The smartphone as PNA - New solution in lone worker protection

Digitization - location services, mobile data and apps revolutionize emergency calls

Digitization is changing our lives and has become an integral part of our everyday lives. The changes are particularly noticeable in the area of communication. Whereas mobile communication 20 years ago was usually only possible via a nearby telephone booth, today a short message on a smartphone is all it takes. 

Although the numbers 110 and 112 have been a constant for decades, digitization is also revolutionizing emergency calls. With the introduction of eCalls (an automatic emergency call system for vehicles that automatically detects a traffic accident and sends it to 112), emergency call centers no longer need to ask for the most important information. The transmitted data on the exact position, as well as an automatic connection to the vehicle's hands-free system, makes it much easier for emergency control center personnel to assess the emergency situation.

‍

Emergency in the company - challenges and measures

Accidents and medical emergencies in everyday work happen unexpectedly and with industry-dependent frequency. Particularly in emergencies involving impairment of vital bodily functions such as breathing and circulation, it is important to take first aid measures early on and to make the emergency call immediately. In many occupations, employees work alone and thus out of call and sight of other people. As a result, they are completely on their own in emergency situations and have no one who could provide help quickly and trigger the rescue chain. The lack of help puts them at a higher risk of suffering permanent health damage or even losing their lives. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the rescue chain and the 15 minutes required by law to initiate assistance, employers often use personal emergency signal systems in individual workplaces. These consist of two hardware devices: a personal emergency signal (PNG) device and a receiving equipment (EE). Employees can either trigger an alarm themselves in the event of an emergency, or the alarm is triggered automatically by the automatic detection of a vertical body position or immobility. The use of PNAs can save lives, but official and certified PNAs are very expensive, technically outdated, and inconvenient to use.

‍

Smartphone - Digital Personal Emergency Signal System

In the course of digitalization, a number of new opportunities also arise for employee protection to reduce potential hazards to employees and to make the execution of work safer. In particular, the increasing use of smartphones at work is creating new opportunities for technical protection measures.

New market players are offering "smartphone-based personal emergency signal systems". These include the company CALIMA(calima.io). Michael Zerbin, co-founder of CALIMA, explains: "Our CALIMA app transforms employees' smartphones into a personal emergency signaling device that offers manual and automatic ways to trigger an emergency call. In an emergency, and only then, all relevant data including location is transmitted to selected emergency contacts." 

The solution complies with the relevant standards and rules. Restrictions for a standard-compliant certification as a PNA only result, for example, from the limited resistance of commercially available smartphones to extreme cold and heat. However, it is not only easy to use, but also offers further advantages over classic personal emergency signal systems. "By installing our solution on commercially available iOS and Android devices, employees do not need to carry additional devices and employers do not need to make an additional hardware investment," explains Managing Director Katharina Hochmuth. The application thus represents a suitable protective measure for many employers whose employees have been working alone under medium and increased risk without effective measures. The digital personal emergency signal system is also in no way inferior to the traditional one in terms of reliability. The company's technical manager, Tim Hautkappe, explains: "Thanks to the sensor components, which have been tested millions of times and are used to automatically detect emergencies, and the large number of communication interfaces, smartphones are being used more and more frequently in safety-relevant areas. The high data protection requirements and the appealing design transform the smartphone into a security device that is gladly worn."