Why Doesn’t SafetyLine Check Me In Automatically?
Ensuring the safety of people working alone presents many unique challenges. Besides the unpredictability of many jobs and workplaces, working alone procedures may need to accommodate for a variety of job types within a single workplace.One of the methods that work alone systems can use to combat these challenges is through automatic check-ins, or tools that look for movement to determine the safety of a worker. Instead of using automatic check-ins,SafetyLine depends on workers to report their own safety. In this article, we’ll look at why SafetyLine uses a proactive check-in system instead of an automatic one.
Assumptions can be dangerous
Safety monitoring systems that utilize automatic check-ins often make the assumption that a worker is safe until proven otherwise, through a lack of movement or other trigger. This can potentially lead to errors in detecting workers in need of help.Unlike a safety monitoring system with automatic check-ins, SafetyLine requires Workers to report their safety and will otherwise default to the safest option, which means assuming that they need help. For the safety of employees working alone, a false alarm is always better than no alarm at all.Ironically, by introducing an automatic check-in, you also introduce human error. Automated systems are designed to remove human error while simplifying work alone procedures, but they should still require employee input to ensure the best information is being reported. Giving employees the ability to report in means empowering them to take ownership over safety in the workplace.
(Work) space invaders
Safety monitoring services with automatic check-ins often track things like employee location and movement to determine whether an employee is safe or not. While this tracking has the benefit of providing convenience, it does so at the expense of privacy. One of the biggest benefits to workers of a proactive safety monitoring system is that they control what information is reported. With reports made at regular intervals, workers can update their monitors with any new information that becomes relevant to their safety in the workplace.While an effective safety monitoring system should increase workplace productivity by streamlining safety procedures, it shouldn’t aim to become a productivity tool. Employee tracking can sound attractive to managers, but it ultimately introduces invasive workplace procedures. When employees understand that a monitoring system is only being utilized for their safety, it leads to increased worker buy-in and ultimately makes for a faster adoption process.
Because it’s the law
Nobody wants to see someone get injured on the job, but there’s a good reason that many countries and jurisdictions have adopted lone worker safety legislation. While good intentions drive safe practices in some workplaces, many employers follow safety procedures because they’re the law.One of the most significant differences between an automatic check-in system, and one that relies on workers to check themselves in, is the ability to implement an interval timer. Because of the way that some work alone legislation is written, systems that rely on automatic check-ins without timed communications may not be in compliance with these laws.Work alone safety procedures have evolved to make sure that employers communicate with workers and understand their risks. It makes sense that some legislation distinguishes between systems that enforce communications between employees and employers, and those that don’t. While both systems provide help to lone workers, knowing that help will arrive in a timely manner matters to both workers and the law.
Being proactive about safety
Safety in the workplace is ultimately about more than just systems and legal responsibilities. A safe workplace builds trust between employers and their employees. For anyone working alone, safety presents unique challenges that need equally unique solutions. SafetyLine solves the unique challenges presented by lone worker safety concerns without the shortfalls of automatic safety check-ins. Workers can trust SafetyLine because they’re kept safe in a noninvasive way, and monitors can trust SafetyLine because they know the information is reliable. SafetyLine’s interval timer makes sure workers get help in a timely manner while accounting for legal responsibilities.