Dispatch gets upgrade with furniture from North Greece Fire District
Photos by Tom Rivers: Pete Hendrickson, an Orleans County dispatcher, likes the new furniture which is adjustable for each dispatchers’ size, and also allows dispatchers to work while standing up.
The recent consolidation of the dispatch service from North Greece Fire District to Monroe County created an opportunity for Orleans County to upgrade the furniture for its dispatchers.
Kevin Colonna, an Orleans County deputy sheriff, looks for information from dispatcher Bill Oliver in this photo from April 2015 which shows the previous setup.
North Greece had tables and corner desks with keyboard trays for four dispatch stations. The North Greece furniture was ergonomically adjustable, able to go higher or lower depending on the size of a dispatcher. The setups could also be raised for dispatchers who wanted to work in a standing position. Both the keyboard and monitor could go up or down, with electronic controls.
Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower heard the furniture might be available and he reached out to North Greece to acquire it. Two weeks ago the Orleans County Buildings and Grounds employees, along with communications contractor Kevin Doherty, moved the pieces to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
Three of the units were in place by Thursday. The county has three work stations for dispatchers and will add a fourth with some dispatch equipment for particularly busy times, such as an ice storm or power outage.
Dispatchers are praising the new setup. Pete Hendrickson, one of the dispatchers, used to work at North Greece and mentioned to Bower the equipment might be available. Hendrickson said it’s a significant upgrade, allowing dispatchers – who range from 6-foot, 4 inches to 5-foot, 2 inches – to set up their work station so they aren’t hunched over or straining.
Hendrickson said dispatchers would often fight fatigue from neck and back strain in the old setup.
“Now we have the ability to adjust to each individual,” said Allen Turner, communications coordinator for the dispatch center.
Today, Hendrickson started his shift sitting down and then raised the keyboard and monitor so he could stand up and answer calls as a dispatcher.
The dispatch setup also has fans to keep the equipment cool on hot days.
The dispatchers’ old furniture is going to the jail control room and the back-up dispatch station at the Emergency Management Office.
Provided photo: Randy Bower, the Orleans County sheriff, is pictured at left with Allen Turner, the communications coordinator for the dispatch center; Spencer Doherty of Doherty Communications; Willie Culverwell of Buildings and Grounds; Kevin Doherty of Doherty Communications; Ryan Woolston of the county computer services; and Bert Mathes, and Marc Petrin of Buildings and Grounds.
