What is a panic alarm?
A portable panic alarm, sometimes called an emergency alarm or personal alarm, is designed to provide employees with immediate assistance and reassurance in the face of threats, assaults or other emergencies.
The device is small and lightweight. It can be carried on a keychain, clipped to a waistband, worn on a lanyard or integrated into a smartphone app. This means the employee always has it within reach, even when they are moving between locations or working away from a fixed workstation.
Traditional fixed panic buttons
To improve personal safety, businesses have traditionally used physical panic buttons. These are stationary devices mounted in the workplace, such as:
- Under the counter in a shop or restaurant
- At a reception desk
- In a back office or cash handling area
Fixed panic buttons are easily accessible to staff but hidden from customers and visitors. They are effective when the risk is linked to a specific location.
However, they cannot be carried around. If an employee leaves the immediate area of the button – for example, to work in a stockroom, visit a client or move around a large site – they may no longer be able to raise an alarm quickly. This is where portable panic alarms offer a clear advantage.
How does a portable panic alarm work?
A portable panic alarm is designed to be simple to use, even in stressful situations. The typical process looks like this:
Activating the Alarm
When an employee feels threatened, unsafe or is being assaulted, they press the emergency button on the portable panic alarm. The activation is quick and discreet, helping the employee raise an alert without drawing attention.
GPS positioning
One of the most valuable features of a portable panic alarm is its ability to send precise GPS coordinates directly to the control centre. This allows operators to see exactly where the employee is located.
Accurate location data means:
- Help can be sent to the right place without delay
- The control centre can track movement if the situation changes
- Responders can find the employee even in large or complex sites
This is a crucial factor in ensuring optimal protection, especially for lone workers and mobile staff.
Message to the control centre
When the alarm is triggered, a signal is sent to the monitoring centre. Trained operators receive the alert and begin handling it immediately.
Managing the Alarm at the Control Center
Here's an insight into how the alarm is handled once the control centre receives it:
Verification of the situation
Operators first verify the alarm to confirm that it is not a false alarm. This verification is done silently, without contacting the employee in a way that could escalate the situation. The aim is to ensure that resources are directed to genuine emergencies while still treating every alarm seriously.
Coordinating help
After verification, the control centre follows the pre-agreed protocol between your business and the monitoring service. This may include:
- Contacting the police or other emergency services
- Dispatching a security officer or mobile patrol
- Calling a nominated manager or on-call contact
These steps are agreed in advance so that the response is fast, consistent and aligned with your organisation’s policies.
Ongoing monitoring
Once help has been dispatched, the control centre continues to monitor the situation. Operators may:
- Track the employee’s location
- Keep records of the incident
- Provide updates to responders or nominated contacts
The goal is to ensure that the employee is safe and that the incident is managed appropriately from start to finish.
What is the difference between a panic alarm, lone worker device and lone worker monitoring?
These terms are often used together, but they refer to different parts of a lone worker safety solution.
Panic alarm
The panic alarm is the feature that allows a user to raise an emergency alert when they need assistance. This may be a button on a dedicated device or within a smartphone app.
Lone worker device
A lone worker device is the physical device that a worker carries. In addition to a panic alarm, it may include features such as:
- GPS location tracking
- Man Down detection (no movement for a set period)
- Fall detection
- Two-way communication (voice or messaging)
These features help identify incidents even if the worker cannot press the panic button themselves.
Lone worker monitoring service
The monitoring service is the professional support that sits behind the device. When an alarm is triggered, trained operators:
- Receive the alert
- Assess the situation
- Coordinate the appropriate response
Depending on the agreed escalation procedures, this may involve contacting emergency services, nominated contacts or security personnel.
Together, these three elements create a complete lone worker protection solution. The panic alarm raises the alert, the lone worker device gathers important information such as location data, and the monitoring service ensures the right action is taken as quickly as possible.
Protecting lone workers starts with getting help quickly
A portable panic alarm provides employees with a simple and effective way to call for help when they feel threatened, unsafe or require emergency assistance. By combining fast alarm activation with GPS location technology and professional monitoring, businesses can ensure that incidents are identified quickly and managed appropriately.
For organisations with employees working alone or in higher-risk roles, a panic alarm is often just one part of a wider lone worker safety strategy. When combined with dedicated lone worker devices and 24/7 monitoring, it can help:
- Strengthen duty of care
- Improve employee confidence
- Support compliance with health and safety obligations
- Ensure support is always available when it is needed most
Want to learn more about protecting your lone workers?
If you’d like to explore the right combination of devices, apps and monitoring services for your organisation, contact Securitas to discuss your needs. We can help you design a lone worker solution that fits your risks, your working patterns and your duty of care responsibilities.