Choosing a Safety Monitoring Device for Your Lone Workers
Table of Contents
Top Features to Prioritize in Your Lone Worker Safety Device
What is a lone worker safety device?
Personal safety devices and lone worker safety devices
The most important features to look for in a lone worker safety device
How to determine if you need a lone worker safety device
Top Features to Prioritize in Your Lone Worker Safety Device
Do you work from home or remotely? The chances of responding “yes” to that question are higher than ever with unprecedented numbers of people around the world who are performing their jobs away from coworkers and in isolation.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety defines lone work as “when [workers] are on their own; when they cannot be seen or heard by another person” as well as “workers who may go for a period of time where they do not have direct contact with a co-worker.” Do these descriptions apply to your team or coworkers? If so, you may need to look at the following options and ask yourself:
Do I need a lone worker safety and monitoring device and what are my options?
This massive shift in the work environment has also come to a massive shift in the safety of these people, who are also more vulnerable to emergencies and accidents as they are not in the presence of others who could help. Thankfully, new, innovative technologies are being developed to protect lone and remote workers, even in the most remote locations. One of these relatively new technologies is the lone worker safety device which is a comprehensive solution to comprehensive and changing safety needs.
What is a lone worker safety device?
A personal safety and a lone worker safety device include unobtrusive, portable pieces of technology, such as beacons, satellite devices, and panic buttons. However, a lone worker safety device also includes smartphones and tablets equipped with a lone worker monitoring app, which, like SafetyLine, can perform a wide range of safety functions for the employee.
Personal safety devices and lone worker safety devices
So what’s the difference between personal safety devices and lone worker safety devices? Not much and they are members of the same technology family. Personal safety devices encompass a wider range of tools and technology that provide safety in general situations such as PPE, panic buttons, and personal alarms. Lone worker safety devices, however, focus on protecting those working alone, remotely, and in isolation; they range from separate technology and tools to downloadable apps that can be used on ubiquitous items like smartphones or tablets. A separate handheld device is carried from job site to job site and needs to be charged beforehand.
The most important features to look for in a lone worker safety device
Automated check-ins
We live in a day and age where almost everyone owns and uses a cell or smartphone - DataReportal says there are more than 5 billion cell phone users around the globe. The vast majority of Americans – 96% – use a cellphone of some kind with 81% of those being smartphones. Using this everyday technology, managers can set up a manual check-in system for workers to confirm their safety. The problem with these systems is that they are time-consuming and vulnerable to human error.
Many organizations with a lone worker policy require their lone workers to check in regarding their status at a pre-determined time interval. Although this procedure saves on costs it may cost more in the long run and may not be reliable with factors such as:
When a worker misses a check-in, what do you do as a monitor?
Do you assume they just forgot?
Do you know their exact location to call for help?
What if it’s a false alarm?
To avoid using a regular cellphone device with manual check-ins, other solutions, such as an automated lone worker monitoring app on smartphones, can address the safety challenges for lone workers.
A lone worker check-in app can be downloaded onto any existing, common smartphone. These apps usually include all of the same features as the separate devices – like location tracking, communication, panic buttons, and fall detection – but do not need to be charged. Automated worker monitoring apps like SafetyLine, are based on a proven check-in system that allows lone workers to confirm their safety with their employer while communicating their exact location. Additionally, SafetyLine can leverage the existing motion sensors in smart technology to request help when the worker is unable to, like if they fall and are unconscious.
SafetyLine Lone Worker App with a Bluetooth wearable panic button
Fall detection
It is a fact that slips, trips, and falls are one of the top work-related injury causes in places of employment not only in the US and Canada but the rest of the world. That is why fall detection must be a feature provided by the lone worker safety device you’re considering. Fall detection will require immediate help when the worker is physically unable to do so.
Analytics
One of the major benefits of a solid lone worker safety device is that it can provide valuable information and reports, giving management the ability to proactively prevent accidents before occurring. They can convey important info such as where and when lone workers are most vulnerable as well as what can be done to improve their safety.
SafetyLine Analytics Report
Communication options
When it comes to worker safety, much is based on reliable, regular communication with a monitor or someone who can send help in an emergency. With SafetyLine, when workers check-in or alert for an emergency, they can also include a voice or text message with essential details such as their location and circumstances and any safety hazards.
Leave voice and text messages on the SafetyLine app
Satellite devices for lone workers
Some of your lone workers may work in areas outside of satellite reception, making it impossible or at least unreliable to connect in the case of an emergency. Over the past decade, there has been a lot of development in portable satellite and GPS devices that allow workers to communicate their situation and location, no matter where they work. One of those is Garmin’s innovative inReach devices and services allowing you to protect even more remote and lone workers even when cell service is not available.
Garmin and Globalstar satellite devices compatible with SafetyLine
It can be used with existing devices
As we said earlier, a lone worker safety device can also include an app that can be used on portable existing devices such as smartphones and tablets. This can save the employer from the significant costs of purchasing a separate device – especially with larger teams and organizations. On top of that, the user familiarity of these everyday devices can save training time and money.
Complements other safety devices such as (H2S) Hazardous gas detectors
H2S (hydrogen sulfide) gas sensors are hands-free devices that are worn on the worker’s clothing and can perform functions such as detecting hazardous gas leaks such as H2S gas and chlorine, as well as relay live updates on location and worker status. While dependable, these gas detectors can also be a considerable extra cost to the company, especially if it’s a large team. And because of that, according to this expert Q&A, when it comes to portable gas detection, “device adaptability is key,” and you should look for the must-have features of durability, usability, and convenience, as well as quick sensor response times. Visit our previous blog the Hazards of H2S gas, to learn more.
Customizable
It is incredibly rare when a specific set of safety features can address an entire team or company’s safety needs. What is more common is that your lone worker’s safety needs will differ from each other and therefore, you need a lone worker safety device that is adaptable and customizable to varying circumstances of these vulnerable employees.
No-motion alert
Like fall detection, a no-motion alert uses the sensors in the device to request help when the employee can’t. Your lone worker safety device will immediately request help if the device hasn't moved for an extended period, usually because the worker is not lucid or conscious.
Cloud-based
Yes, it’s becoming the norm; however, make sure your lone worker safety device is cloud-based so that they can build and leverage wider networks, instantly receive any necessary updates, and reap the many safety and engagement benefits of the communications that come with it. Also, this software and these apps are more affordable than their hardware-dependent counterparts.
Panic Buttons
Since the 1850s, when Augustus Russell Pope introduced the world’s first electromagnetic alarm system, humans have used some sort of panic button for emergencies.* What’s been different is that panic buttons were primarily used for security and safety measures in places like banks and healthcare facilities. With the advancement of technologies like wireless communications and connection, panic buttons are now available in many different forms, from an app on your smartphone to a small button worn on a lanyard around your neck. They are also available and being used to protect other groups like lone, isolated, and remote workers
When a panic button is triggered by a worker, it will provide the worker’s monitor a real-time alert that the worker is in a panic emergency and will notify the GPS location of the worker. The panic button is extremely useful when lone workers need to trigger a panic alert while being discreet.
*Source: https://www.abus.com/eng/Guide/Break-in-protection/Alarm-systems/History-of-the-alarm-system
SafetyLine in-app and Bluetooth panic button
How to determine if you need a lone worker safety device
The simplest method to see if your team needs a lone worker safety device is to perform a hazard assessment of the workspace and area. Once you’ve documented any safety hazards and risks, you can look at ways to mitigate these dangers with tools like a lone worker safety device. But after your first hazard assessment, make sure you conduct these evaluations regularly or as needed when something changes in the work environment. To help you out and get the ball rolling, here’s a free hazard assessment template and guide.
Reduce the safety hazards and risks with a lone worker safety device
The goals of a lone worker safety device and app are simple: to mitigate the risk of any existing safety hazards and empower your team to get help as quickly as possible. As we near the end of our second year living and working in a pandemic, lone worker safety is being taken more seriously and is advancing faster than ever before. Thankfully, this means there is growing number of device and technology choices to suit whatever your unique safety needs are, providing protection – and peace of mind – at your company.
For comprehensive safety solutions, delve into our Lone Worker Safety Solution App, find a plan that suits your needs with our pricing options, explore strategies to tackle Workplace Hazards, and get answers to common questions on our FAQ page. This combination of resources ensures your lone workers are well-protected with the latest in safety monitoring technology.