Lone Worker Solutions

Some employees work alone at some point during their day, and it’s the employer’s duty to keep these workers safe. These workers often face an increased risk of injury due to their working environment.

A lone worker solution can be a simple, easy-to-use device that will help employees stay safe. It also helps to improve productivity.

The SOS Fob is a BS8484:2016 Gold Certified specialist lone working device

Choosing the right lone working device is an important decision for any organisation, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The device has to meet certain priorities, such as being durable and discreet, with the ability to get help when needed in a timely manner. It also needs to be easy to use, and with a range of safety functions, to cover various risk scenarios.

The British Standards Institute (BSI) introduced BS8484 in 2009 as a benchmark against which lone worker device services can be measured. It ensures that requests for emergency assistance from a lone working device are properly verified and originate from an approved Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). This reduces the number of false alarms that can drain police resources, and helps to improve a lone worker’s chances of being helped by the Police when they are in a genuine 'Red Alert' situation.

Only lone work solutions accredited to BS8484 through a UKAS accredited certification body can elicit a police response from the Police through their unique reference numbers (URN), sidestepping the central 999 system - potentially saving vital time in a crisis. These lone work devices are fully managed by a dedicated ARC, and are designed to keep people safe while they are on the move.

To maximise signal coverage even in areas of poor reception, the SOS Fob is fitted with a roaming multi-network SIM which has proven to be highly effective for major clients including Centrica, Bristol Water, Essex County Council and NHS Trusts, who collectively have over 10,000+ SOS Fob devices deployed across rural and coastal areas. A yearly subscription to the service is included in the price.

It’s discreet

Lone working employees may face situations where discretion is key when they’re on site or out in the field. Whether they’re carrying out home visits or meeting with clients and customers, using a phone might interrupt their conversations or aggravate them in case of an attack. Fortunately, there are plenty of discreet options to keep lone workers safe when they’re on the go.

The rtouch device is small and compact with a key fob appearance, allowing it to be worn or carried without raising suspicion. It’s a BS8484 Gold Certified specialist lone working device that features a large SOS alarm button, one- and two-way voice calls into a monitoring centre and a dedicated GPS location for rapid emergency response.

Another discreet option is the Halo watch, which provides a wide range of lone worker safety functions inside a stylish Android smartwatch. Its SOS functionality can be activated via an onscreen button, widget, power button press sequence and a dedicated SOS button accessory that connects to the watch. The device also features a Man Down alarm and can automatically track movement indoors and outdoors to provide real-time positioning.

For those who need a more comprehensive lone worker solution, the Atlas MX1e is an ATEX approved intrinsically safe smartphone with a full range of lone worker protection functions and PTT/PoC communication capabilities. It’s a rugged, IP67 device that connects to the cloud over a dedicated WiFi network and uses GPS, GSM, 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi for fast, accurate location services.

It’s easy to use

Lone working devices need to be easy for users to activate and operate, especially when under pressure or in a crisis. That’s why we’ve designed a range of lone worker solutions that offer discreet and user-friendly access to a full range of safety functions.

Whether clipped to a worker’s identity badge, in an arm or belt holster or carried in their pocket, our devices can be triggered by the press of a button to alert a team at your dedicated Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). If no action is taken by the employee within a set period of time, an automated Worker Down alert will be sent.

Workers can also use a secondary call button to contact ARC directly, bypassing 999 and ensuring they’re connected with an operator who knows the details of their situation. They can also leave a voice message to help emergency services in their response, and the device’s GPS will record the device’s position so that ARC is aware of the worker’s location.

The patented technology behind the O.W.L operating system ensures that the right actions are taken in an emergency, at any time of day or night. Depending on the circumstances, this could include alerting line managers via text or call, contacting staff at LONEALERT’s dedicated ARC to send the emergency services, or triggering the organisation’s own control room systems to respond.

personal safety alarm devices It’s affordable

Lone workers face unique risks and are prone to accidents or attacks, especially those who work alone at night. To mitigate these risks, employers can deploy a lone worker solution to protect their employees. These solutions are easy to deploy on a range of smartphone devices and offer professional and real-time 24/7 emergency monitoring. They can also help automate and streamline workplace safety processes and improve productivity for lone workers.

A lone worker safety solution provides a complete package of features that can be customised to suit an organisation’s specific needs. These include GPS, manual patented emergency SOS latch, voice-to-voice calling and more. Designed to be discreet and lightweight, they can be clipped into an identity badge, worn in an arm or belt holster, or carried in a pocket. They can be easily accessed by the user in case of an emergency, with the Red Alert function enabling them to call for help with a press of the prominent SOS button.

The SOS Fob works in conjunction with the cloud-connected Safe Hub app to provide complete and comprehensive connected lone working protection. This solution includes optional add-on communication options such as text messaging and push-to-talk, and when paired with live monitoring, delivers an instant and informed response to help keep your employees safe. It can be deployed on a discreet personal device such as the SOS Fob, an advanced smartphone app, or the SPOT X satellite device.