The Value of Pinpoint, Told by a Director of Engineering
As the Director of Engineering, I’m responsible for the systems no one sees—but everyone depends on. My team maintains the power, HVAC, life-safety systems, and medical gas infrastructure that keep this hospital running 24/7.
Since implementing Pinpoint, I’ve gained something just as critical as uptime: confidence that the people maintaining those systems are protected when they’re most vulnerable.
Why Pinpoint Matters for Engineering
Our work doesn’t happen in clean hallways or well-lit patient areas. My technicians work in mechanical rooms, shafts, rooftops, tunnels, and basements—often alone, often after hours, and often under intense pressure when something has gone wrong.
We respond to emergencies in real time. Many call-ins happen at 3:00 AM, when staffing is low and stress is high. When a system fails, I don’t just worry about restoring operations. I worry about the engineer fixing it.
Pinpoint has changed how we manage that risk.
Engineering Safety in the Places Others Don’t Go
Engineering work happens in “dead zones”—areas where cell service is unreliable, radios don’t always reach, and help can be far away.
Pinpoint works where our team works. We rely on it because it provides infrastructure-grade coverage in basements, tunnels, mechanical mezzanines, and rooftops.
If an engineer is injured in a large or isolated space, responders get precise location information, not just a floor or building guess.
Just as important, it’s hands-busy simple. Our technicians are often on ladders, carrying tools, or wearing PPE. They don’t have the ability to fumble with phones or radios in a dangerous moment. Pinpoint gives them a fast, reliable way to call for help without stopping the job or compromising safety.
And for lone workers—especially during nights, weekends, and emergency call-ins—Pinpoint provides a level of protection we didn’t have before.
Why the Two-Tier Alert System Works for Engineering
In engineering, risk management is part of the job. Not every situation requires the same response, and Pinpoint’s two-tier alert system reflects that reality.
De-escalation alerts allow an engineer to quietly request assistance if they encounter an aggressive individual in a remote area, feel unsafe working alone, or sense that a situation could escalate. That early support helps prevent injuries and allows the engineer to stay focused on resolving the technical issue safely.
Panic alerts are critical when there’s a medical emergency, a physical threat, or a dangerous equipment failure. In those moments, Pinpoint ensures an instant, unmistakable response with no delays, no confusion, and no searching. Responders know exactly where to go.
That precision matters when minutes—or seconds—count.
Respecting Professional Autonomy
My engineering team moves across the entire campus. I have no interest in tracking their movements or monitoring productivity. That’s surveillance, not safety.
One of the reasons Pinpoint has been embraced by my team is its privacy-first design. Location is shared only when a staff member initiates an alert. There is no continuous tracking, no monitoring, and no erosion of trust.
That respect for autonomy matters to skilled tradespeople. And because they trust the system, they actually use it.
What Pinpoint Represents for me as a Director of Engineering
For me, Pinpoint represents operational resilience and duty of care.
Since implementing it, we’ve created safer working conditions—especially for night shift and on-call technicians. We’ve improved emergency response in isolated infrastructure areas, strengthened coordination with security teams, and boosted morale by showing our staff that their safety is a leadership priority.
Most importantly, it sends a clear message to my team:
“Your safety matters just as much as the systems you maintain.”
Protecting the engineers who keep the hospital running isn’t optional. It’s one of the most important investments we can make, and Pinpoint has helped us do exactly that.