, if possible, the information point. This helps to keep controllers free to focus on their core responsibilities.

COLLECTING YOUR RADIO

Radios need to be signed out and back in to individual Team members. Details of where to go will be given to you on arrival. When signing out radios, or accessories like earpieces, we will take your photo, name and mobile number to help locate any equipment which goes astray. Please don’t leave your radio unattended and if you pass it on to another Team member when your shift changes, let the Event Office know their name and number. If there’s anything you’re not sure about or something doesn’t seem to work, ask the team in the Event Office to help you.

HOW TO USE A RADIO

  1. Power: make sure your radio is on and that the volume is up loud enough for you to hear through the earpiece. Charge or change your battery every few hours. An occasional double beep when idle means your battery is getting low.
  2. Channel: stay on your assigned channel so that other people can find you. The channel selector switch on your radio shows odd numbers from 1 to 17. The dots represent the even numbers. If you need to speak directly to Control (see above for examples of when) please change to channel 1, but remember to change back to your assigned channel when you’ve finished.
  3. Listen: be aware of what people are saying and listen for anyone asking for you. Check no one else is speaking before calling for someone yourself.
  4. ABC: messages should be Accurate, Brief and Clear. Think about what you need to communicate before starting your transmission.
  5. Respond: always acknowledge calls and instructions given to you. If you miss something or don’t completely understand, ask for it to be repeated. It’s a good idea to repeat your understanding of any details given.

MAKING A CALL

  1. Check the air is clear. Don’t interrupt someone else’s conversation
  2. Press and hold the transmit button for 2 seconds before speaking. This helps make sure the beginning of your message isn’t cut off
  3. Say the name or callsign of the person you want twice before giving your own name, then say over e.g. Control, Control, this is Georgia, over
  4. Release the transmit button and wait for a response