DATI: lone worker alarm system
Working alone is an additional occupational risk factor. The time needed to identify a dangerous situation and/or provide assistance to an isolated person can be lengthened. The DATI, or lone worker alarm system, is a powerful tool for protecting these employees. Find out how these devices work, and how to choose the right one for your company.
The DATI system: definition and operation
The acronym DATI stands for "lone worker alarm device". This is equipment designed to detect a dangerous situation and alert a third party.
This system is designed for lone workers. That is, employees who find themselves out of sight and hearing of other employees in the course of their work. Isolation can be permanent (as in the case of a night watchman, for example) or occasional (the absence of a colleague at a dangerous post).
Depending on the equipment chosen, the alarm can be triggered voluntarily (if the employee is conscious) or automatically (in the event of discomfort or intrusion). The aim is to be able to detect any abnormal situation as quickly as possible, in order to alert a person outside the workstation.
Once the DATI system has been triggered, the alert is transmitted to a safety officer (internal or external) who then takes the necessary assistance measures, depending on the seriousness of the situation. He or she may intervene directly or contact the emergency services if necessary.
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Employee protection: a legal obligation for employers
Article L. 4121-1 of the French Labor Code requires employers to " take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and protect the physical and mental health of workers ". These measures must be organized around three main axes:
- occupational risk prevention ;
- information and training ;
- the installation of appropriate protective equipment.
In other words, there are no hard and fast rules about the number or type of DATIs to be installed in a company. As an employer, you are obliged toassess all the occupational risks inherent in each workstationyourself (or through an external safety company), and then take action to eliminate these risks.
Employee safety is an obligation of result. If this result is not achieved (occupational accident or endangerment of an employee), you may be held civilly and/or criminally liable.
Isolated work: what's the difference between DATI and PTI?
Lone Worker Protection (LWP) refers to all measures implemented to ensure the safety of an employee. This may involve adapting the workstation, providing PPE (personal protective equipment) or installing reinforced security to prevent external intrusions.
The DATI is a means of providing information, not a piece of protective equipment as such. It is "only" a device for triggering an alert to an outside person.
However, the difference with PTI equipment is minimal, since the DATI effectively protects an employee by enabling him or her to receive rapid assistance.
Isolated worker alarm systems: examples of equipment
There are several different types of alarm, corresponding to different risks. Voluntary push-button devices, for example, can be triggered silently in the event of an intrusion, or if an employee feels the need for medical assistance.
Automatic alarms can be activated in the following situations:
- Loss of verticality: this can be a device worn on a belt or in a pocket, designed to detect a fall or discomfort. For "mobile" workers (maintenance technicians or employees driving alone), some DATIs feature a geolocation function to guide assistance in case of need.
- Immobility: the alarm is triggered when the worker is immobile for a certain length of time. Here again, the device must be positioned on the worker to analyze his or her position.
- Detection of a predefined event: intrusion, machine malfunction, leakage of a hazardous product, loss of communication, etc;
- Detection of a non-event: this is the reverse of the previous point. The alert is sent in the event of inaction or non-response on the part of the employee for a certain period of time.
A lone worker alarm device can take the form of a box (commonly known as a DATI box), a mobile smartphone application, a GSM phone or even a connected watch. Some PPE (helmets, shoes) are also equipped with verticality detectors.
How to choose a DATI solution
Selecting the right DATI equipment starts with a thorough analysis of the working conditions at the workstation in question. All the risks and all the components of the workplace must be identified to provide the best possible protection for each lone worker.
To support you during the risk assessment phase, you should know thata private security company can offer you a complete audit and advise you on the solutions best suited to your business. They can also provide surveillance and telephone assistance for your employees, so that help can be summoned.
Whatever your sector of activity, our experience as asecurity company enables us to offer you tailor-made DAT and PTI solutions to control all your risks. Our solutions are designed to be perfectly adapted to your needs, the configuration of your premises and current regulations. Contact us to help you protect your teams and meet your legal obligations as an employer.
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