Managing Mass Notification

Combining mobile and on-site notification will help enhance facility safety.

Messages can be configured for any kind of event an organization may encounter, including severe weather, lockdowns, evacuations, active shooters, medical emergencies, and more. Some tools even offer IoT integrations that can further secure facilities by shutting down production lines, locking doors, and performing other safety-related tasks.

Mobile Alert Advantage

While utilizing tools within a facility to share safety information is important, organizations can gain additional value when combining on-site notifications with mobile alerts. Protecting people within a facility may be the main priority, but mobile alerts offer several advantages when used in conjunction with on-site notifications. First, they serve as another channel for communicating an organization’s message. The more channels an organization uses, the less likely someone misses a message.

Lone workers and people without immediate access to a device within a facility still need to know they can request help should they find themselves in danger. New integrations with wearable devices and mobile apps are making this much easier to accomplish.

Second, in situations that are particularly dangerous, mobile alerts can keep people from entering a facility if they are outside. They can also be used to continue communication if a facility needs to be evacuated. This can help rally people to reunification points and reduce downtime by easily communicating “all clear” messages to let people know they can reenter a facility.

Time Is Of The Essence

Of course, it’s not just about sending out messages, it’s also about knowing the moment an issue takes place. Mass notification can help here as well, with automated alerts and one-touch activation for message distribution. Systems can monitor email, CAP feeds, and IoT sensors to trigger pre-configured alerts the moment certain criteria are met. This could be approaching severe weather from the National Weather Service or a sensor that detects a water leak in an area with delicate equipment. Manual methods can include preconfigured panic buttons on devices located throughout a facility, as well as personal safety solutions.

Mass Notification
First responder ambulance on urban city street with lights flashing at night. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Lone workers and people without immediate access to a device within a facility still need to know they can request help should they find themselves in danger. New integrations with wearable devices and mobile apps are making this much easier to accomplish. Using a wearable device (often a badge) or mobile app installed on their cellphone, employees can request help wherever they are in the facility. These two solutions are connected to the mass notification system and can provide the person’s name and location information to internal security teams when activated, helping them get the help they need as soon as possible. Mobile apps can provide additional information and the option to call security directly from the app. This can be useful in situations where someone is on the grounds of a facility, such as a parking lot, rather than inside the facility itself. The person can then stay on the line until help arrives.

Planning Ahead

Each of these components can address different urgent issues, but mass notification systems are evolving to help manage incidents from start to finish. In addition to alerting capabilities, organizations can have every step of their emergency response plan mapped out within a mass notification system. This includes all the messages they need to send, from an initial alert to an “all clear,” as well as resources that could help facilitate a response. This could be floor plans of a facility to identify emergency exits, safety checklists, or links to security camera feeds. Once an incident is resolved, reports are created so organizations can examine where they succeeded with their response and where they can improve in the future.

Facility safety is a top-of-mind concern. With evolving threats, organizations need to look at advanced solutions to meet these challenges. Using mass notification, facility managers can tackle any crisis head-on with the confidence that they can reach all of their staff. Using a single solution can save time and money by connecting to technology already in place and simplifying emergency response procedures that do not require multiple log-ins or being in front of a computer to use.

Paul ShainShain is president and CEO of Singlewire Software, developers of InformaCast, a mass notification and critical event management solution.

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