For a lone worker device to be effective, it needs to be used.  

Your workers will embrace the protection devices if they understand the risks that they may encounter during their work, and that the best way to protect them is by utilising a solution that is efficient, robust, comfortable, and easy to wear.

Assess your lone workers’ day and activities to understand which device is suitable for them in their role; the watch, the SOS alarm, or the mobile app.

Factors to consider: 

Ergonomics 

What tasks are they regularly conducting? Could a lanyard get in the way if the person is bending or lifting a lot?

Uniform: if you’re considering an SOS alarm, is there somewhere to clip it such as a belt?
 

Discretion

How discreetly can an alert be triggered if there is an attacker present? Reaching for a lanyard or belt clip would be obvious, whereas a watch or wristband would be more discreet.

Communication

The sound output and signal quality of the device must be appropriate for the tasks performed by lone workers.

If the nature of your employees work increases the likelihood that they may encounter an attacker, signalling a loud alarm when calling the designated contacts or ARC could put them in further danger.

Geolocalisation

For a precise location and tracking of the lone worker, optimal protection solutions will have a combination of all three geolocation features: GPS tracking, WiFi and Bluetooth.  

GPS tracking: This feature is ideal for employees who work outdoors, such as groundskeepers for golf courses, railroad or utility workers, delivery drivers, or domiciliary care nurses who visit patients in their homes. However, If an emergency arises, external GPS tracking won’t give the precise location of the lone worker if they are within a large building.

WiFi: When a GPS signal is not available, the WiFi network compensates by locating an employee in a 2D dimension in a building. WiFi will give you an approximate indoor location of the worker, however, if working in a multi-storey building, this feature will not locate the level that the worker is on.

Bluetooth: This feature enables precise indoor geolocation tracking. Bluetooth will pinpoint the 3D location for an employee in crisis by identifying the floor that they are on as well as the location in the building. This is ideal for security guards or cleaning staff in a high-rise building, or workers in a multi-level or large factory or manufacturing facility.

Quality of support

You, and your worker, need to be confident that in a medical crisis, an accident or if they are attacked, that the protocols you’ve put in place are followed quickly and efficiently. Ensure that your monitoring company follow the British Standard EN 50518 for lone worker protection response.

Determining the best solution and device for your lone worker will depend on several factors. Your Almas Security Consultant will work with you to assess the specific routines and activities of your workers to ensure we provide the safest and most effective solution for their needs.