Lone workers are often exposed to risk and a fully managed personal alarm can provide an extra layer of security It can act as a deterrent for those who may be aggressive and also ensure help is on its way quickly in case of an incident Many lone worker alarms offer 24/7 monitoring and features such as a fall detection or automated safety check-ins to support employees Safety Apps Using smartphones as personal alarms for lone workers is one way to ensure that employees are always within reach This makes it easier to quickly call for help and meet employer duty of care obligations It’s important to select a lone worker monitoring system that’s easy to use and has a clear audit-trail of actions between employees and their supervisor It’s also worth considering how mobile apps can integrate with handheld satellite devices like the Garmin inReach Mini and SPOT Gen4, which enable discreet duress activation while providing a full range of location monitoring The best lone worker monitoring systems feature smartphone apps that are simple to use and non-intrusive For example, Blackline’s Loner Mobile safety app turns a person’s iPhone or Android phone into a personal safety monitoring device This non-intrusive solution replaces productivity-draining check-in procedures and alerts live monitoring personnel that are empowered to manage optimized emergency responses It’s also possible to configure escalation procedures with the lone worker monitoring software so that the system is aligned with your organization’s policies For instance, a system such as SHEQSY can alert you via email and SMS when an employee has activated the panic button or has expired the timer on their timed monitoring session The system can even notify you when a person has reached the limit of their ability to respond to an escalation procedure Wearable Button Lone workers such as care staff visiting people’s homes face a number of health and safety risks These range from robberies to vehicle breakdowns in remote locations A wearable button as part of a lone worker alarm system can help to ensure that employees are able to contact someone quickly in the event of an emergency The wearable device is small, discreet and easy to use When pressed it alerts up to 5 emergency contacts via text message with GPS location data It can also be programmed to automatically call out in sequence or to wait for an incoming call This type of lone worker alarm can also feature a built-in man down alarm which can be triggered by motion, shock, tilt and non-movement sensors Another benefit of a wearable lone worker alarm is that it can be paired with an app such as SHEQSY by SafetyCulture The app can be programmed to send overtime alerts to management teams or a 24/7 professional security monitoring center These can then escalate to panic or man down alerts if required Whether they’re out in the field or at home on the sofa, it’s vital that all lone workers have access to an effective personal alarm As an employer you have a legal responsibility to carry out a risk assessment and provide your employees with the tools they need to protect themselves Panic Button A panic button is a device or app that enables lone workers to signal for help in dangerous situations This can be as simple as a small pendant button that a lone worker can wear or carry with them, or a fully featured lone worker safety app with features like GPS positioning When triggered, these devices can send a duress alarm to a number of designated monitors or even a monitoring centre so that they can be sent assistance straight away Lone workers such as social workers, home healthcare providers, real estate agents and technicians face a lot of danger when working on their own They might be dealing with unfamiliar clients, going into dangerous environments or travelling alone A personal alarm that can instantly alert a support team is essential to their safety However, a simple audible panic button might not be enough to scare off an attacker or prevent a serious attack For this reason, we recommend implementing a complete lone worker security solution such as SafetyLine, which offers real-time monitoring, automatic check-ins and GPS tracking This will give employees peace of mind and show them that their employer cares about their well-being It’s a good idea for any company that requires its staff to work on their own to create a lone worker policy Monitoring When a lone worker needs help, they can press a button to trigger an emergency alert that automatically notifies their employer and the emergency services These devices can also have fall detection technology to detect slips, trips and falls which may lead to an accident Lone work alarms can also be used to monitor a person’s location and activity Using GPS technology, these devices can send an alert to a 24/7 monitoring service if a person is not moving for a set period of time or has entered an area that they should not be in Depending on the type of device, this alert can be cancelled by pressing a button again or by covering the sensor with your hand – this is called a ‘false alarm’ https//loneworkerdevicescom/fall-detection/ The device will then be in a safe mode until it is reactivated by the user or it is manually triggered again Marie works as a domiciliary carer and spends her day travelling to visit patients in their homes She uses a lone worker alarm to ensure her safety while visiting clients, as it helps her to manage the risks associated with working alone Marie can use her lone worker alarm to signal for assistance whenever she needs help, and it’s able to track her location so that the emergency services are aware of where she is