Glossary
Deadman switch
A deadman switch (or deadman timer) is an automatic check-in mechanism: the guard must confirm safety at fixed intervals; if the confirmation does not arrive within the timeout, the system raises an alert to the supervisor or dispatch. The mechanism is the operational backbone of lone-worker protection programs.
Definition
In guard tour software, a deadman switch is a configured timer (commonly 15, 30 or 60 minutes) plus a confirmation gesture (button press, motion, voice, NFC tap). When the timer expires without confirmation, the system triggers an escalation: notification to a supervisor, automated phone call, SMS dispatch, or — in higher-tier configurations — automatic emergency-services notification with last-known GPS. The switch tolerates transient connectivity loss and queues alerts to fire on reconnect.
Context
Deadman switches matter most in solo-guard contexts: night shifts at remote sites, isolated patrol perimeters, multi-tenant office buildings after hours, oil and gas pads. The trade-off is sensitivity vs alert fatigue — too short a timer floods the supervisor with false alarms; too long a timer fails the safety case. Most programs settle at 30 minutes for indoor patrols and 15 minutes for hazardous-zone patrols.
Compliance relevance
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 implies an obligation to provide for medical attention to lone workers; deadman switches are a recognized control. ANSI/ASIS PSM-1-2017 (Workplace Violence Prevention) lists check-in protocols among recommended controls. Some EU jurisdictions (notably France via DUERP and Germany via DGUV) treat lone-worker monitoring as legally required for high-risk roles.