For most of us, a smartphone is a means of keeping in touch with friends and family, but in the case of lone workers, it has an important role to play in keeping them safe.
The lone-worker app is perhaps the most convenient and cost-effective way a worker who goes it alone can keep in touch with colleagues and stay safe when out on a job.
Apps can be installed on Android and Apple devices and come with a number of health and safety-focused tools, including GPS, man-down detection and SOS buttons.
Below, we take a closer look at how lone-worker apps can keep workers safe and sound.
Monitoring
It goes without saying that a lone worker is necessarily someone who works away from teammates and colleagues, making monitoring and supervision difficult.
A lone-worker app can fill the gap here.
By running quietly in the background on a compatible device, the app can monitor a lone worker’s location in real-time using the device’s GPS system.
Should the lone worker run into trouble or have an accident, his location can be pinpointed using the data from the app’s GPS positioning system.
Man-Down Detection
Lone worker apps come with lots of options but perhaps their most important function is to kick into action if it suspects the worker is injured or incapacitated.
True man-down detection does just that by periodically checking to see if the lone worker has moved during a certain set time interval – anything from two minutes to an hour.
If there has been no movement over that period, an alarm sounds, which notifies colleagues to check on the worker and verify he’s safe and well.
SOS Buttons
Smartphone apps run in the background monitoring a worker’s position and status, but they also often come with an always-on-top SOS button that the worker can quickly hit in case of emergency.
In some situations, the worker has his hands full and so an easy-to-hit SOS button that runs on the front screen of a mobile device is both convenient and a real lifesaver, giving the lone worker an easy way of reaching out for help and assistance in an emergency.
Time Personal Alert (TPA)
TPA is a complementary piece of technology to man-down detection.
Apps that feature TPA come with a handy check-in feature that allows users to set timers and notification settings – if the timer expires before the lone worker has had a chance to check in, an alert is automatically generated.
TPA can be tweaked so that notes and GPS coordinates are uploaded to the app.
This information is then sent automatically to first responders and colleagues if the TPA lapses without the worker checking in.
The timer can be easily extended or restarted by the lone worker with a simple click.
Conclusion
Smartphone apps should be a key component of all lone worker safety regimes.
They come kitted out with a host of features and options that can keep most lone workers safe, regardless of the work environment or dangers faced.
