What to Look For in a Lone Worker Device

A lone worker device is equipment that enables remote employees to call for help and can be a vital tool for companies that operate in hazardous environments. A lone worker device can be used to monitor and protect a variety of responsibilities such as home health care nurses who visit vulnerable people in unfamiliar neighborhoods, electricians who work on dangerous high voltage systems or even lab workers that work with toxic chemicals. While PPE and training programs are critical to keeping lone workers safe, it’s important that employers have the right devices in place to ensure they can call for help quickly in the event of an emergency.

A good lone worker device will have the following features:

A manual patented emergency SOS latch generates an instant visible and audible alarm to instantly alert monitoring personnel. This feature is especially useful for lone workers working in potentially hostile environments or with customers or clients that are not familiar with the lone worker’s role and may misunderstand what is happening.

GPS location tracking is an essential lone worker safety feature. This allows supervisors to track the real-time position of each lone worker device and dispatch help as needed. This is especially helpful when employees are relocating to different areas on a weekly, daily or hourly basis and may not be expected to return to the same location for extended periods of time.

Another key lone worker safety feature is a panic button. This can be triggered by the wearer of the device in the event of an emergency and will automatically send an alert with their GPS location to the lone worker monitoring system. The lone worker monitoring system will then contact their assigned guardian and follow your company’s escalation procedures to dispatch help.





Many lone worker devices are portable and easily clipped to the wearer’s clothing or ID badge. This can make them easy to use and less likely to be accidentally turned off or inadvertently lost. Wearable lone worker devices can also include other functionality such as two-way communication, gas detection and GPS tracking.

Some lone worker devices are able to be turned into satellite based communications and monitoring solutions that provide a level of security in remote locations that don’t have cellular connectivity. The Bivy Stick is an excellent example of a lone worker device that turns into a satellite communication and monitoring solution with global coverage via the Iridium network.

A lone worker device can also be integrated with other tools such as smartphones and tablets, enabling them to be more versatile and easier for employees to use. For example, a lone worker app can be added to any mobile phone that has Bluetooth or a compatible GPS chip and allow the user to access features like a check-in function and alerts for emergencies.

Ultimately, the best lone worker device will be tailored to each employer’s unique requirements and operating environment. wearable panic alarm It’s important to assess the varying threats that lone workers face and identify which safety features will be most beneficial to each individual employee. For example, a security guard who is patrolling unfamiliar neighborhoods could benefit from a panic alarm that can be triggered with a simple touch of a button while a lone healthcare worker might require more advanced emergency features such as fall detection or a man down alarm.