A New Era of Personal Safety Devices on the Market
Table of Contents
A New Era of Personal Safety Devices on the Market
What are personal safety devices?
Satellite, cellular, and Bluetooth technology
Who needs personal safety devices?
Workplace hazard assessment
Comprehensive workplace safety
SafetyLine lone worker safety monitoring service
Since the 1700s, when Europe began experiencing the industrial revolution, worker well-being, occupational health, and safety have come a long way, evolving into an innovative, technology-based area for employers and employees.
Employers can protect their vulnerable workers more effectively by using Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) technology, such as remote personal safety devices, panic alarms, emergency devices, and phone safety apps. Additionally, global positioning systems (GPS) and tracking technology allow these devices to be more connected than ever, helping vulnerable lone workers stay protected and monitored regardless of how remote they work.
What are personal safety devices?
In a nutshell, these devices will protect an individual worker (or workers - in coordination with other devices) from certain safety hazards in the workplace and other environments and situations. Personal safety devices help employers protect their employees when mobile, employing various technologies to address a range of safety challenges in the workplace at the time. Personal safety devices include a broad group of technology that can include:
Emergency panic alarms
These devices are typically a button that immediately signals an emergency for workers who need help. Emergency panic alarms can include a separate, physical button worn on the worker’s person or, in the case of SafetyLine, can be discreetly used via Bluetooth on their smartphone or tablet. Emergency panic alarms and panic buttons for hotels are becoming an increasingly mandated requirement for hotel and healthcare lone workers who face harassment and violence from the public.
Motion sensor technology
A personal safety device like SafetyLine will leverage your smartphone's motion features and sensors to detect dangerous falls and impacts. It can also detect if the worker has not moved for extended periods and request emergency help when the device is aggressively shaken. SafetyLine uses existing tools and devices so that additional devices do not need to be purchased and carried. Compact motion sensors can also be attached and worn separately, sometimes within work clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) like protective glasses.
Traditional PPE has evolved into much more than traditional protective gloves and hard helmets (although that equipment is still important), becoming a new category called PPET – personal protective equipment and technology (PPET).
Reliable communication
Most importantly, these devices are a reliable means of communication in the very stressful circumstances of a workplace emergency. Many personal safety devices offer simple voice and text messaging and other information needed for successful emergency response. The more information emergency responders have about the situation, the more effectively and quickly they can respond. Safety devices, like SafetyLine, with workplace communication capabilities, will provide valuable detailed context about the worker’s circumstances, their profile, and any other relevant information that could speed up a response.
Satellite, cellular, and Bluetooth technology
This grouping of safety technology provides accurate global location tracking using cellular networks and satellite and GPS technology to locate workers anywhere in the world. When outside of or with weak cellular reception, personal safety devices can effectively locate workers by partnering with other satellite-mobile providers such as Garmin and Globalstar, which SafetyLine leverages to provide protection no matter where they are. With SafetyLine, all of the data gathered is completely safe and secure, and there is full disclosure from the employer about how the information will be used. In addition to motion sensors, SafetyLine will also leverage Bluetooth connectivity on your devices to signal emergencies with its discreet in-app panic button.
Who needs personal safety devices?
Personal safety devices can help protect anyone who works alone, in environments where help is not quickly available, or for any employee who feels their well-being might be compromised, at any point, while performing their jobs. There’s a need for these devices across a wide range of industries with vulnerable lone workers. In some cases, such as with violent public members, the need for this type of device is quite obvious.
Following the criteria above, safety devices can protect a wide range of professions that require safety monitoring some, if not all, of the work time. Such jobs include electrical and water utility workers, community and home healthcare workers, energy employees, agriculture workers, hotel and hospitality people, and those working in wildlife, conservation, and environmental services.
Workplace hazard assessment
However, if it is not evident your workers would benefit from such a device, justifying any additional costs, you will need to perform an exhaustive hazard assessment to proactively identify the dangers these people are facing. A hazard assessment essentially documents any existing or potential OHS threats, including the following workplace hazards:
Physical hazards (hearing and sight damage, extreme temperatures, and weather)
Chemical hazards (burns, respiratory issues, eye damage)
Biological hazards (respiratory issues, gastrointestinal disease)
Ergonomic hazards (injuries, strains, sprains, trips, and slips)
Psychosocial hazards (stress, threatening behavior, bullying)
Once you have performed a hazard assessment, look at ways to reduce the risk of the hazards and hazard-mitigation strategies that can be implemented to make the workplace safer.
Comprehensive workplace safety
Your safety device should be part of a larger, more comprehensive workplace safety program or umbrella. Under this umbrella, you also have a lone worker safety policy and protocols, safety training, communication, and education on safety-related content, as well as a strong safety culture that holds all of it together.
The safety hazards in your workplace can be incredibly diverse and varying. So to address these hazards as effectively as possible, your OHS program must be equally as extensive, attacking safety issues from multiple angles. By utilizing a tool like a hazard assessment, you can determine which angles you need to approach the safety hazards in the most effective, least-disruptive ways possible.
Where it’s safe to speak up
To create this positive safety culture, try to make your central workplace or different work site environments where employees feel comfortable to speak up about any concerns around their safety, their coworkers' safety, or the public's safety. Make sure everyone is involved in choosing devices or policies that impact their safety and work. When choosing the best safety device, you want the input of the people who know the hazards best - your workers.
SafetyLine lone worker safety monitoring service
The SafetyLine lone worker app is available on Android and iOS s Apple smartphones that can be quickly downloaded and ready to use. Not only is it simple to integrate SafetyLine into your operations and workflow, but you are not required to purchase any additional devices.
Worker monitoring is activated when the worker checks in on their SafetyLine app – these times are predetermined beforehand between the employer and lone employee. If the worker experiences an injury and does not check out at the prescheduled time, an alert will be raised, sending immediate help to the location, which is also communicated through the lone worker app.
This location can be determined via whatever networks are available – cellular and satellite, GPS; SafetyLine can be used with Garmin’s inReach satellite communicator and Globalstar’s SPOT satellite messenger.
SafetyLine Lone Worker App with a wearable Bluetooth panic button
Satellite Devices compatible with SafetyLine Lone Worker
Complying with lone worker regulations
SafetyLine will help your organization comply with local lone worker regulations by demonstrating that due diligence is being performed to ensure all reasonable steps are being taken to protect your workers.
Using the SafetyLine lone worker app regularly will monitor these workers’ safety so that the employer does not have to hire somebody who can. Through three key areas, SafetyLine will ensure these workers’ well-being is taken care of, no matter where or when.
Fully automated, 24/7
SafetyLine will protect your people without needing manual labor or check-in systems like Excel spreadsheets to keep track of their safety.
Accurate location tracking
SafetyLine will instantly locate lone workers in an emergency so that help can be immediately sent to the correct location.
Proactive protection
SafetyLine will proactively request help if a lone worker fails to check in and confirm their safety, monitoring their wellness while they work.