7 things companies should know about personal emergency signal systems

Lone working is part of everyday life in many industries – whether in manufacturing, logistics, facility management, or field service.

What many companies underestimate:
As soon as employees work out of sight and earshot, special requirements for occupational safety arise.

But when is a personal emergency signal system (PNA) truly necessary? And which solution fits the specific work situation?

In this article, we highlight the 7 most important things companies should know about personal emergency signal systems.

1️⃣ Employers are legally required to assess risks

As soon as employees work alone, companies must conduct a risk assessment.

This applies particularly when employees:

• work out of sight
• have no direct contact with other employees
• perform dangerous tasks

The goal is to identify risks early and implement appropriate protective measures.

Employers must ensure that:

• emergencies are detected
• help is quickly organized
• employees do not remain undiscovered in an emergency

2️⃣ Not every form of lone working is permitted

Many companies assume that lone working is generally permissible. However, that is not the case.

Lone working may not be permitted if:

• serious risks exist
• the likelihood of an emergency is high
• help cannot arrive in time

Activities are particularly critical:

• with machinery
• in remote areas
• in explosive environments
• where there is a risk of falling

The higher the risk, the higher the requirements for protective measures and monitoring.

3️⃣ Whether a PNA is necessary depends on the hazard level

The decision for a personal emergency signal system is based on the risk assessment.

Generally, three hazard levels are distinguished:

🟢 Low hazard

For low hazards, simple measures are often sufficient.

These include:

• Phone
• Check-in calls
• regular check-ins

Permanent monitoring is usually not required here.

🟡 Elevated Risk

With elevated risk, the danger increases significantly.

In this situation, a personal emergency alarm system can become useful or necessary, especially when:

• employees work in isolation
• machines are used
• longer periods without contact occur

🔴 Critical Risk

With critical risk, constant monitoring is required.

In these cases, often:

• a personal emergency alarm system
  or
• the presence of a second person

is required.

4️⃣ Modern personal emergency alarm systems automatically alert for help

A modern personal emergency alarm system can do much more than just trigger a manual emergency call.

Depending on the solution, the following functions are possible, among others:

• automatic fall detection
• immobility alarm
• timer alarms
• GPS location
• Direct alarm forwarding

The main advantage:
Help can be alerted even if the affected person is no longer able to react.

This saves valuable time in an emergency.

5️⃣ Both smartphone solutions and dedicated devices have their place

Many companies are asking:

Should we rely on smartphone solutions or classic dedicated devices?

The answer is:
It depends on the specific application.

📱 Smartphone solutions are particularly suitable for:

• Field service
• Facility management
• Mobile teams
• Flexible workplaces
• Companies with frequently changing work locations

Advantages:

• No additional hardware required
• Rapid implementation
• Easy scalability
• High usability

📟 Special PNAs are particularly suitable for:

• hazardous areas
• industrial environments
• extreme weather conditions
• demanding operational scenarios

Advantages:

• high durability
• industry-specific certifications
• specifically developed for demanding environments

Important:
It's not the technology that matters – but the specific use case.

6️⃣ Check-in calls are often no longer sufficient today

Many companies still rely on:

• manual reports
• check-in calls
• fixed check-in times

The problem:
These processes are error-prone and time-consuming.

Check-in calls can:

• be forgotten
• occur too late
• be too slow in an emergency

Automated security solutions significantly reduce these risks.

7️⃣ Good security solutions protect employees and companies

Implementing a personal emergency signaling system offers companies several advantages.

These include:

• increased safety
• faster response times
• reduced liability risks
• Support with compliance requirements
• greater team trust

At the same time, companies demonstrate responsibility towards their employees.

Conclusion: The right solution depends on the application area

Personal emergency signaling systems are now an important component of modern security concepts.

However, the key is:
There is no universal solution for all work environments.

Depending on the area of application, options could be:

• Smartphone solutions
• Smartwatches
• Specialized devices
• or hybrid concepts

be the best choice.

It's important that the solution:

• works reliably
• fits into daily work routines
• and quickly organizes help in an emergency.

Ensure Safe & DGUV-Compliant Lone Worker Protection

mobi-click supports companies with flexible solutions for modern lone worker protection – from smartphone-based applications to specialized PNA devices.

👉 Get free consultation now or test a solution.

‍