A man-down alarm is a function of a wearable or vehicle-mounted device that sends an automatic alert when it detects that a worker has fallen, stopped moving or tilted beyond a set angle.
Man-down detection usually combines sensors: an accelerometer for a sudden fall or impact, a no-motion timer, and a tilt sensor. When triggered, the device gives the wearer a short pre-alarm so a false alert can be cancelled, then sends an alert with the person’s location to a supervisor, control room or monitoring service. Many devices also have a manual SOS button.
In forklift operations, the function is used for lone workers, night shifts, cold stores and remote yards. Some tag-based detection and RTLS systems include it in the same wearable used for pedestrian detection. The alarm is only as useful as the response behind it: someone must receive it at all hours and know what to do, and the device needs location coverage indoors. False alarms can occur when a worker sits still for a long time, so timers need tuning. See employee safety devices.