A lone worker safety device is the alarm an employee who works alone carries to call for help after a fall, a medical emergency or an assault, manually or automatically. The main types are the smartphone app, the smartwatch, the panic button, the satellite messenger, the two-way radio and ATEX-certified equipment. The right choice depends on network coverage, the work environment and the main risk.
A lone worker alarm, or personal safety alarm, is the device that detects the incident and sends the alert: a smartphone with an app, a smartwatch or a satellite messenger. It raises a distress alert manually (SOS button) or automatically (fall, immobility, loss of verticality), together with the worker's location.
In Canada, provincial and federal occupational health and safety rules require employers to protect employees who work alone, and most jurisdictions require a procedure to check on them. A lone worker alarm lets help arrive faster after an accident and shows that the risk has been addressed. Read our guide to working alone in Canada for the rules that apply.
Neovigie solutions are billed as a monthly subscription per user, quoted to your needs. The budget depends on the number of users, the devices chosen and whether you add 24/7 remote monitoring.
A Neovigie expert answers your questions!
Lone worker safety expert, former lawyer
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Lionel Lewin is president of Neovigie and an expert in protecting lone workers. A former lawyer, he combines legal expertise and technological innovation to support companies' compliance and strengthen their security. He played a key role in developing Neovigie's lone worker solutions, guaranteeing optimal worker protection.
His motto: “Combining technology and compliance for uncompromising safety.”
A lone worker safety device lets an employee who works alone call for help, manually with an SOS button or automatically after a fall or a long period without movement. The alert goes to the supervisors, or to the monitoring centre when this option is chosen, with the worker's location. Common types are smartphone apps, smartwatches, panic buttons, satellite messengers, two-way radios and ATEX-certified equipment.
There are many lone worker devices on the market: radios, mobile apps, dedicated man-down devices, safety watches. To choose the right equipment, you naturally need to consider your lone workers' specific needs. Don't overlook the environment they work in either. Someone working in an explosive atmosphere will need intrinsically safe equipment. Someone working in the backcountry with no network will need a satellite connection…
Once you get into the technical details of the device, talk to manufacturers who specialize in occupational safety. They will be able to point you to the right lone worker solution.
| Device | Pros | Cons | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety app | Affordable, easy to use, scalable | Depends on the phone's operating system, multi-purpose equipment | People with a company phone who travel to customer sites: sales reps, maintenance technicians… |
| Safety watch | Always on you - can't be forgotten, discreet in case of assault | Limited battery life, fewer features than the app | People with little direct physical risk but working outdoors with a risk of assault |
| Panic button | Reassuring, highly effective against assault, works with the mobile app | Depends on the smartphone | People exposed to a risk of assault |
| Satellite device | Works where there is no cellular network, reliable in extreme environments, can work with the mobile app | Higher cost, requires a clear view of the sky | Professionals working in mountains, forests, parks… |
| Standalone man-down device | Shock- and water-resistant, dedicated safety equipment, easy-to-reach SOS | Needs a 4G network, extra equipment to carry | Areas where smartphone use is restricted or prohibited |
| Radio-based device | Affordable, easy to use | Bulky, requires a license | Security officers |
Start from three questions. What coverage is available where your employees work: cellular, Wi-Fi, none? What is the work environment: wet, dusty, explosive? What is the main risk: falls, medical events, aggression? Then involve the employees: a device they find uncomfortable will end up in a drawer. A smartphone app suits most mobile workers, a wearable panic button suits jobs exposed to aggression, a satellite messenger is needed without cellular coverage and ATEX equipment is required in explosive atmospheres.
Picture an employee alone at the end of the day who falls down a staircase and loses consciousness. Without an alarm, nobody may notice until the next morning. A lone worker alarm detects the fall or the lack of movement and alerts designated supervisors with the worker's location, so help can be organized right away.
Because help arrives faster after an accident, which limits its consequences. An alarm also shows employees that their safety is taken seriously and helps employers meet their occupational health and safety obligations: most provinces and territories require a procedure to check on the well-being of employees who work alone. See our guide to lone work regulations in Canada.
