The Blackline Loner GPSÂ Mobile Worker Safety Device is a GPS tracking device designed specifically for improving the safety of employees working in the field alone. Utilising the GPS satellite network to obtain position information and reporting via a through a cellular network to a tracking server the device provides both passive and active safety alert functionalities. The Loner GPS’s light, compact design allows it to be worn comfortably.
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Positioning accuracy with this type of tracker is not as important as for a vehicle navigator but, accuracy can be as good as down to 3 m. Battery life is up to 7 days so it conveniently lasts a work week. While it can be charged from a wall socket, the unit can also be charged using a 12 VDC vehicle charger.
Emergency Button
A unique feature for tracking devices is an emergency button for use by a mobile worker who encounters a situation where he/she feels threatened. When the Emergency Button is pressed, an Emergency Button Alert is instantly dispatched to monitoring staff. When the Emergency Alert is triggered the GPS determined location is uploaded with the alert to the tracking server.
Worker Motion-detection Technology
Loner GPS features a passive lack of motion alert. If too little motion is detected for a factory-configurable period of time, Loner GPS first requests the worker press a button to reset the alert. If not reset, Loner GPS sends a No-motion Alert to safety-monitoring personnel. Beeping and vibration allows the mobile worker to cancel a pending No-Motion Alert reducing the chance of false alerts.
Loner Portal Web-monitoring Interface for GPS
Monitoring and management of employee’s Loner GPS tracking units is through Blacklines’s specialized Loner Portal which is accessed through a Web browser and does not require any software installation. The portal has features for real-time tracking, viewing device activity, and mapping retrieved locations. An employee’s current location can be determined as quickly as 20 seconds. Continuous tracking produces locations as fast as possible in emergency situations, every 5 to 10 seconds apart. Historical location data can also be viewed.
What happens when the safety is triggered on the GPS device?
When a safety alert is triggered the portal software notifies registered monitoring personnel via the portal interface, email and mobile SMS. LonerPortal Call-out List escalates an alert to other safety-monitoring personnel if it is not addressed within a configurable amount of time Passive alerts such as the lack of motion detector are not instantaneous and depend on the tracking schedule (uploading of location data to the tracking server). Loner GPS device positions can be viewed on an interactive map. The portal also captures a history of location data and alerts.
Blackline GPS Loner Mobile Application Software for BlackBerry Smartphones
Blackline’s GPS Loner Mobile application software for BlackBerry smartphones provides a mobile interface integrated with the GPS Loner portal.
It’s important to note that while cellular network coverage is extensive throughout populated areas this device is not suitable as a safety device for unpopulated areas where cellular network coverage is likely to be poor or non existent. For these areas there are suitably robust tracking devices, such as the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, which use satellite communication channels.
