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 remained constant for decades, digitization is also revolutionizing the emergency call system. Thanks to the introduction of the so-called eCall (an automatic emergency call system for motor vehicles that automatically detects a traffic accident and reports it to 112), emergency call centers no longer need to ask for key information. The transmitted data on the exact location, combined with an automatic connection to the vehicle’s hands-free system, makes it much easier for emergency call center staff to assess the emergency situation.

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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 The use of PNAs can save lives, but official and certified PNAs are very expensive, technically outdated, and inconvenient to use.

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Smartphone - Digital Personal Emergency Signal System

As part of the digital transformation, a number of new opportunities are also emerging in the area of worker protection to reduce potential risks to employees and make work safer. In particular, the increasing use of company-issued smartphones is creating new opportunities for technical protective measures.

New market entrants are offering “smartphone-based personal emergency signaling systems.” Among them is the company CALIMA (calima.io). Michael Zerbin, co-founder of CALIMA, explains: “Our CALIMA app transforms employees’ smartphones into personal emergency signaling devices that offer both 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 regulations. The only limitations to obtaining standard-compliant PNA certification stem, 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 additional advantages over traditional personal emergency signaling systems. “By installing our solution on standard iOS and Android devices, employees do not have to carry additional devices, and employers do not have to make any additional hardware investments,” explains Managing Director Katharina Hochmuth. The application thus represents a suitable safety measure for many employers whose employees have previously been working alone under moderate and elevated risk without effective safeguards. In terms of reliability, too, the digital personal emergency signaling system is in no way inferior to traditional systems. The company’s technical director, Tim Hautkappe, explains: “Thanks to sensor components that have been tested millions of times—which automatically detect emergencies—and the wide range of communication interfaces, smartphones are increasingly being used in safety-critical areas. The high data protection standards and the attractive design transform the smartphone into a safety device that people are happy to carry.”