Lone Worker Monitoring

Lone worker monitoring can feel like an invasion of privacy if employees don’t understand why it’s required. Explaining the purpose of a system and giving clear instructions is essential.

Unlike dated check-in apps that require workers to interrupt their workflow and call a buddy list, Loner Mobile fits seamlessly into lone worker routines. This allows supervisors to confirm their people’s safety without interrupting productivity.

Time-Based Check-Ins

Many lone worker monitoring programs require workers to phone in to a supervisor or call center on a regular basis to confirm their safety. However, this often degrades productivity and can leave employees feeling distracted by a phone call and not focused on their work.

An innovative technology-based lone worker solution allows employees to check in by pressing a button on a mobile device, which is significantly quicker than calling in and more convenient. This creates a better, more efficient process for checking in and improves the likelihood that employees will follow workplace safety protocols. In addition, human monitors only become involved in exceptional circumstances — when a lone worker may be in danger or need assistance.

A lone worker app like SafetyLine can be used to automatically ping a worker at set intervals to verify their safety. If the lone worker does not respond to the request they will be sent an emergency alert which can send an SOS signal to a central control centre.

With the flexibility to support different devices, mobile apps like Ok Alone provide an affordable way for organisations to meet lone worker health and safety regulations without requiring additional hardware. lone worker personal alarms The system also tracks met and missed check-ins, making it easy for managers to ensure that all of their employees are following lone worker protocols.

Real-Time Alerts

Lone workers face many risks on a daily basis. They may be exposed to potential hazards that come with their job, such as a chemical spill or slip-and-fall. Alternatively, a situation could also become life-threatening if they encounter a criminal act against them or the property they’re guarding.

These scenarios often require immediate attention, so it’s crucial that a lone worker monitoring system can send an emergency alert without any delay. A good lone worker monitoring app should be able to respond within 2 or 3 seconds of an employee sending an alert, no matter where they are or how fast their signal is being transmitted.

This is why a timed check in feature that is not dependent on someone remembering to do it manually is so important. Using an automated countdown to a certain period of time, if the worker doesn’t reply to a request that asks if they are safe then an alert will be sent to a supervisor or assigned buddy and an automatic escalation process will be initiated.

Many of these lone worker apps can even be used as a panic button, allowing employees to instantly request assistance at the touch of a button. In addition, many of these apps are fully operational both with and without a mobile network connection. Other features that are useful for security guards include the ability to record on-demand video footage, providing indisputable evidence of what happened during a patrol or in the event of a suspected incident.

GPS Tracking

A good lone worker monitoring device will include GPS technology to provide accurate real time location information. GPS devices use a network of 24 satellites that broadcast radio signals and provide positioning data to the device. The devices then transmit this data to other systems, such as the lone worker monitoring system. GPS devices can also include a panic button or safe zone to notify a response team in the event of an emergency.

Look for a lone worker solution with automatic failover connectivity to ensure that your mobile workers always have a line of communication with safety personnel even if their cellular connection fails. This is particularly important for workers dispatched to remote areas where cellular coverage may be limited. For example, a fireman who works in a remote area or a guard that has to patrol remote properties alone for 2-3 days will need a device with both cellular and satellite capabilities to stay connected.

A lone worker solution should also enable you to set up geofence boundaries so that your staff is only monitored when they are within a defined area of work, protecting their privacy and minimising interruptions to their shifts. A GPS tracking feature is also useful to monitor their movements and verify they are adhering to safety protocols, such as avoiding high risk areas.

Remote Monitoring

Lone worker monitoring is a vital tool for companies that rely on staff who work alone. This includes a wide range of professions from security guards to forest workers, and also includes international development workers working for organisations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross in some of the most remote places on earth. Lone workers are often exposed to risks that can not be easily managed by their employers, including aggression from members of the public, working in hazardous environments or even being attacked by animals or birds.

Having a lone worker monitoring system in place provides peace of mind for your employees that their safety is being looked after at all times. It also helps you meet your legal duty of care.

Your lone worker monitoring system should include a programmable emergency button that can be triggered by your employee via the app when they feel they are in danger. This feature will send an immediate alert to the company monitoring operatives and will allow them to start tracking your employee’s GPS location in real time. Depending on your lone worker monitoring software, the GPS coordinates can be pinpointed to within one square metre. Unlike other systems, your lone worker monitoring software should allow your workers to have the app open and protected in background mode during their entire shift, meaning they can leave it on their phone while still being safe.