Lone worker safety worker apps are a godsend for any company that has employees who carry out their tasks without a teammate.
But did you actually think about the things that could happen when a lone worker is caught up in an emergency situation? How fast can one get assistance? How can businesses ensure their safety when no one else is around?
Working alone comes with serious risks: accidents, sudden medical issues or even security threats can leave workers vulnerable. A lone worker can be left highly vulnerable to anything with no immediate assistance. In fact, in the absence of such assistance, some of these conditions can develop so rapidly as to be serious.
In the past, lone worker safety technology was a bit basic – it tended to involve personal alarms, walkie-talkies and whistles.
Today, things are a bit different.
Thanks to the advent of the smartphone and WIFI technology, lone worker safety has been revolutionised.
At the heart of this revolution lies the lone worker app, a downloadable piece of software that can be run on any compatible smart device.
Below, we take a closer look at how lone worker apps work and why you should consider using them to protect your lone workers.
What is a Lone Worker Safety App?
A lone-worker safety app is a mobile app designed specifically for employees who work alone or in remote locations. These apps involve real-time monitoring and response features where a lone worker needs assistance immediately. By using these apps, lone workers are monitored through GPS tracking, SOS alerts and automated check-ins, to ensure employers meet their duties of care and that the worker feels secure in their role.
Easy-to-Use
Almost everyone nowadays carries a mobile phone when out and about.
A lone worker can use a compatible smartphone to download a safety app and run it in the background while out on a job.
The app takes seconds to download and install and, once activated, will run silently in the background, ready to spring into action when the lone worker needs help or assistance.
Most lone worker applications also provide a voice activation feature, which means that workers can call for assistance without physically interacting with their devices. This is particularly useful in a high-risk situation where manual intervention may not be possible.
Cost-Effective
Because the lone worker app can be run on the employee’s device, there is often no need for extra bits of equipment such as dedicated handsets and keyfobs, which can add to the cost of keeping lone workers safe and sound.
The service that supports the lone worker and notifies colleagues is a subscription service that covers all lone workers in a company.
Free trials of the service are often available and a rolling subscription is also often on offer, so you can use the service with no long-term obligation.
Lone worker applications are comparatively much cheaper than conventional tracking systems. It makes them accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well. By eliminating the need for expensive hardware, companies can allocate resources elsewhere while still prioritizing employee safety.
True Man Down Detection
Real-time tracking of lone workers offered by apps has been a game changer.
The UK government describes a lone worker as someone who “undertakes a specific activity unaccompanied or without immediate access to another person for assistance”.
With this in mind, an employer who can’t provide in-person supervision should try to provide remote supervision and surveillance where possible.
A lone worker’s True Man Down detection does just that by monitoring the worker’s whereabouts via GPS.
If the system suspects the lone worker is injured or incapacitated, it raises the alarm and notifies colleagues of the issue.
Advanced lone worker apps now integrate motion sensors to detect sudden falls or prolonged inactivity, ensuring a quick response in case of an emergency. Some apps also allow workers to check in at regular intervals, providing an additional layer of safety.
SOS Buttons
Lone worker apps come with lots of options, but perhaps the most useful tool a lone worker has access to is an SOS button.
This is a big button that can be hit from the device’s home screen if the lone worker needs help or assistance.
Because the button runs in the foreground, it’s always available and within easy reach for the lone worker, meaning it serves as the first port of call should the lone worker need help.
Some applications even enable an SOS button to be triggered by voice commands or made available to external Bluetooth devices so it can be accessed during emergency situations. Most of the applications include two-way communication features, making it easy to contact emergency responders or supervisors instantly.
Additional Features Enhancing Lone Worker Safety
Besides the primary features that have been mentioned above, the modern lone worker safety apps also include:
Geofencing Alerts: Employers can define virtual boundaries. Workers cannot leave the premises of designated safe zones. If they do, this means that an alarm will be triggered.
Live Video Streaming: Some applications enable lone workers to activate live video transmission to allow supervisors to assess the situation.
Panic Alarms with Location Sharing: The app can send an emergency alert with precise GPS coordinates to emergency contacts or security teams.
Conclusion
Lone working can be dangerous, but a lone worker app from a company such as ANT Telecom means safety is within easy reach of any company with lone workers.
The ubiquity of the modern smartphone means that lone worker safety is no longer the preserve of large companies with big budgets, but is nowadays available to all.
When organizations adopt the new technology, they can turn isolation into security, ensuring that no worker is truly alone. Stay protected, stay connected and make safety a priority!
