Future Trends in Lone Worker Safety and Panic Button Technology

Lone workers face many challenges that can put them at risk for serious injuries or even death. Whether laws require it or not, businesses have a responsibility to mitigate these risks through thorough risk assessments and technology like lone worker monitoring devices.

It’s important to find an integrated solution that offers a variety of functions for lone worker safety. Look for a device that provides GPS tracking, a panic button, man down alerts and more all in one unit.

In-App Panic Buttons

With the growing rates of workplace violence, organizations across industries are turning to new technologies that can help protect their people. One strategy is equipping lone workers with panic button apps that are easy to use and act fast to prevent an incident from becoming a crisis.

A common type of lone worker safety app works over Bluetooth or wi-fi to make it easy and safe for employees to summon help. Administrators invite workers to download the app and set up a profile, which allows them to send an emergency alert with a single tap of a button. The user can select who they would like the alert to be sent to, such as a security guard or 911. The app then displays a pin-pointed map location of the employee and their current location to ensure emergency responders can immediately find them.

These kinds of apps are particularly effective for employees in offices, retail stores, banks and other businesses where there is a high risk of theft and other incidents that can quickly escalate into violence. They can also be useful for field employees that work alone, such as home healthcare professionals, social workers, utility maintenance workers and construction contractors.

Another trend in lone worker safety is the use of wearable devices that can be activated at the touch of a button. These devices are often attached to employee badges and include discreet buttons that can be pressed when an employee feels threatened. These devices can trigger an immediate response, sending a text and audio to internal security teams as well as notifying nearby video surveillance cameras that the button has been pushed.

While these types of lone worker apps can be useful, they have their limitations. They are not as effective as a comprehensive lone worker solution that provides a more complete range of safety features. For example, an in-app panic button may require a worker to open the app, navigate through multiple screens and tap a button to initiate an emergency alert. This can be a significant barrier to use for some lone workers, especially in an emergency situation.

Wearable Panic Buttons

When staff are at work in high-risk environments, the last thing they want to do is waste valuable seconds trying to find and unlock their phone, launch a panic app or make a call. Smart panic buttons, like our SolusGuard Mobile workplace safety platform, eliminate these barriers by making it quick and easy to summon help. All it takes is a single click of the button and an emergency alert goes to your network of contacts, including any onsite security personnel you have pre-assigned.

Schools are another environment where a simple panic button can significantly improve safety. The CENTEGIX CrisisAlert wearable panic button badge allows teachers and other staff members to send officials an instantaneous alert so they can get help quickly and easily. It’s a much better alternative to a traditional 911 call, which can often be misinterpreted by an assailant.

Many hospitality and healthcare workers find themselves working alone in high-risk situations. Hospital security teams and housekeepers, for example, face an increasing number of threats or assaults by guests. A growing number of cities and states have passed legislation that mandates lone worker safety technologies, such as panic buttons, in order to protect these employees.

As hoteliers fine-tune their 2021 budgets, they’ll be looking for cost-effective lone worker protection solutions that can fit in with existing systems. That’s why it’s important that they consider options that can be rolled out without expensive hardware upgrades or significant changes to IT infrastructure. Look for solutions that can deliver alerts as intrusive audio via an overhead speaker, a pop-up on desktop computers or digital signage, or flashing lights to grab people’s attention and encourage them to act quickly.

Panic buttons are a powerful solution for a number of safety threats, and the future is promising even more innovations to support these critical industries. As technology continues to advance, it’s a critical time for organizations to invest in lone worker safety and panic button solutions that can be quickly deployed, simple to use, and accurate in their alerting. The best options are those that combine an easy-to-use panic button with a robust platform for managing the alerts they receive.

Multi-Purpose Panic Buttons

Panic buttons are essential safety devices for lone workers in many industries and workplaces. They help employees quickly and discreetly call for help when faced with a dangerous situation, physical attack or medical emergency. They are often required by law in a variety of different states and municipalities. However, a panic button is only one part of an overall lone worker solution that offers more advanced features like real-time monitoring and automated check-ins. Integrated into the mobile apps they use, these comprehensive solutions ensure that employees work alone or in potentially dangerous environments are always safe and connected.

For example, housekeepers in hotels are at a higher risk of assault or harassment by guests, especially when working alone in guest rooms. lone worker device They can activate a smart, mobile panic button to communicate their location and request assistance from the security team. The device will immediately open a one-way call to SoloProtect’s Alarm Receiving Centre. A specially trained operator will listen in and dispatch the closest available service – whether that’s an ambulance, police or company security. They will also continue to monitor the situation until the user confirms their safety.

A key feature of a smart panic button is the ability to send an alert to specific recipients that is customized for the user’s unique risks and needs. This means that the device can be programmed to notify a select group of contacts who may be able to respond to an incident faster than the emergency services or their own colleagues. Those individuals can be anyone from a family member to a personal assistant or the nearest onsite security guard.

Additionally, a smart panic button can also enable users to trigger a variety of other safety measures including flashing lights, opening or closing curtains or blinds and locking doors. This will allow them to deter unwanted or aggressive behavior before it escalates into a threatening situation, while still being able to summon assistance in the event of a violent assault.

Whether you require your lone workers to wear a panic button or not, it’s important that you create a clear lone worker safety policy and regularly conduct risk assessments to assess the dangers they face. For a complete lone worker solution that provides both emergency notifications and real-time tracking, consider our SafetyLine lone worker app.

Panic Button Integration





Often, employees who work alone are exposed to more hidden threats that could escalate into an emergency situation. Providing a panic button integration to their smartphones allows them to discreetly alert their team and/or the monitoring center to an issue. These systems can also provide their current exact location to help expedite response time. Moreover, these types of devices can also offer features that are critical for ongoing communication such as 2-way messaging and mission-critical task management.

Lone workers such as hotel housekeepers are particularly at risk of attack or assault. A hotel safety solution that provides a simple way to call for help can minimize this threat and enhance employee confidence. Moreover, these technologies can boost customer satisfaction and loyalty by showing customers that their business takes safety seriously.

Another scenario where a panic button can make a significant difference is in a retail environment. In this case, a software-based panic button enables lone retail workers to instantly request assistance without drawing attention to themselves or making their situation worse. The software will notify store management and other designated responders of an issue so that they can dispatch a security guard to the location as soon as possible.

School and workplace security teams need a quick, easy and safe way to signal that an employee or student is in danger. A panic button system that works through the user’s smartphone offers a cost-effective way to meet these needs. These solutions can quickly and silently alert on-site and off-site security teams to an emergency situation, helping to save lives in the event of an attack or other threatening situation.

A panic button solution that incorporates GPS location tracking is an important feature for businesses operating in multiple locations or facilities. This ensures that the correct responders can be dispatched to the exact location of the distress signal, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of an emergency response.

A good panic button technology should offer a combination of simplicity, accuracy and scalability to maximize its effectiveness in an emergency response. The hardware (button) should be simple to use and the panic button integration should be easily incorporated into existing systems. Furthermore, the system should be able to send an alert to multiple recipients and be activated hands-free (no need for physical pressure). Lastly, the dashboard for managing the alerts should update in real-time, providing incident commanders with all of the information they need to take immediate action.