Cost and ROI of Implementing Lone Worker Panic Buttons

Lone worker panic buttons are an investment that can yield a positive return for your organization. By reducing operational costs and meeting your duty of care, you’ll improve employee morale and ensure their well-being.

Effective lone worker alarm systems are exception-based and easy to use. Instead of having workers ring in to a human supervisor or monitoring operator, they can check-in electronically by tapping a button on a smartphone app.

Cost

Lone workers are often at higher risk of violence, harassment or injury. Providing them with personal safety devices like a wireless healthcare panic button ensures they can summon help quickly. It also helps to protect your business from liability claims, workers' compensation costs and turnover.

There are a wide range of lone worker device options available to you. Man Down Devices Some are more discreet than others but they all work the same way by sending an emergency alert to the ARC with the device's location. This allows security personnel, colleagues or the emergency services to respond to the alert promptly.

The cost of a lone worker panic button depends on the type of device you choose. Some are a standalone device while others run on the mobile network and require a smartphone or other device. There are initial costs for the device as well as ongoing costs for the device monitoring service. These costs can be offset by reduced lone worker accident/incident costs, lower workers' comp and liability insurance costs and a better performance from your staff.

Return on Investment

For lone workers, especially those in situations that place them at risk for violence, a panic button offers the chance to discreetly send a signal to the authorities and buy themselves time. Whether it’s a bus driver facing an aggressive passenger or a security guard on duty in a situation of riot, a small click can save lives.

For those who work in hospitality or healthcare, a personal alarm can also help reduce incidents of inappropriate or threatening behavior. This is especially true for home healthcare nurses who might face a patient who becomes verbally aggressive or threatens the nurse’s safety.

A good lone worker device, like SHEQSY by SafetyCulture, will include a panic alert function, allowing employees to trigger a silent alarm. This will send an instant message, email or text to designated monitors (managers or a 24/7 professional monitoring station), following a predetermined response plan to verify the alert and dispatch assistance. Some devices also include GPS technology to ensure that the lone worker is sent help even in areas with poor phone signal or no WIFI.

Implementation

Having a well-planned and implemented lone worker safety policy isn’t just a good idea. It’s required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the US federal agency responsible for workplace safety.

A comprehensive hazard assessment will help you identify any potential risks that may arise in your workplace and put protocols and strategies, like panic buttons, in place to reduce the risk of violence. Whether your employees are realtors showing open houses, social workers visiting clients, utility maintenance staff working in remote areas or hotel employees, having a simple and effective way to get help is key.

A lone worker panic button app, device or software provides a simple and easy way for these employees to call for assistance in an emergency. It also gives them peace of mind and reassurance that their employer has their wellbeing at the forefront of their mind. Some devices and apps also feature a man-down or duress alarm that can be activated manually or automatically.

Maintenance

In some countries, workplace health and safety laws require organizations to implement lone worker panic buttons. In other cases, the choice of whether to do so lies with the employer.

A lone worker device or an app downloaded to a lone employee’s phone offers the option for them to send a 'help alert' in seconds by pressing a large button. It also features a low signal mode for employees who work in areas with poor mobile coverage.

In addition to the 'help alert', most devices will have an optional duress alarm that can be activated when an employee feels threatened or is being followed. The app will also provide a man-down/fall detection feature to help the lone worker get assistance if they have fallen over or been knocked unconscious. This functionality can be monitored by the organization’s management team or a 24/7 professional security monitoring center, depending on the company’s lone working policies. It is important that any lone workers with pre-existing medical conditions have access to a panic button. It could save their lives if they had a medical episode while working alone.