When most people think of a duress alarm, they picture security staff, night shift workers or people dealing with extreme situations. In reality, the group who benefits from a duress alarm is far broader. Modern workplaces are more mobile, more remote and more unpredictable, which means risk often appears where organisations don’t expect it.
A duress alarm is not about anticipating worst-case scenarios. It is about recognising that risk escalates quickly when a worker is isolated or exposed to unpredictable behaviour. The alarm simply creates a direct line to trained help when the worker cannot call for it themselves.
Why risk is wider than it looks
Lone workers are the most obvious category. They spend time in people’s homes, travel between sites, and often work at odd hours. When something goes wrong, no one is nearby to notice a fall, hear a shout or see a situation escalate.
But high-risk roles are not limited to those working completely alone. For example:
• Community and social workers enter private homes where situations can change without warning.
• Field technicians and maintenance teams work around equipment, heights or isolated sites.
• Compliance officers, inspectors and enforcement staff face aggression more often than people realise.
• Retail and hospitality staff handle cash and deal with customer frustration.
• Healthcare teams work in emotionally charged environments where behaviour can escalate quickly.
• Corporate staff working late in large buildings may experience isolated moments of vulnerability.
In each of these roles, the risk isn’t theoretical. It is shaped by the unpredictability of the environment, the people involved and the speed at which incidents unfold.
Risk is usually situational, not constant
Many organisations underestimate risk because workers are not permanently in danger. They might have long periods of low risk, broken by short, intense moments of vulnerability such as:
• Locking up a premises at night.
• Entering a new client’s home for the first time.
• Conducting inspections in secluded or open public spaces.
• Travelling between appointments with poor reception.
• Working in noisy environments where cries for help cannot be heard.
A duress alarm matters most during these small windows. These are the moments when help needs to be triggered instantly.
The types of incidents where a duress alarm changes the outcome
A duress alarm isn’t only for violence. It is just as vital for:
• Sudden medical issues.
• Falls or entrapment.
• Vehicle incidents.
• Equipment malfunctions.
• Environmental hazards such as heat, fumes or uneven terrain.
• Height-related slips and impacts.
Responding quickly means injuries are treated sooner, police or emergency services reach the worker faster, and the organisation fulfils its duty of care.
So who really needs a duress alarm?
Any worker who:
• Works alone at any point.
• Travels between sites regularly.
• Interacts with clients in uncontrolled environments.
• Manages conflict, complaints or enforcement tasks.
• Handles cash or valuables.
• Works in remote, rural or industrial locations.
• Performs tasks where a fall or medical emergency could go unnoticed.
In many industries, this represents a significant portion of the workforce.
Final thought
A duress alarm is not a specialised gadget for niche jobs. It is a practical safety tool for everyday risks across modern workplaces. The faster an organisation can respond to an incident, the better the outcome for everyone involved. For many roles, the question is no longer “Do they need one?” but rather “Why haven’t they had one all along?”
