Health and safety in the workplace are critical priorities for any industry. All businesses have a variety of policies and procedures in place to aid with keeping employees and visitors safe but occasionally, some areas are overlooked.
Lone worker safety, via personal alarms or a lone worker app, is often overlooked despite being of just as much importance as a working-from-height policy or a first aid kit.
In this blog, we look at why such devices play a vital role, so you can see how they may deliver more safety and security for your workforce.
What is a panic alarm?
A panic alarm is a must-have security feature for lone workers and those working in volatile or risky environments. Created to provide rapid assistance to those who need it, a panic alarm sends a signal with the simple press of a button to an alarm receiving centre, law enforcement or in-house security teams.
Designed to be versatile, panic alarms are now incorporated into mobile phone apps, buttons incorporated into the building or wireless wearable tech.
Why do we need panic alarms for workplace safety?
You might be thinking that your team are well drilled in following procedures and that your dedicated H&S specialist has all eventualities covered, but unfortunately, that becomes a risky game to play. In critical situations, time management is crucial. Spending time ensuring you tick all the boxes of a company policy could change the way the situation escalates and what its outcome might be.
So, let’s look at the key reasons why bringing a lone worker app or panic alarm system into play might be one of the better moves you could make.
Fast response
When a panic alarm is activated via an app, device or button, it sends a signal to an alarm receiving centre, emergency service or other members of the team. This alerts them to a situation where someone needs urgent help. Without such a device, the employee at risk has to try and make a phone call or try and escape the situation. This can sometimes make things worse.
By reducing response time, you also reduce potential risk and give the employee a quicker helping hand.
Reduce workplace violence
Cases of workplace violence are often found in the media. Arguments between employees sometimes turn violent and sometimes customers feel the need to escalate situations with fists or weapons rather than with reason. This means a workplace can often become a scene of conflict and violence. Certainly, something it is not meant to be.
Panic alarms are a great way to minimise this risk. Should an employee feel threatened, they can discreetly activate an alarm with help arriving on the scene quickly. This aids in diffusing the situation before the offender can escalate it any further.
UK-based lone work specialists OkAlone have an app that can be downloaded onto any phone. With a simple push of a button, an alarm can be raised, without the offender knowing. With in-built GPS and man-down detection, the app can pinpoint where something happened and action the appropriate response.
This is particularly beneficial in industries such as retail or healthcare where face-to-face interaction is frequent.
Enhanced security
Many businesses spend lots of money on implementing various degrees of safety and security, but it can always be enhanced. For lone workers in particular, adding additional safety measures should be high on the agenda. Situations can often arise from almost nothing, and failing to provide workers with suitable ways to help themselves or request help could be damaging to both the individual and the business.
Security guards, warehouse workers, salespeople and home healthcare professionals for example are all often expected to work by themselves. This heightens the level of risk they put themselves at and means accidents, threats or injuries could go largely unnoticed or dealt with.
Having a lone worker app or alarm device with built-in GPS allows workers such as these to raise an alarm, instantly requesting help. Responders can then locate them quickly and organise a response or action accordingly.
Reducing legal liability
As a business owner, there are a host of legal responsibilities you must abide by. From how people are employed to the hours they work through to the amount they can be paid. Each aspect has very strict guidelines to follow. When it comes to safety the rules are perhaps even more essential. Failing to follow those can result in prosecution that may lead to fines or even prison time.
Failing to implement the correct level of safety control and management could see businesses being found liable for the result of an incident. As a result, it is better to be, if anything, over-cautious. The installation of panic alarms or the provision of lone worker alarms and apps shows that:
- You take a proactive approach to safety
- You maximise compliance opportunities
- Reasonable measures are being put into place to protect employees
Enhanced employee morale and productivity
We often think that morale and productivity are linked to pay and benefits, but many employees see morale and productivity increase when they feel safe. By giving them full peace of mind that their safety is not only a priority but is proactively monitored, employees will feel safer and happier in the workplace. This then translates to less absence, more productivity and an overall more positive environment.
Where safety is taken seriously, staff retention tends to remain high as people feel comfortable in their workplace.
What panic alarms can be used in my workplace?
Luckily, there are a host of options that provide workers with added security. From fixed buttons to wearable tech, fast responses and appropriate care can be found fast.
- Fixed panic buttons. These are the panic alarms that may be located under a desk or counter. A press of a discreet button sends an alert to the alarm controller or emergency services.
- Wearable panic alarms. Small devices, sometimes disguised as a name tag, can be worn by a staff member and then activated with a quick press. An alert is sent to a control centre which can then locate the individual and act accordingly.
- Mobile phone apps. A simple-to-use app where the user simply taps a button to raise an alarm which is then sent through to the alarm centre or appropriate alarm handler.
These devices provide crucial and rapid assistance. Used to help lone workers as well as those working in large numbers, they allow for a speedy resolution to a variety of situations. For business owners of all sizes, and especially those with high-risk workers, this simple alteration to safety procedures could save lives and cash.
