Navman Wireless has launched the Lone Worker, a two-way communication device designed to increase safety for isolated workers in remote locations and help businesses adhere to workplace health and safety legislation.
The Lone Worker allows remote employees to remain connected with their managers or send for help via the Telstra Mobile Network or the Iridium satellite network in places with limited or no cellular coverage. The unit is a small, lightweight pendant that can be carried by workers at all times and sends updates back to base by linking back to a Navman Wireless tracking unit in the worker’s vehicle.
If a worker ventures so far from his or her vehicle that the pendant loses contact (the range is 500 metres with a clear line of sight, but varies with terrain), the Lone Worker system automatically sends an ‘out of range’ alert to the pendant to notify the wearer to return to a safe operational range. If three alerts are sent to the worker without any response, the vehicle device will notify headquarters that the worker is out of range and may need help.
In addition the Lone Worker pendant can be used to manually send high-priority alerts, low-priority worker check-in confirmations and automatic man-down alerts.
“The Lone Worker sends out automated high priority alert notifications to the worker if, for example, it detects a fall or sudden movement which could indicate the worker has tripped, or a possible health issue and is unable to respond,” says Navman Wireless vertical resources director Andrew Hintz. “If the worker does not respond within 10 seconds, an alert will be sent to headquarters for immediate attention.”
A key feature of the Lone Worker system is its two-way duress confirmation. While most duress systems only allow one-way communication where workers send a distress message and receive no confirmation, the Lone Worker sends a confirmation signal when it has been received by the server.