Publications on lone worker safety regularly use expressions such as “lone worker protection system” or “man down device” similarly or interchangeably. We wanted to take a closer look at these concepts, their meaning and their role.
Man down device, Lone Worker Protection System, the meaning of these terms
Man down device, or Lone Worker Protection System are interchangeable terms used to name wearable safety devices capable of detecting danger situations such as a fall or immobility. These tools are used to alert a rescue team, either automatically once the incident has been detected, or voluntarily thanks to a SOS button.
More broadly, the term “lone worker protection” refers to all the measures, standards and tools used and implemented to ensure the safety of lone workers, i.e. those who are out of sight or hearing range of other employees, and who find themselves in a potentially hazardous situation.
The term “Lone worker protection device” is used to designate the protection of workers with a lone worker protection system. Employers need to set up such systems to ensure the safety of their employees when they are temporarily or permanently working alone and may be exposed to risks.
The role of man down devices and lone worker protection systems
These Lone Worker Protection technologies are based on the detection of anomalies such as the absence of movement, enabling a rescue team to be quickly notified if an incident occurs, such as stillness or fall. The alert is automatically triggered if the worker does not send the signal indicating that this is a false alarm.
The aim of these devices is not only to detect an incident and alert teams that the lone worker is potentially in danger, but also to geolocate the lone worker so that a rescue team can be dispatched as quickly as possible. The aim is to take charge of the worker as quickly as possible to limit the severity of the incident. In the most serious cases, it is about avoiding the death of the employee.
Efficient emergency response, which is only possible if the victim can be located quickly, is a legal obligation for employers in many countries such as France, where legislation stipulates: “A lone worker must be able to report any situation of distress and be rescued as quickly as possible”.
The importance of quick assistance with lone worker protection systems
The time needed to find a lone worker is vital!
Rapid response is a fundamental issue for Lone Worker Protection devices or Man Down alarm systems, because the time taken to locate and respond to a lone worker will have a major impact on the latter’s health or chances of survival. Hence the need to choose precise location systems. To quote a few figures from renowned medical publications, let’s note, for example:
– 15 min of additional delay results in a loss of 1 month’s life expectancy in the case of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
– 30 minutes of additional delay increases by 7.5% the one-year mortality risk of myocardial infarction
– 50% lower mortality rate if intensive care is started within the first few hours in the case of 2nd or 3rd degree burns
To minimize the risk of death or serious after-effects, it is therefore crucial for employers to choose a Lone Worker Protection System capable of precisely locating a lone worker in distress. This includes to determine the floor on which the worker finds himself, so that emergency teams don’t waste precious time scouring the various levels of the building.
However, even if most Lone Worker Protection Devices are effective in detecting an incident and sending out an alert, precise geolocation of the victim by Lone Worker Protection Systems is often made difficult by the insufficient GPS coverage inside buildings or in basements.
What types of man down or lone worker devices are available on the market ?
There is a wide variety of Lone Worker Protection devices, whether it comes to the form factor (dedicated device, mobile application, embedded function on a radio, smartwatch, connected badge or connected shoe…), or to the type of information they transmit to detect incidents:
– loss of verticality detection and/or absence of movement
– location of the lone worker if an alert is sent,
– vital parameters such as heart rate or body temperature.
In fact, some Lone Worker Protection Systems combine several of these functions. These different types of devices may fit the various requirements that a Health and Safety manager must meet to ensure the safety of lone workers on his industrial site, in compliance with safety at work regulations.
What are the selection criteria for lone worker protection systems ?
The choice of Lone Worker Protection System (or man down alarms) requires to consider various parameters and criteria specific to the workplace:
– Risks associated with the nature of activities on site and the jobs performed (risk of fire, falls, collisions, presence of hazardous substances, exposure to natural disasters, etc.).
– Other personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn by workers
–The work environment: indoor or outdoor-only (outdoor or indoor/outdoor location) and its complexity (presence of underground passages, walkways, high structures or floors…)
– Potential reluctance of employees to use these devices
– Available communication networks
– The size of the site (to determine the cost of infrastructure installation in particular);
– Available budget, which can be a limiting factor.
Let’s take a closer look at these criteria to better understand the challenges involved in choosing a Lone Worker Protection System.
Risk analysis for a particular industrial site or activity will be critical in determining which device best meets the safety needs of isolated workers. For example, on a site subject to ATEX standards (explosive atmosphere, ie risk of explosion), or where there is a risk of fire, particularly in the chemical sector, the Lone Worker Protection Device will need to be operational in conditions of high heat or in the event of gas or vapor emissions.
User-friendliness of the Lone Worker Protection System solution will also be a key factor in the choice of the man down device, as the solution will need to be accepted by workers, in addition to other Personal Protective Equipment. For example, it must not interfere with the employee’s daily tasks. It must be demonstrated that the use of these devices will not alter employees’ work habits.
Similarly, potentially isolated workplaces influence the choice of device. Not all Lone Worker Protection Devices can be used to locate their wearer, and this will vary depending on the location and whether it is indoors or outdoors. For example, a Bluetooth-based system will geolocate a wearer indoors, but will be unable to do so outdoors. Conversely, a GPS-based system will be able to locate a lone worker outdoors, but not indoors.
A large, complex site will need a system capable of pinpointing the exact location of an employee once an incident has been detected, so that he or she can be easily located and taken care of as quickly as possible, in compliance with regulations.
The available budget may prove decisive, as Lone Worker Protection Solution costs depend on the type of infrastructure they require to function properly. For example, infrastructures that require antennae to be installed throughout the site and connected to a network will not be suitable if the number of staff to be equipped is small compared with the size and complexity of the site.
Conversely, solutions such as GPS units or mobile applications on smartphones will avoid the need for such infrastructures but will not always be able to locate workers indoors. The choice of Lone Worker Protection System will therefore depend on the specific features and constraints of the site, in order to minimize the cost of implementing the solution while maintaining the system’s effectiveness.
The importance of having a solution tailored to your specific needs
The choice of a relevant system that takes into account the site’s specific challenges is crucial given the employer’s legal obligations. As the French Labor Code reminds us: a lone worker must be able to report any situation of distress and be rescued as quickly as possible.
The Lone Worker Protection System must therefore be adapted to the specific characteristics of the site and the potential hazards that lone workers may face, in order to ensure their safety as effectively as possible and comply with current safety and accident prevention regulations.
SYSNAV’s Lone Worker Protection System (the SYSNAV PLD solution) is particularly well-suited to industrial sites looking for precise location of lone workers both indoors and outdoors, while limiting the need to deploy ad hoc infrastructures that are costly to install and maintain.
For more information on SYSNAV’s Lone Worker Protection System: discover the PLD solution