AXIOMTwo-Way Radios Man Down, How Does it Work?
Tait Two-Way Radios Man Down function can be found in the TP9300 and TP9400. It is especially prevalent across the wide reaching terrain of Australia. Employees if they were to encounter difficulties can easily be found by an accelerometer. If someone loses consciousness or injures themselves, Two-Way Radios Man Down function alert is dispatched to a control room. Automatically a notification is received and the next steps in locating and rescuing an associate can begin. Response times can be setup on the two-way radios man down settings based on the requirements for the business. This ultimately will save lives.
Here are 5 key two-way radios man down setup and configuration requirements. Operationally however these need to be supported and implemented on the ground.
1. Minimize False Alarms
Two-Way Radios Man Down alerts typically occur because of inactivity or tilt. If the radio remains motionless for a period of time, an Inactivity Timer will start. If any movement occurs within this time, the timer resets and the radio will revert to its normal state. The tilt sensor monitors the angle of the radio. If a user falls and the accelerometer reports that the radio has gone beyond a certain angle, the radio starts a Tilt Timer. Once again, if the radio reverts back to the original angle then the timer resets. If either of these two timers expire, then the radio enters a warning state and dispatch will be notified.
If someone has fallen or is hurt and can’t move, these features can be instrumental in improving response time. But because users often sit down or even lay down for various reasons on the job, it can become very easy for false alarms to be sent. False alarms can lead to unnecessary call-outs to remote locations, and ultimately a loss in confidence when using the Two-Way Radios Man Down function. You can avoid False Alarms and user frustration with the right programming and user training.
2. Programming
Both the timers for inactivity and tilt, as well as the angle of tilt, can be programmed by the manager. You will want to optimize the timer length so that it is short enough to send an alarm before it’s too late, but not so short that it is constantly raising alarms. Depending on the type of work your people are doing, you might set the timer to 10 seconds or 60 seconds. Ultimately, the needs of your business should guide the timing, and experienced communication professionals like Tait can help guide you with best practice for your industry.
3. Ensure proper user training
The most important piece of Man Down functionality is the training of its users. All users should be aware of the safety feature and how to operate it; this means knowing how to turn it on and off, knowing how to recognize when it is active, and being aware of the different audio tones and alarms associated with Man Down.
Ensuring that the radio is in an upright position and easily reachable means the radio will not activate the tilt timer unnecessarily. If it is activated, the worker can easily press a key to revert the radio to its normal state.
In the event of an accident where the worker either does not move the radio for the pre-programmable time a warning timer will start. If the radio remains in this state (either at a greater angle or without movement) then an alarm will start. If the worker is okay and not injured during this alarm they are able to reset the radio by pressing a key to revert the radio to its normal state. Note – if an injured worker accidentally presses a key and the radio is back to its normal state then they can simply press the emergency key to re-activate. They do not need to wait for the warning timer to expire again.
4. Make sure it is turned on
This may sound ridiculously simple and obvious, but the Man Down feature can’t help your people when it is turned off. With proper training, users can quickly recognize if the Man Down is on or off to ensure their safety. It’s also important to check the volume knobs. This ensures an acceptable audible level before commencing tasks that require the Two-Way Radios Man Down safety feature.
You can help by choosing the most intuitive process for enabling Two-Way Radios Man Down. It can either happen automatically when the radio is on, or can require the user to toggle Man Down on or off. This is via a designated function key (either long or short press).
Connect it with Location Services
An operator informs employees of the benefits of Location Services, Man Down and worker safety incidents can be reduced. For instance, if someone falls and the alarm is sent to dispatch, even if the injured worker cannot talk, dispatch will know exactly where to send help. The GPS in the portable radio can guide the rescue operation, ensuring medical care arrives on the scene as quickly as possible.
5. Conclusion
Man Down should be configured to align with your organizational procedures and work team environments. When combined with staff training other safety features like Lone Worker and GPS, you will have a system that provides reassurance to workers that their safety is a priority.
If you’d like to learn more about how Tait solutions can improve your worker safety, then contact us today.
