Definition and Function of Lone Worker Panic Buttons

Definition and Function of Lone Worker Panic Buttons

As the number of lone workers continues to increase, employers are being asked more frequently whether they are required by law to provide them with panic buttons. As you may already know, there is no clear answer to this question. However, this doesn’t mean that lone worker safety shouldn’t be an employer’s priority.





Providing employees with a panic button is a powerful way of showing that their company cares about their wellbeing. It’s also a great deterrent against assaults or intimidation, particularly in hospitality and healthcare industries where employees are at greater risk of being harassed by guests, patients, or clients.

When a worker pushes a panic button on their lone worker device or app, it opens a one-way call with the company’s Alarm Receiving Centre. NZ Lone Worker Lone worker alarms NZ Specially trained operators listen in, assess the situation and alert the authorities. lone worker alarm device The lone worker can then speak with the operator using the microphone on their device to describe their location, explain what they are experiencing, and request assistance.

Some lone worker apps, such as AlertMedia’s Ok Alone, even allow the user to signal for help without needing to press any buttons or unlock their phone. This feature works in conjunction with a timed monitoring session, where, if the timer expires or an employee presses their panic button, a live video and audio chat is opened to the company’s 24/7 Monitoring Centre. The team can then dispatch law enforcement to the lone worker’s exact location, based on GPS coordinates from their smartphone.