Persa Panic Button
Protecting Frontline Workers: How the Vestige PERSA Technology is Enhancing Worker Safety
Simple and affordable panic buttons that deliver instant alerts and GPS-specific locations
“There are risks involved when you’re working with someone on the worst day of their life—when they’re contemplating hurting themselves or someone else.
Our staff felt a higher sense of security once we implemented the Persa devices.”
Highlights:
– Bre Lane, a leading figure in a mobile crisis response team, shares the transformative impact of the PERSA device on staff safety and confidence, providing a vital sense of security when responding to high-risk situations.
– The device’s capabilities, including GPS tracking and immediate alert notifications, ensure that help can be dispatched swiftly, even in areas lacking traditional cell service.
– Staff members report feeling more empowered and secure in their roles, knowing they have a reliable means of communication in emergencies.
Ensuring the safety of frontline public service workers – human services staff, crisis response teams, and healthcare professionals – is becoming increasingly challenging.
Challenges abound when staff are far from the office and confronted with volatile circumstances.
Vestige serves scores of clients who face challenges keeping their staff safe in remote locations – oftentimes even in areas lacking reliable cell phone coverage.
Our PERSA solution is deployed across scores of organizations and locations where staff know the power of a swift and certain response is non-negotiable.
Multiple reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Organization, OSHA, cited panic buttons as a powerful tool to help remote workers in various industries stay safe during threatening situations.
Vestige recently hosted a webinar to share the story of one veteran of the social services industry, where she detailed how her team relies on the Vestige personal safety solution to keep workers safe when they’re far from the office and oftentimes in vulnerable circumstances.
During this session, industry experts highlighted these dangers and showcased how Vestige’s innovative personal safety solutions, particularly the Persa personal safety device, are transforming worker safety and confidence in the field.
Insights from Bre Lane: Real-World Experiences
Bre Lane, administrator of Telecare’s Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) in San Diego, shared firsthand experiences about integrating Vestige’s Persa device into her team’s operations:
“There are risks involved when you’re working with someone on the worst day of their life—when they’re contemplating hurting themselves or someone else. Our staff felt a higher sense of security once we implemented the Persa devices.”
Lane explained her team conducted a thorough process to vet personal safety device solutions and arrived at Vestige after a comprehensive, department-wide review.
“We tried out a lot of different options, and nothing did what Vestige’s PERSA is able to do for us. We get notifications in real-time with exact GPS coordinates, even in areas without cell service.”
Henry Ford Health Chooses Vestige's Persa To Protect Remote Workers In Michigan
Simplicity, reliability and alert customization drive decision to deploy and retain Vestige PERSA safety solution
A Game-Changer for Worker Safety
Vestige’s Persa device is designed specifically to address these critical safety concerns, offering:
· Silent, discreet activation: Allowing workers to summon immediate help without escalating tense situations. Anyone can call for help casually.
· Real-time GPS tracking: Ensuring rapid emergency response by instantly transmitting the user’s location. As a leader in the GPS industry, Vestige is trusted by more than 2,000 organizations to deliver real-time location tracking on valuable assets and, more importantly, critical staff.
· Customizable notifications: Tailored alerts to fit organizational protocols, enhancing safety compliance and effectiveness. No two organizations are the same, and the Vestige solution allows organizations to customize their alerting process, so the right person gets the right alert at the right time.
Lane emphasized Persa’s practical benefits:
“Our team doesn’t wear bulletproof vests or carry tasers. We rely entirely on verbal de-escalation, so the ability to silently request emergency assistance is essential.
Our staff know if there is a life-threatening emergency, help is just a button press away.”
The Vestige leadership team takes immense pride in delivering and servicing the PERSA solutions to front-line workers like Lane and her team.
“We’re a safety organization first and foremost, and we’re always innovating to
improve how we deliver services to our customers because we know that a vulnerable
person is on the other end of that distress signal…”
said Twain McDougal, General Manager, Vestige.
“We are incredibly thankful that Bre can share her story and allow others to learn how simple and affordable it can be to deploy these protective devices across their organizations.
It is incredibly satisfying for our team to hear these stories and know our work is making a difference.”
Vestige's Persa Device For Remote Employee Safety
Wearable Panic Button
Employees in duress can send silent alarms with a thumb-sized activation button. With a swift movement, they can alert authorities and forward accurate location notifications and precise location details.
Maximum Visibility
Our PERSA technology offers an enterprise-grade GPS (Global Positioning System) tracker with real-time data. This feature finds a person’s exact location.
Wearability
The Vestige pocket-sized device comes with a lanyard. This allows users to wear them around necks, belts, or bags.
Durability
With PERSA on your side, you won’t have to worry about daily charging or the elements. These gadgets are compact, water-resistant tools that can last up to two weeks on a full charge.
Custom Notifications
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Let us know which geofence alert notifications you want, and our team can make it happen.
The Serious Risks Faced by Frontline Healthcare and Public Service Workers
Frontline workers in healthcare, social services, and crisis intervention roles face significantly elevated risks.
According to online seminar speaker Mike Forbes, Vestige’s safety expert, “human services workers rank among the most dangerous professions, second only to police and firefighters,” facing a rate of violence “five times higher than other occupations.”
These insights align with external research.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration emphasizes that social services employees routinely encounter situations involving verbal threats, assaults, and dangerous client interactions. Between 2011-2013, there were 23,000 workplace assaults, and nearly 75% of these were in healthcare and social service settings.
Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics underscores the severity of violence toward healthcare and social services workers. This U.S. Bureau chart of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry shows the industries are two of the most challenged relative to combating workplace violence.
A recent surge in hospital violence has prompted legislative action.
Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Joe Courtney have introduced a bill requiring healthcare employers to implement workplace violence prevention plans, including hazard assessments and employee training.
This initiative aims to establish the first federal standard for protecting healthcare workers.
The psychological impact on affected professionals is profound.
Exposure to workplace violence is linked to increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and burnout among healthcare workers.
Implementing such standards aims to create safer work environments, ensuring that those who care for our communities are themselves protected from harm.
With over 60 percent of hospitals already investing in safety measures, the bill aims to standardize protections across more than 300,000 healthcare facilities.
The initiative underscores the urgent need to safeguard medical professionals amid increasing threats.
Additionally, many states have introduced or are reinforcing laws that require panic buttons like the Vestige device for hotel and other hospitality workers after a spate of high-profile incidents demonstrated the dangers many vulnerable workers face when they are in isolated situations.
Prominent organizations validate the value of technologies like Vestige’s Persa:
· The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health supports wearable safety devices to reduce workplace violence
· The National Safety Council is a mission-based organization focused on eliminating the leading causes of preventable death and injury that recognizes panic buttons as an essential safety worker technology.
· The Washington State Panic Button Law was passed in 2019. It requires employers to have policies in place for lone workers, including provisions for reporting sexual harassment and assault. The law’s requirements went into effect on January 1, 2020, for hotels and motels with 60 or more rooms, and on January 1, 2021, for other employers covered by the law.
· A media outlet recently reported on the New Jersey efforts to enforce its panic button law, highlighting its origins following incidents like a 2018 assault on a housekeeper in Atlantic City. The article discusses the Department of Labor’s initiatives to educate hotel employers about compliance and the penalties for violations.
Employees are never alone with PERSA
Designed to be accessible any time you need it, PERSA is a wearable safety device and tracker complete with our software platform to ensure all remote or lone workers are safe 24/7.
- Employee clock-in and clock-out times
- Any off-site location their mobile employees may visit
- Mobile employees are on the best route to get to their site locations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security highlights technological solutions for emergency responders, emphasizing discreet alert systems.
In short, there are efforts across many layers of government to require or at least recommend panic buttons like the PERSA solution to better safeguard vulnerable employees.
Proven Results and Ongoing Innovation
Lane explained how extensive testing and actual deployment cemented her confidence in Vestige’s solutions:
“We tested multiple devices across various locations. Nothing else matched Persa’s reliability. With Vestige, we know exactly where our teams are, and they know they’re protected.”
Vestige continues to innovate by expanding its safety solutions, including vehicle camera systems and body-worn cameras, further enhancing safety for frontline workers.
Vestige supports various associations and non-profit organizations committed to promoting safety on the roads and in the workplace.
“Safety is not something we just talk about at Vestige, it’s the reason we come to work and focus on our customers every day,” McDougal said. “Our portfolio of technology solutions are designed to be easy to deploy and use because we know that safety will suffer if it’s complicated or complex.”
Supporting Legislation and Safety Advocacy
The webinar also discussed the SAVE Act, highlighting legislative efforts to protect healthcare and frontline workers against workplace violence. Vestige remains committed to advocating for frontline worker safety and aligning its technology with legislative advancements.
The Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584) is a bipartisan bill introduced in April 2023 by Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA). It aims to address the growing issue of violence against hospital personnel by establishing a federal criminal offense for knowingly assaulting or intimidating healthcare workers during their official duties.
The bill also authorizes grants to reduce such incidents in hospitals.
The SAVE Act is supported by organizations like the American Hospital Association, which advocate for enhanced protections for healthcare workers. As of now, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Join Us in Creating Safer Work Environments
The insights from our recent webinar, combined with external research and real-world testimonials like Lane’s, highlight the critical role technology plays in safeguarding frontline workers.
Explore more about Vestige’s safety solutions by visiting our website
Together, we can build safer environments for those who dedicate their lives to serving our communities.
What’s Next for Public Safety Technology?
As workplace risks continue to evolve, so too must the technology designed to mitigate them.
Vestige is actively collaborating with partners across the public service spectrum to deploy additional solutions — from AI-powered vehicle cameras that can alert managers of distracted or fatigued drivers to body-worn cameras that can keep police — security and other front-line workers connected, ensuring a comprehensive approach to worker safety.
Our ongoing research and development efforts are informed by both frontline experiences and external academic and governmental studies, ensuring that every innovation meets the highest standards of reliability and effectiveness.
Additional research on panic buttons can be found below:
Children’s Mercy Hospital – Workplace Violence in the ED
Summary: Reviews use of panic buttons and alarm systems in reducing emergency department workplace violence risks.
Walden University Doctoral Project
Summary: Stresses monthly panic button checks as part of broader workplace safety evaluation framework.
University of Illinois – Healthy Work Report
Summary: Explains hospital training protocols including panic buttons and badge systems for staff protection.
OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-058
Summary: Encourages facilities to install panic buttons to summon emergency support and deter violence.
Oregon OSHA Program Directive A-283
Summary: Recommends installing panic buttons as part of safety response strategies in hazardous workplaces.
UNH Institute on Disability
Summary: Details use of duress and panic buttons in protecting healthcare workers from aggression.
University of Kentucky Doctoral Project
Summary: Highlights ED staff violence exposure and recommends panic buttons as essential safety infrastructure.
Start Protecting Your Remote Employees Today
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