Whether train drivers on the railroads, workers on machines in production or night staff at petrol stations - anyone who works out of sight of other people is exposed to particular risks. If accidents or assaults occur, help often arrives too late. To protect lone workers, employers can provide dead man's switches. These are easy to operate and can be used in many different industries and work areas.
The most important facts in brief
✓ Dead man's switches are safety devices designed especially for lone workers in various industries to protect them from accidents and assaults.
✓ There are different types of dead man's switches, such as dead man's detectors, safety travel switches and integrated dead man's switches in work equipment or vehicles.
✓ Dead man's switches are used in many areas, including production, logistics, care, building maintenance and the construction industry, to minimize the risk for people working alone.
What is a dead man's switch?
The dead man's switch is known by many names: Dead man's switch, dead man's alarm, motionless detector or simply dead man's device. It is a safety device that checks whether a person is present and able to act.
Why is it called a dead man's switch?
The term "dead man's switch" is derived from the term "dead man", as these switches or devices are designed to monitor a person's ability to act. They are used to determine whether a person is still active or not.
It is assumed that the name "dead man's switch" also goes back to Edward D. Totmann, who is named as the inventor of this safety mechanism in the English-speaking world.
How does a dead man's switch work?
The dead man's switch sends a signal when it detects that a person is not conscious. The alarm is triggered when motionlessness or a horizontal body position is detected and if there is no acknowledgement.
Dead man's switches are either installed on work equipment or in vehicles, integrated into a smartphone app such as CALIMA or attached to a person's work clothing as a mobile device. Mobile dead man's switches can be worn on the body at all times while work is being carried out. GPS and radio signals make it possible to locate the employee. This means that help can be sent to the location in an emergency.
What types of dead man's switch are there and how do they work?
Dead man's detector
Dead man's detectors send emergency signals based on the automatic detection of motionlessness. The time until the pre-alarm is activated is around 20 to 30 seconds and therefore complies with BGR-139.
DGUV Rule 112-139 states that the rest and position alarm must not exceed 90 seconds. If the pre-alarm is triggered, it can be deactivated again by subsequent movement or acknowledgement. If the pre-alarm is ignored, the dead man's detector triggers visual and acoustic signals.
Some devices also have an integrated temperature alarm that reacts to temperature changes in the surroundings. Dead man's alarms are used in particular by people working alone and can be attached to the belt.
Certain models can also emit a signal tone when tilted. If this horizontal body alignment persists, an alarm is forwarded to the emergency service or other previously set telephone numbers.
Dead man's switch
The dead man's switch is a safety device that protects people when handling dangerous hand-held devices. It requires the operator(s) to hold down a button in order to operate the equipment.
As soon as he or she releases it, the system switches off automatically. This safety measure is used for chainsaws or kitchen appliances. A specific switching action is required so that the appliance can then be unlocked and used again.
Safety drive circuit
Stationary systems are used in rail vehicles to ensure the safety of lone workers. These are so-called safety driving circuits in which train drivers must regularly operate a control element to signal that they are still awake.
If the button is not pressed, the pre-alarm is activated in the form of a visual and audible warning. If the employee ignores the pre-alarm, emergency braking is automatically initiated.
In which areas of application are dead man's devices frequently used?
The use of dead man's switches is particularly useful when working alone and when carrying out activities with a low or increased risk potential, even if employees only work temporarily outside the call and sight range of their colleagues.
Production
Employees in production handle various tools, machines, robots and means of transportation. Carelessness, lack of safety precautions or incorrect operation can lead to serious injuries when handling these resources. In addition, handling special gases, vapors and dust can lead to unconsciousness or injuries due to explosive reactions.
By equipping employees with an emergency system, an accident can be quickly identified and reported despite working alone due to shift work or the vastness of the production halls. Important minutes are not lost when providing first aid.
Logistics
Logistics is one of the industries in which employees are exposed to a number of hazards. During the daily loading and unloading of vehicles, containers or high shelves, falling from poorly secured loads or falling from vehicles can lead to serious injuries. Time pressure during transportation between different locations often leads to carelessness and can also result in serious traffic accidents or falls. The movement and time alarm of an emergency solution enables an accident to be detected quickly and specific emergency contacts to be alerted. The location function enables the injured person to be found quickly.
Care sector
In many cases, nursing staff and personal assistants carry out their valued work alone. On their way to patients, they run the risk of tripping or falling, especially due to the time pressure often involved. In addition to the physical strain of nursing, the fear of being attacked or assaulted by aggressive and violent patients is a psychological burden. Equipped with a dead man's switch, the staff can not only trigger an alarm quickly, but also feel safer. In addition, the rest alarm can be used to specifically detect a fall or immobility.
Building maintenance
Employees in building maintenance often work alone for several hours outside of normal working hours. Slippery floors, tripping hazards or missteps on stairs can become a life-threatening danger, as an emergency leading to unconsciousness can go unnoticed for a long period of time. The time alarm can be used to detect irregularities and alert colleagues or the security service. In addition, the motion alarm can automatically detect a fall and immobility and trigger an alarm.
Construction industry
There are many risks lurking on construction sites, some of which can lead to serious and even fatal injuries. Tripping and slipping (e.g. due to uneven floors, building materials, floor openings and untidy traffic routes), as well as operating machinery and installing electronics are common hazards. Loud machine noises, large areas and hearing protection hinder communication between employees and make it difficult to call for help in an emergency. With the silent alarm and the various manual alarm options, an accident does not go unnoticed despite the construction site noise. Thanks to the localization option, the injured employee can be found quickly by colleagues.
Why does it make sense to use a dead man's switch?
Dead man's switches are important to prevent accidents and damage and to ensure the safety of employees in the workplace. They help to comply with legal regulations and standards and minimize the risk for the company. They interrupt operational processes and help to identify and prevent hazardous situations at an early stage. This can reduce the financial consequences of accidents and damage to the company.
Although dead man's switches are not required by law, they are at least mandatory under insurance law if there is a certain risk potential. Regulations from the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) and the employers' liability insurance association recommend the use of emergency call systems when employees are working alone. According to the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), personal emergency signal systems (PNA) such as the dead man's switch are a sensible solution, particularly in the case of low and increased risk levels. In the case of a critical hazard potential, it should first be checked whether working alone is permitted at all.
As an employer, you are responsible for creating a safe working environment. Depending on the industry, you can introduce mobile or built-in dead man's switches to protect your lone workers from hazards and safeguard your company from legal consequences.
Conclusion
Dead man's switches can be used in a wide range of industries and actively prevent accidents and ensure that help arrives at the scene of an accident immediately. They check whether a person is alert and able to act and, if not, trigger an alarm signal. This transforms the dead man's switch into an all-round effective emergency system for various work situations.
The use of a dead man's switch is particularly useful in professions where people work alone. By installing them in dangerous systems and devices, accidents are prevented and occupational safety in companies is optimized.
Thanks to digitalization, you can quickly and effectively equip your lone workers with a mobile dead man's device without any investment costs. As an app, CALIMA transforms your employees' smartphones into a personal emergency signaling device that offers various emergency notification and detection options.
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