Many business owners are unsure about workplace safety and desktop panic buttons. Each workplace has different and unique threats. Many people are looking at a way to increase safety and security. It is imperative that a response plan is in place in the event an intruder has made entry into the facility. Incident response is an essential part of workplace safety and security. The idea of  desktop panic buttons as a tool that can be used in conjunction with procedures that are designed to reduce injury substantially.

There are too many threats in all industries not to have a direct link to first responders. The bigger question is, what would be the best bang for the buck? Most threats start at the entrance of a facility, and that is where the immediate response can begin as well. Many people are unsure of how desktop panic buttons work since they vary. Technologically-advanced desktop panic buttons from CRS Notify helps lessen the chance of victimization. The CRS Notify program cuts out the middleman during an emergency when seconds matter the most.

Where Should I put Desktop Panic Buttons in my Facility?

This is difficult to narrow down since each institution and industry faces different situations or threats. At face value, try to put desktop panic buttons from CRS Notify near all entry points and in areas that are more prone to outbursts. The most important thing is to get first responders notified as soon as possible while ensuring staff is alerted and responding accordingly.

Some Places to Locate Desktop Panic Buttons:

• Front desk receptionist – A front desk receptionist is the first line of defense of an office. The receptionist sees who comes and goes and they have the power to turn people away if needed. They are also generally isolated apart from the rest of the office.
• HR department – HR is in charge of the hiring and firing decisions. It is never easy to make a difficult decision, especially considering that we never know how the other person will react.
• Shipping/receiving – Shipping/receiving is an entryway into a building. Because it can get chaotic even at the best of times, an intruder could go undetected.
• Security desk – A security guard is usually the person that office staff goes to in case of an emergency. In case the incident is more significant than anticipated, the security guard should have a way to get in contact with authorities quickly.
• Customer service/cash registers – Cashiers cannot know how the public will react at any given time. For this reason, they should have a way to get in contact with colleagues or authorities at the push of a button.
• Anywhere cash is kept – It is no secret that many robbers are after money during their trysts. The cash should always be kept well-secured. Anyone who works with large amounts of money should always have a way to get in contact with authorities without causing too much of a fuss.
• Anywhere employees come in contact with the public – Again, no one can know how another person will respond to any given situation at any given time. Perhaps a cashier gets an unruly customer that gets violent. They should always have a way to get in contact with authorities for assistance.

Should Desktop Panic Buttons be Kept Out in the Open?

As a general rule, desktop panic buttons should not be out in the open. Desktop panic buttons should be kept out of sight, perhaps on the underside of a desk, the wall where it cannot be seen or on an area of the desk where it cannot be seen. Our stationary desktop panic buttons can be mounted to surfaces with screws or nails, or even with strong double-stick tape if desktop panic buttons need to be moved from time to time.

What is the Next Step?

Coordination between local responders and your staff is critical. Desktop panic buttons can merge those two warning systems down to immediate if not instantaneous. Every second counts in a dangerous situation. Circumstances can escalate quickly. What two minutes feel like in regular time, in a high stressed situation is an eternity.

Lower notification time down to seconds and train your employees with the warrior mindset. Having an alert notification sent out can get people to quickly respond which lowers the opportunity of victimization and injury significantly. Desktop panic buttons trump almost anything at this point. It gives people time to react efficiently and is the most cost-effective tool. You want something that you can use today, tomorrow and in ten years. You don’t want something sitting on a shelf that you spent a lot of money on just collecting dust because it’s outdated or it just never worked.

In conclusion, desktop panic buttons that are set up right runs in the background and doesn’t hinder your daily operations. It’s there when you need it, and that’s all that matters. In your research, look for desktop panic buttons that offer system updates to allow you to have an alert system for today and tomorrow. Technology is changing, so should desktop panic buttons.

Still Unsure About a Panic Alarm System?

Contact us for more information to make the best decision for your panic button system.

info@communityresponsesystems.com or 800-533-7201 M-F 8-5 pm CST