Man Down Safety Devices

Man Down Safety Devices

Published 21 July, 2024

2 minute read

Ensure you are alerted if an employee suffers an accident



 

What are Man Down systems?


A Man Down alert system detects falls and impacts and sends a Man Down alert to 
a responder. There are several options available, from mobile apps to wearable technology.

A Man Down alarm system is a great solution for employees at risk of: 

  1. slips, trips, and falls 
  2. suffering a medical condition 
  3. physical attacks

Man Down alarm systems are a particularly important tool for lone workers who may be unable to alert someone if they suffer a fall and are knocked unconscious, or are unable to make a phone call.

Are Man Down alarms and Fall Detection different?

You might have noticed that elsewhere on our website we use the term Fall Detection instead of Man Down. This is because Fall Detection is a more inclusive description of the app feature.

Man Down alarms and Fall Detection are the same. If your employee has a slip, trip or fall, you will be notified and can get them help.

What are the benefits of a Man Down system?

Slips, trips, and falls remain the biggest cause of workplace accidents across many industries around the world – accounting for 53% of all non-fatal workplace injuries. Whether falling from a height, tripping on wiring, or other hazards, falls can cause serious injury to your employees and can even be fatal.

 StaySafe - Blog - Man Down Systems - Top Workplace Injuries


Knowing when an incident has occurred, and sending immediate medical assistance, can be the difference between a minor injury and a life-changing one. But what if your employees work alone or out of sight? How can they raise an alarm if they are injured? Lone working Man Down systems are becoming increasingly popular for companies facing such situations.

Implementing a lone worker Man Down safety system can help to protect lone workers, and meet the legal duty of care.

Orange banner leading to lone worker software page

How do Man Down monitoring systems work?

Man Down alert systems will usually work through the use of an accelerometer or Man Down sensor. They may detect a change in position, a lack of movement, or a sudden impact. When one of these is detected, a notification can be sent to the lone worker’s employer to signal that they need assistance.

If a lone worker suffers an impact event resulting from a fall, an alert will be raised in the StaySafe hub. As falls indicate a risk of significant harm, a welfare check can be made to ensure the employee is okay.

Fall Detection is a wireless Man Down alarm system and is available on the StaySafe app, or through our wearable device the V.BTTN. Combined with Non-Movement alerts, StaySafe offers the most robust Man Down system tracking solution available.

Who could benefit from a Man Down solution?

Remote and lone workers

With 53% of non-fatal injuries being caused by slips, trips, and falls, anyone working alone or out in the field could benefit from using a solution with Man Down alerts. The hazards associated with falls are not only common but often uncontrollable for those working away from a fixed work base.

Many lone workers enter client homes and construction zones, and travel between meetings. While training can be given on identifying and removing fall hazards when entering a new environment, it is not always practical to do so.

Man Down security systems can be useful in such situations depending on the level of risk.

Working at height

Falls from height remain the biggest cause of workplace fatalities. Due to the high risk involved, all possible steps should be taken by companies to prevent falls from occurring. However, if an employee does suffer a fall, Man Down alarms will ensure someone is alerted immediately.

When working at height, it is important to have a Man Down solution that detects falls AND impact, rather than just non-movement.

Medical conditions

For employees with a known medical condition, a Man Down solution is essential to alert you if they fall unconscious, or are unable to move. In these situations, an app that also detects non-movement may be the best option, as not all medical emergencies involve a fall.

In areas of low signal

Man Down devices need a signal to send alerts. If your employees operate in areas of low signal, StaySafe’s low signal mode allows the app to send alerts via SMS if falls or non-movements are detected.

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Author Helen Down

Helen has worked within the health and safety industry for nearly a decade and has a background in growth marketing within the SaaS space. Throughout her career, she has written extensively about health and safety, risk, legislation, and lone working.

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