Working alone can be a necessity, but it can also increase on-the-job risk. Having the right tools to support those workers becomes imperative to ensure that they stay connected and protected at work.
The number of professionals finding themselves working alone or in remote scenarios is increasing yearly, particularly following the pandemic – healthcare professionals, truck drivers, contractors, and the list goes on.
In the age of mobile phones and endless internet connections, it can seem impossible to become disconnected, but all it takes is a bad signal at the wrong time to exacerbate a dangerous scenario. Having the right personal security devices or personal alarm devices can make all the difference. It’s not just a matter of safety, for those managing lone workers and those at risk, it’s a duty of care.
Understanding the Importance of Personal Safety Devices
Workplace violence, accidents, emergencies, physical threats, natural disasters, fatigue, and stress are just a few of the personal safety risks that many workers face. This risk is heightened when they are working alone.
Employers have a duty of care under WHS regulations and lone working policies – particularly in health and lone working environments – to ensure that their workers are protected at all times, with sufficient support that works to mitigate or eliminate risk as much as possible.
Personal safety technology has come a long way since traditional panic alarms. Modern duress alarms, lone worker alarms and mobile apps can include fall-detection, weather-proofing, 24/7 monitoring, and more. These developments have been crucial for increasing protections for those at risk.
95% of healthcare workers, for example, have experienced verbal abuse or physical assault at work. These situations are often unfortunately unavoidable. However, they are never acceptable.
Including personal safety devices or duress alarms means that when these situations do arise, they have immediate access to support. Choosing devices that are user-friendly, reliable, and accessible is crucial to ensuring your team has proper support.
So what can you do to protect your workers?
Personal safety devices. Personal safety devices are one of the simplest, and most accessible, effective ways to give your workers a safety line wherever work takes them. From mobile apps, to satellite devices, man-down alarms, panic alarms, fobs, GPS location, and built-in SOS alerts, there is something for every scenario.
So how do you decide what your team needs?
Identify the risks that your team faces on the job, are they out of mobile range? Working around water? At risk of falls? More likely to face aggression and violence? Identifying the actual risks will help you to define what you need out of a device. Whether it’s a discreet, ID-style card holder with a built-in SOS button to avoid escalating the scenario, or a satellite device that works outside of mobile range, with shock and weather-proofing built in. Taking out the guesswork, some companies provide checklists or solution finders to ease the decision-making process and identify the most important safety features for your team.
Duress Alarms and Panic Button Alarms
The simplest solution, duress buttons and panic buttons are small devices that are activated by the push of a button in an emergency situation. These are often installed in banks, schools, hospitals, restaurants, and government buildings. They are most often hardwired and attached to walls, but wireless personal duress alarm systems are also available. They can also often be attached to a security monitoring centre, like our 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre, connecting to dedicated staff who can access the appropriate support for the situation. We recommend personal duress alarms, as they are mobile, and do not require a worker to be in a particular location to access support.
Lone Worker Phone Apps and Alarms
Lone worker applications are a convenient way to include personal safety in your workers’ routine without adding additional infrastructure. They are downloaded onto the user’s phone and can be accessed anytime. Often these will include two-way communications and direct lines to emergency services. The success of these lone-worker apps comes from their reliability. If the app does not have adequate support and personnel behind it, it will not provide proper support for your workers. They are also dependent on the user being within mobile range, so they are not suitable for all lone workers.
Remote Communicators
Satellite communicators are lifesavers for those working outside of mobile range. Unlike traditional satellite phones, these devices no longer need to be bulky or heavy and can come in stick form to be carried with workers wherever they go. Users can activate GPS real-time location tracking, two-way messaging, long-life batteries, and SOS notifications/alerts, allowing them to remain supported while they are out of range.
Investing in personal safety apps and devices isn’t just a precautionary measure—it’s a proactive step towards ensuring safety, security and peace of mind for you and your team. Whether you’re a lone worker, a healthcare professional, or just someone who values their safety, there are a wide range of devices and alarms available for every scenario.
SafeTCard was built with one mission: to help keep people safe. Get in touch to find the personal safety device for you and your team. Let us work together to keep Australian workers safe.
Contact us today to learn more or call us on 1300 723 382.
