User Experience and Interface Design of Lone Worker Panic Buttons

Whether or not legislation requires it, providing employees who work alone with access to a panic button can help them feel safe at work. These devices can also show that workplace safety is a priority for the company.

Discreetly activated to avoid drawing attention to the employee or escalating a potentially dangerous situation, lone workers can push a panic button in a device or app and alert monitors to their location.

User Experience

The use of lone worker panic buttons empowers employees to ask for help in any situation. This enables them to quickly and discreetly send an alert that will reach their manager or other colleagues at the organization, as well as first responders who can immediately dispatch law enforcement or security personnel. This helps to ensure a swift response and minimizes any potential injuries from an incident.

Lone workers are often secluded from their coworkers, and this creates a unique challenge when it comes to safety. For instance, a retail employee working alone in a boutique clothing store may notice an aggressive customer who makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. In this scenario, the lone retail worker can instantly trigger an alert on their mobile device to notify the company’s monitoring team and ensure their safety.

Wearable lone worker alarms typically work via Bluetooth or wi-fi, and allow employees to activate an emergency button on the device by pressing it once or multiple times. personal safety alarms The button will then automatically transmit their GPS location to the company’s 24/7 monitoring center, which can immediately alert local law enforcement and security personnel.

In addition to the panic button, lone worker safety solutions include man-down/fall detection and audible alarms. These alerts are triggered by certain movements like tilt, non-movement, acceleration or impact and can be sent to the lone worker’s mobile device automatically or manually with a press of a button on the wearable device. Some lone worker safety solutions also feature automatic “check-ins” and overtime alerts that can be configured to turn into panic or red alerts if not responded to within a specified timeframe.

To maximize the effectiveness of a lone worker safety solution, it is important to ensure that users make the button and any other actions required by the system an everyday part of their routine. It is also crucial to have a detailed plan in place, so that should an employee find themselves in an emergency situation, they will know what to do. This may include detailed instructions on how to activate the panic button and what to do next (for example, whether to contact police or a supervisor). It could even include steps on how to stay safe during an attack or fire.

Interface Design

As the number of employees performing lone working roles increases, so do concerns about their safety. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not require employers to provide lone workers with panic buttons, its guidance and citations often mention them as an option for increasing workplace safety.

Lone worker panic buttons are commonly used in hotels and hospitals to prevent assaults on housekeepers and other staff who work alone or in isolated areas. They also enable healthcare and hotel workers to summon assistance quickly if they witness inappropriate or threatening behavior from guests, patients, customers, or other visitors.

Although each device varies in functionality, most offer a simple and intuitive interface for alerting authorities or another chosen individual of an emergency. Some only require a push of the button for it to activate, and others will continue sending an alert until it is deactivated. Lone worker devices are also typically designed to have no dead spots, using a self-healing network with multiple cellular providers for redundancy in remote locations with poor coverage.

Many lone worker solutions, such as those offered by StaySafe, include a built-in panic button which can be triggered in the app by pressing the power button four times. In addition, a discreet wearable button can be linked to the app, making it easy for lone workers to signal an emergency without having to open their phone’s screen in the middle of an attack or confrontation.

Other features of lone worker panic alarm systems can include automatic check-in functionality and man-down/fall detection, which can be triggered automatically by devices that detect movement or lack of movement over time. These are particularly useful for those who work in areas with a high risk of unconsciousness, such as those in a hospital or on the floor of a tall building.

The best way to determine if your company should implement a lone worker panic button solution is to conduct a risk assessment and consult with your staff. Asking them if they feel unsafe when working alone will help to inform the discussion and will show that their wellbeing is your priority.

Usability

Lone workers can face various dangers while on the job. They may be confronted by hostile customers, unauthorized intruders or even assaults. These situations can be life-threatening and require immediate assistance from staff. Hence, it is imperative that they have an easy way to signal for help. Using an app or a mobile device with a panic button is one way to do this. However, not all apps are created equal. Some of them are confusing and have multiple steps to activate the alert. As a result, many users may be discouraged from calling for help and might not use it in an emergency.

Providing employees with an easy-to-use lone worker panic button is part of the employer’s duty of care to keep their staff safe. It helps to prevent workplace violence and ensures that the employee is able to call for help in an emergency. Moreover, it helps the company to maintain a safe work environment that complies with all applicable standards and regulations.

When used, a lone worker panic button sends an instant alarm directly to management or security personnel over the mobile device’s Bluetooth or wi-fi connection. It does so in a silent manner to avoid attracting the attention of an assailant or causing them to react with aggression. The employee can then use the escalation procedure outlined in their company’s policy to get help or contact law enforcement.

In addition to a lone worker panic button, employees should be provided with training on how to respond to an emergency. This will prepare them to respond quickly and calmly. It will also help to foster a culture of safety in the workplace that is important for employee satisfaction and morale.

Whether the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide their employees with a lone worker panic button depends on the particular workplace circumstances. Although the agency often refers to lone worker devices in its guidance documents, it does not explicitly state that the devices are required. The agency’s citations and guidelines are meant to assist companies in complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act).

Accessibility

Providing employees who work alone with access to a mobile-based lone worker panic button is a simple way to demonstrate that the safety of employees is a priority for your company. It can also help you meet your duty of care obligations under health and safety legislation.

In some cases, the ability to signal for assistance quickly can mean the difference between life and death in a dangerous situation. Lone workers in professions like home healthcare, social work and the military face a range of hazards that can put their wellbeing at risk. These include working by themselves, meeting unknown clients and entering potentially dangerous environments.

Many lone worker solutions provide an in-app panic button that can be activated by pressing and holding the button for three seconds or more. This feature is designed to be easy to use in high-stress situations where the ability to respond immediately is critical.

Some lone worker devices have GPS tracking capability which sends the worker’s exact location when the panic button is activated, expediting response time and ensuring that emergency responders are able to locate the person in need of assistance. In addition, some lone worker systems will record an incident report when a panic alert is triggered. This documentation can be valuable for post-incident analysis, compliance reporting and legal purposes.

As more employees in the US are expected to work remotely, there is a greater need for companies to ensure that their remote staff members are adequately protected. While it is not required by law that employers must provide their lone workers with a panic button, providing access to one can help mitigate the risks and improve employee morale.

Some of the key features to consider for a lone worker panic button are the ability to send an SOS message, the ability to receive incoming notifications, and the option to check in with supervisors. Some lone worker solutions, like SafetyLine’s, even allow employees to check in by voice without needing to unlock their phone and can also be programmed to send an emergency alert in the event of a fall or man down.