Best Practices for Using Lone Worker Panic Buttons

Whether they work in the office or on the go, staff who are working alone face unique dangers. Lone worker panic buttons are often recommended by cities, states, and OSHA to help protect these employees.

Also known as duress alarms, emergency signals, SOS alarms, or personal alarms these devices can quickly send an alert to a monitor.

1. Always Keep the Button in Your Pocket

Lone workers, such as hotel staff, social workers, child care providers and healthcare professionals can all benefit from using a personal alarm device or panic button app. However, they must be used correctly if they are to be most effective.

Uk lone worker When it comes to choosing a lone worker device, an important consideration is how easy it is to use. A large button that is a simple tap away can make all the difference in an emergency situation. Many lone work safety apps also have low signal modes, and some include a feature which can send an alert even when the phone isn’t in the app.

The Ok Alone lone worker app offers this functionality. The large red button labelled ‘Help’ on the home screen can be used as an emergency alert even when the app isn’t open. Simply tap the button and an alert will be sent to the monitoring team.

Panic buttons can also act as a powerful deterrent against any potential attackers. By making staff aware that letting the timed session expire or hitting the panic button will instantly send law enforcement to their exact location, this can help dissuade robbery, assault and other types of workplace violence.

2. Always Leave a Voice Note

Whether they’re working remotely or in the field, lone workers need to know that they’ll always be able to contact someone to request help. When selecting a panic button, make sure that it’s equipped with a self-healing network that can work in areas of low cell signal or WIFI and will never leave you in a “dead spot.” This is especially important for mobile workers such as traveling salesmen, truck drivers, health professionals and repair technicians who are often on the go.

Increasingly, employees across industries are tasked with working alone. These lone workers include healthcare and social service workers, care providers, hotel staff, and many others. While there are no nationwide Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) standards that require employers to give their lone workers panic buttons, these worker groups often experience higher levels of workplace violence than other employees.

To help keep their teams safe, many companies are adopting lone worker safety solutions. These lone worker panic button apps allow the employee to instantly contact a designated list of emergency contacts with their GPS location and a recorded voice message. They also offer other safety features such as an audible alarm and the ability to automatically check-in to let their contacts know that they’re still at work. In an emergency, the lone worker can then trigger their panic button to send law enforcement to their exact location or follow their pre-approved escalation plan.

3. Always Leave a Message

Lone workers are at a unique risk of attack or injury. As such, they need a quick and easy way to alert their employers or co-workers that they’re in danger. This is where a lone worker panic button comes in. The device itself functions much like a duress alarm, sending a signal that the user needs help immediately to their designated emergency contacts and/or monitoring service.

Many of these devices also include automated safety check-in features, which allow the employee to send voice or text messages to their employer/monitor confirming that they’re safe and giving more details about their working circumstances and environment. These extra steps can be vital for assisting a rescue or emergency response.

Lone workers are often mobile and travel between locations throughout their workdays. This includes truck drivers, salespeople, health professionals and repair technicians. These employees need to be able to contact their colleagues or employers quickly in the event of an incident, and this is where the lone worker panic button can help. The device can be easily carried in a pocket or backpack and activated discreetly when needed. The message that is sent will provide the device monitoring service with the employee’s real-time location, making it easier for colleagues or the police to locate and reach them. This is especially important for those that frequently travel to remote areas where WIFI or cellular service may be unavailable.

4. Always Leave a Location

Lone worker panic buttons enable employees operating alone to quickly call for help if they feel threatened or witness inappropriate behavior, or have a medical emergency. They are a valuable tool for many mobile workers, such as traveling salesmen, truck drivers and health professionals, who often work alone and face unique dangers on the job, such as workplace violence, sexual assault or accidents.

While there are no nationwide Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) standards that require employers to use lone worker panic buttons, OSHA’s guidelines and citations frequently reference them as an effective way to prevent workplace violence and increase employee safety. OSHA is a federal agency, housed within the Department of Labor, that regulates most private sector employers in the United States through federal laws and approved state plans.

When triggered, a lone worker panic button sends a duress alert to the lone worker’s designated monitors (manager(s), alarm receiving centre or emergency services, depending on their chosen response path). Some devices also include a check-in functionality that sends overtime or incapacitation alerts based on tilt, lack of movement or falls and may automatically trigger a man down/panic alarm if the device senses the user has become incapacitated.

To ensure that a lone worker panic button is working correctly, it is important to use it regularly and make sure that there is a strong mobile signal or WIFI connection where the employee works. It is also recommended to use a GPS enabled panic button when possible, especially in areas with poor or no cell service.