Welfare Check-Ins: Keeping Lone Workers Connected and Safe
When guards work alone, regular check-ins ensure someone notices if something goes wrong. Here's how to implement welfare checks without creating busywork.
A guard working alone at 3 AM has a medical emergency. How long before anyone notices? Welfare check-ins close that gap.
Welfare check-ins require guards to periodically confirm they're okay. Missed check-ins trigger automatic escalation to supervisors. Configure intervals based on risk level (15-30 min for high-risk, 30-60 min for standard, 1-2 hours for low-risk).
The Lone Worker Problem
Many security jobs involve working alone: overnight shifts, remote sites, patrol routes with minimal backup. If something goes wrong—a fall, a medical event, an assault—there may be no one around to help or even notice.
Regulations in many jurisdictions require employers to have procedures for lone workers. But beyond compliance, it's about keeping your people safe.
How Welfare Checks Work
The concept is simple: at regular intervals, guards confirm they're okay. If they don't check in, someone investigates.
In practice:
- Reminder: The app notifies the guard that a check-in is due.
- Acknowledgment: The guard taps a button to confirm they're okay.
- Grace period: If they don't respond, they get additional reminders.
- Escalation: If still no response, supervisors are notified automatically.
- Response: Someone checks on the guard—phone call, dispatch, or both.
Configuring Check-In Intervals
Recommended Intervals by Risk Level
- High-risk environments: Every 15-30 minutes. Think construction sites, industrial facilities, areas with known hazards.
- Standard lone work: Every 30-60 minutes. Typical for night shifts at office buildings or retail.
- Low-risk situations: Every 1-2 hours. Calm environments with minimal hazards.
Balance safety against annoyance. Check-ins that are too frequent become background noise—guards dismiss them without thinking.
Making Check-Ins Meaningful
A welfare check system fails if guards treat it as a nuisance:
- Explain the purpose: Guards should understand check-ins exist to protect them, not surveil them.
- Keep it simple: One tap should be enough. Don't require notes or photos for routine check-ins.
- Respond when they don't check in: If nothing happens when check-ins are missed, guards learn the system doesn't matter.
- Test the escalation: Supervisors should know what happens when they receive an alert. Practice the response.
Combining with Other Safety Features
Welfare checks work best as part of a layered safety system:
- SOS button: For immediate emergencies—guard-initiated.
- Man-down detection: Automatic alerts when falls or stillness are detected.
- GPS tracking: Know where to send help.
- Welfare check-ins: Periodic confirmation everything is okay.
Each layer catches different scenarios. Together, they minimize the time between an incident and a response.
Implementation Checklist
Key Takeaways
- Welfare checks confirm lone workers are okay at regular intervals
- Missed check-ins trigger automatic escalation to supervisors
- Configure intervals based on risk level—don't make them too frequent
- Combine with SOS, man-down detection, and GPS for layered safety
- A system that's never tested might not work when it matters
Written by
TeamMapTeam
TeamMap builds modern workforce management tools for security teams, helping companies track, communicate, and coordinate their field operations.
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