The term personal emergency signal system (PNA) refers to devices that trigger a personal alarm manually or automatically in an emergency. The alarm is signaled acoustically and visually on the device itself and on the connected control panel.
At individual workstations where employees work out of call and sight of other people, personal emergency signal systems can help to ensure that first aid arrives quickly at the scene of an accident in an emergency.
The operator of the receiving device is able to identify and locate the alarm-triggering device and use a voice connection to contact the person and alert the emergency services and other persons.
A PNA is usually used to monitor fixed and mobile individual workstations with increased or critical hazards.
The most important facts in brief
✓ Personal emergency signal systems (PNA) enable the manual or automatic triggering of personal alarms, which are signaled acoustically and visually both on the device and in the receiving center.
✓ PNAs are primarily used in individual workplaces with increased or critical hazards and offer comprehensive protection through alarms that are dependent and independent of the user's will.
✓ The selection and installation of PNAs requires consideration of the working environment and hazard level as well as advice from occupational health and safety experts.
Important definitions of personal emergency signal systems:
PNG
The PNGs are portable wireless signaling devices that trigger an alarm in the receiving center in an emergency. This can be triggered either as an intentional personal alarm by pressing an emergency button, or automatically as an unintentional personal alarm when a previously defined alarm condition occurs.
Employees must always carry personal emergency signal devices with them when carrying out hazardous activities. Special emergency signaling devices with voice function are called PNG-S.
PNEZ / EE
The relevant receiving center (PNEZ) / receiving unit (EE), in which the alarm signals triggered by the personal emergency signal devices are received and processed, is called PNEZ. PNEZ-S refers to receiving centers with integrated voice communication.
Emergency call app
An emergency call app allows you to use your smartphone as a personal emergency signal device. This can trigger both manual and automatic personal alarms in emergency situations. The relevant data on the incident is transmitted to the receiving center via a digital interface and forwarded from there to selected emergency contacts by phone call, text message or email.
Will-dependent personal alarm
The voluntary personal alarm is a visual and audible emergency signal that is triggered by the deliberate, manual activation of an emergency button on a personal emergency signal device (PNG).
Personal alarm independent of will
In the event of an emergency, the automatic personal alarm triggers an alarm in the personal emergency signal receiving center either independently or automatically in accordance with defined alarm conditions. There are various alarm functions for accident detection, such as the silent alarm or time alarm.
Pre-alarm
Before an alarm is triggered on the personal emergency signal device (PNG), a signal known as a pre-alarm appears. This requires acknowledgement and thus prevents a personal alarm from being triggered if there is no emergency.
Technical alarm
The signal that is triggered when a technical error or malfunction occurs is referred to as a technical alarm.
How do personal emergency signal systems work?
Employees can use the emergency signal button on the personal emergency signal device (PNG) to trigger an intentional alarm in the form of a visual and acoustic signal in an emergency. This is the deliberate activation of an alarm if employees are still able to act in an emergency. The personal emergency signal device is activated manually and the time between activation and triggering of the emergency signal must not exceed 2 seconds in accordance with DGUV Rule 112-139.
PNGs in the EE can also be used to transmit alarms that are independent of willpower. The personal emergency signal device can detect emergencies using various non-intentional alarm functions and transmit corresponding signals automatically: The time alarm requires an acknowledgement after a previously set time and is triggered if this does not take place.
The position alarm is activated at a certain angle of inclination, the rest alarm when there is no movement and the time alarm when there is no manual acknowledgement. The loss alarm is triggered when the personal emergency signal device is removed after a set time and the escape alarm is triggered when hectic movements are detected. Depending on the level of risk, the alarm functions can be set individually.
The preliminary standard DIN VDE V 0825-11 also specifies certain requirements for the use and testing of personal emergency signaling systems that use public telecommunications networks.
Types of personal emergency signal systems
a. Radio-based systems
Personal emergency signal systems can be made available to employees in the form of a radio. This has an emergency button and a position switch that can be activated and deactivated by the employee. In the case of PNAs with a voice function, radio contact can also be established with the reception center. If the injured employee is still able to act, the location and information about the incident can be communicated here via the voice function. The location is also transmitted and recorded via the integrated location system.
b. Mobile radio-based systems (PNA-11)
Nowadays, cloud-based lone worker protection apps can also be used for various industries and hazard levels. Thanks to the ease of installation, user-friendliness and cost savings compared to traditional alarm systems, this is an increasingly popular variant of the PNA. Here, the personal emergency signal system is integrated into a software-based system and employees are localized via GPS, WLAN or Bluetooth beacons. You can find out more about different indoor positioning systems in our article How does indoor positioning work and how is it used for emergency signal devices?
Selection and installation of personal emergency signal systems
a. Consideration of the working environment
Personal emergency signal systems are used both at fixed and mobile individual workstations. In the case of mobile activities, however, the protection of employees is limited as the workplace is not permanently the same. Precise localization plays a central role here in an emergency and the use of mobile personal emergency signal devices is therefore a helpful measure to improve occupational safety.
The availability of mobile radio and WLAN is crucial for mobile radio-based systems and must therefore be taken into account when making decisions. A functioning WLAN infrastructure also enables operation in places without mobile network coverage, such as basements and tunnels.
In EX areas where there is a risk of explosion, it must be ensured when installing a PNA that only explosion-proof devices are used.
b. Consideration of the hazard level
The risk level of the occupational activity is a further starting point for the selection and installation of the appropriate personal emergency signal system. The employer is therefore obliged to carry out a special risk assessment and derive measures from it. If the risk level is low, the safety of employees can also be ensured by regular inspection rounds. Only in the event of an increased or critical risk are protective measures such as the use of a personal emergency signal system considered necessary.
c. Advice from experts
In order to assess the working environment and determine the risk level, the company in question should seek advice from occupational health and safety experts. This will enable employers to decide on a suitable system that meets the company's specific requirements.
Where are personal emergency signal systems used?
Dangerous work
Due to various circumstances relating to the working environment, the activity and the substances being worked with, the use of a PNA may be legally mandatory in the company. This is the case for activities where there is an increased or critical risk according to the risk assessment.
Working alone
Employees who work permanently or temporarily out of call and sight of other people need special protection, because in emergency situations there is no one on site who could quickly provide first aid. By using personal emergency signal systems, the emergency is reported to the control center and help is directed to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible.
This saves important seconds, which in some cases can make the difference between life and death. If dangerous work is carried out by one person alone, the employer must ensure that first aid measures are initiated immediately after an accident and provide suitable technical or organizational personal protection measures.
Companies can see from the following diagram when it is necessary to purchase a personal emergency signal system:
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Why are PNAs important?
The use of personal emergency signal systems gives employees a sense of security and protects them from serious injury in an emergency. This allows employees to work with greater motivation without having to constantly worry about their health and safety.
Employers are also obliged under §25 of the accident prevention regulation "Principles of Prevention" (BGV/GUV-V A1) to introduce reporting systems and organizational measures in their companies to ensure that help is directed to the scene of an accident at an early stage in the event of an emergency. This is particularly relevant for individual workplaces and hazardous work. However, it is important to note that a ban on individual workstations can never be circumvented by using a personal emergency signal system.
For activities classified as "hazardous", the monitoring of employees is also required in accordance with §8 of the accident prevention regulation "Principles of Prevention" (BGV/GUV-V A1). This obligation can be fulfilled by the employer through the use of personal emergency signal systems.
Conclusion
Employees in various industries can be effectively protected at work by using personal emergency signal systems, as accidents at work can be detected at an early stage and help can be provided immediately. Whether the purchase of a personal emergency signal system is necessary depends on the working conditions and working environment in the respective company.
There are numerous ways to use a PNA. Depending on the circumstances, a radio-based or mobile-based PNA can be selected, for example. It is important that employers use a suitable reporting device in order to improve occupational safety in their company and fulfill their legal obligations.
The CALIMA digital emergency system is a personal emergency signal system that can be used on commercially available smartphones and helps to provide help as quickly as possible in an emergency. You can find more information here.
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