Introduction : why features matter for man down alarm systems
Faced with the challenges of protecting isolated workers, the choice of man down alarm system functionalities is crucial to implementing a system that effectively meets safety needs.
The multiplicity of lone worker protection systems on the market makes the choice of these solutions a complex one. Indeed, depending on a company’s work organization, the size of its site(s) and the specific risks associated with its activities, the criteria for choosing a man down alarm system can vary greatly.
In many countries, employers have a legal obligation to set up a system capable of protecting isolated workers and taking charge of them as quickly as possible, which means that great care must be taken when choosing a man down alarm system. It is essential to ensure that its functions enable the employer to demonstrate that it complies with regulations.
In this article, we propose to review the various criteria that can help you choose the lone worker protection solution best suited to your needs. We’ll start by presenting the main categories of selection criteria, and then go into more detail on each of them.
Selection criteria for man down alarm systems
A man down alarm system must enable any worker carrying out his tasks without direct proximity to colleagues to signal his distress in case of need. Man down alarm systems can be more or less suited to the specific site configuration and activities of each company.
The aim is to meet these different needs in terms of lone worker protection:
Incident detection
This can be automatic detection or a manual alert with an SOS button. If detection is automatic, the system must be able to recognize different types of situations to ensure that an alert is sent if the worker encounters a problem.
A two-way communication module can also be tied to the man down alarm system to enable the isolated worker to speak directly to a supervisor.
Alert escalation
Alert escalation must be parameterized with the definition of a chain of alerts to ensure that those in charge are notified in the right order, according to availability or intervention capacity criteria. This alert management can be outsourced to a service provider, or managed in-house with supervision software such as SYSNAV Studio.
Prompt assistance for employees in distress (in accordance with regulations)
To ensure that workers in distress are attended to as quickly as possible, precise indoor and outdoor geolocation functions are essential, especially on large sites.
Other functionalities can also contribute to rapid assistance. For example, visual or audible alarms can alert any colleagues passing close to the employee in distress.
Robustness of the man down alarm device
A man down alarm system needs to adapt to employees’ working conditions. These conditions are sometimes complex, and require lone worker protection systems capable of coping with them:
– Climatic conditions involving extreme heat or cold,
– Work areas subject to ATEX (explosive atmosphere) standards.
To be operational in the event of an incident, the man down alarm system must therefore be adapted to this environment and to the employee’s activity.
Wearing comfort
To ensure proper use of the system, wearing comfort is essential, so that equipped employees don’t feel hampered in their tasks (if the device is too large or too heavy, for example).
Now let’s take a closer look at the man down alarm system functions.
Automatic incident detection
In the event of an incident, employees are not always in a position to trigger an alarm themselves. This is why automatic incident detection is essential to protect a lone worker and ensure that his or her distress is reported in all circumstances.
The man down alarm system can therefore detect a number of incident situations, including :
– Fall detection: identification of a fall using motion sensors.
– Immobility detection: an alert is sent if the user remains motionless for a predefined period of time.
– Loss of verticality detection: identification of an abnormal position (e.g. lying on the ground).
– Detection of abnormal situations: analysis of the environment for anomalies (such as unusual vibrations, high noise levels or toxic gases in the atmosphere).
– Detection of critical biometric data: analysis of heart rate, for example, using sensors integrated into the device.
Manual alert and SOS button
The purpose of the manual alert is to enable employees to voluntarily signal their distress if they are faced with a problem. This is particularly important in cases where employees may face the risk of aggression.
This voluntary alert is made possible by features such as :
– SOS button: enables the user to voluntarily send an alert in the event of immediate danger.
– Voice command: activation of an alert using voice keywords.
– External sensor triggering: accessories, such as a foot switch, can be connected to trigger an alert (e.g. for workers who may be at risk of assault).
Bidirectional communication and alert management
Once the incident has been detected, the man down alarm system must be able to notify the incident and alert those in charge. There are several functionalities available for notifying those in charge:
– Two-way transmission: live communication between the worker and a supervisor or remote monitoring center.
– Automatic alerts to a control center: sending alerts to a specialized team or external security service.
These alert chains can be customized to configure the various contacts to be notified in the event of an incident. What’s more, the means of notification are preferably multiple: alerts can be sent via SMS, e-mail or mobile applications…
Geolocation of workers in distress
In many incidents, the time it takes to attend to the victim is vital! Late arrival of the emergency team can aggravate the damage caused by an accident. This is why rapid intervention is key to protecting lone workers.
What’s more, the law may require employers to ensure that lone workers in distress can be taken care of as quickly as possible (depending on your country’s particular regulations). That’s why some man down alarm systems offer features for locating employees in distress. This is a major issue on large, complex sites, where long search times can delay assistance.
To avoid long search times, precise location information is essential. However, many man down alarm systems based on GPS positioning technologies are inaccurate in areas with dense infrastructures or indoors, as the signals do not pass through or give erroneous positions.
Solutions using Bluetooth beacons, for example, do exist, but are costly in terms of infrastructure and maintenance.
SYSNAV’s unique technology makes it possible to pinpoint the exact location of an employee in distress, indoors or outdoors, without the need for heavy infrastructure.
More information on SYSNAV’s Lone Worker Protection System.
Sturdiness and durability of the man down alarm system
To cope with the environment and working conditions in which employees find themselves, devices must meet certain requirements in terms of sturdiness and durability. Certain certifications may be necessary to ensure that the devices meet the requirements of the working environment.
The aim is to ensure the system’s effectiveness in the event of an incident, as well as the compliance of the devices used.We can highlight the following elements in particular:
– Resistance to harsh environments: dust-tightness, water-tightness (splashing or immersion), shock resistance, etc.
– ATEX certification: compliance for use in potentially explosive areas (as is the case, for example, on many chemical sites).
– Extreme temperatures: guaranteed operation in conditions of extreme heat or cold, such as in cold rooms.
Man down alarm system integration and compatibility
An important factor in the implementation of a man down alarm system is to understand what impact it will have on the company’s existing IT systems. The compatibility of the device and the supervision software must be taken into account.
Depending on the equipment and software in place on your site, you’ll need to take the following factors into account when installing a man down alarm system:
– Compatibility with telecom networks and existing software: integration with any private mobile networks and with supervision tools (if you already have a control and supervision center on your site).
– Over-the-air updates: depending on the man down alarm system solution chosen, and whether the software is hosted on site or by the service provider, software updates and maintenance can be carried out remotely, or require the service provider’s intervention. These include updates to optimize performance or add new functions.
– Connection to other sensors: integration with gas detectors, temperature sensors, etc. This is important if you already have this type of equipment on your site, so that your various security systems can communicate with each other to ensure optimum protection.
Ergonomics and user friendlyness
The effectiveness of your lone worker protection system depends to a large extent on the user experience of the wearers. In this respect, the choice of a man down alarm system adapted to employees’ activities and approved by them is key.
Indeed, we have seen how important it is to offer a constraint-free solution for lone workers, given the numerous feedbacks from users dissatisfied with the following elements:
– Wear that hinders workers in their tasks,
– Inopportune alerts that disturb lone workers, leading them to switch off the man down alarm system or stop wearing it.
Among the functionalities to which managers will need to pay particular attention are the following:
– Wearing modes: wristband, belt, clip, watch or integration into PPE (shoes, vests).
– Intuitive user interface: simplicity of use to reduce human error.
– Light or sound signals: visual or audible indicators to confirm device status or signal an incident.
– A system without false alarms: man down alarm system users must not be hindered in their daily tasks by a system that detects a large number of false positives. That’s why it’s essential to have a system with reliable alerts and incident detection.
Autonomy and energy management
To be effective, a lone worker protection system must be able to operate throughout the employee’s working day. The autonomy of man down alarm devices is therefore a selection criterion to ensure that the solution will be functional throughout the employee’s working day.
The criteria to be taken into account at this level are :
– Extensive autonomy
– Fast recharging: fast recharging system to minimize downtime.
– Low battery alerts: automatic notification to avoid service interruptions and prevent a lone worker from being equipped with a non-operational man down alarm system.
Advanced features of man down alarm systems
Additional “advanced” functionalities are also available on certain deadman devices to guarantee the safety of lone workers.
For example, some lone worker protection systems also prevent occupational hazards by detecting high-risk situations, such as:
– Working at height
– Toxic gas emissions
– Entry into prohibited or hazardous areas
There are also man down alarm systems with enhanced detection or warning performance thanks to :
– Biometric sensors: measuring data such as pulse or body temperature to improve incident detection data.
– Discreet mode: silent activation to avoid alerting third parties in sensitive situations (e.g. assaults).
Conclusion
Man down alarm systems cover a wide range of functions. This explains the wide price variations between different systems.
Beyond the selection of features, an essential point in the choice of a man down alarm system is the acceptance of the solution by users. It is therefore essential to ensure that the choice of man down alarm system is adapted to the tasks and work of the employees who will be equipped with it.
More information about SYSNAV’s Lone Worker Protection System
See our Lone Worker Protection Solution page and download the leaflet.
More on lone worker safety
- Lone worker alarm systems for safety at work
- Lone working risks and accidents
- Preventing lone worker accidents
- What’s new for Lone Worker Protection systems