Council staff often work in unpredictable environments, from public streets to private homes. Ensuring their safety while on the job is critical, and modern technology is providing new ways to protect teams in real time.
Council staff work across a range of environments, from offices to public spaces, and even private homes. While their work is vital for communities, it often comes with risks that can get overlooked.
Staff such as parking inspectors, community outreach workers, and maintenance teams may face situations that compromise their safety, from aggressive encounters to accidents while on the job.
Duress, an Australian safety solutions company, provides devices designed to protect workers in real time. Its range of wearable and mobile solutions enables staff to quickly declare an emergency, summon help, and even provide live video and audio to verify the situation. Features such as fall detection, GPS location tracking, and internal team alerts enhance the ability of organisations to respond immediately to incidents.
Karl Pagnin, Co-Founder of Duress, explained that emergency declarations are sent to the company’s dashboard where they can be verified.
“If someone activates an emergency, that person’s manager will receive an alert on their phone with all the details, including police involvement if needed,” he said.
Duress devices are part of a broader ecosystem that helps councils protect their staff while also managing operational efficiency. Alerts are prioritised and monitored through Duress’ A1 Graded Monitoring Centre, reducing false alarms and ensuring that emergency responders are directed appropriately.
“000 calls can be challenging at times whilst trying to deal with an aggressive situation,” Pagnin said. “Our live stream video and audio from our devices helps to verify the urgency of the situation, ensuring that real emergencies get the attention they require.”
The Duress suite includes several products tailored to different work environments. Wearables such as the Duress Eagle body camera and Falcon watch combined with the mobile app provide light, flexible safety.
Onboarding is straightforward. Organisations can purchase devices and receive support from Duress’s team for setup, training, and all can be self-managed through the Duress dashboard.
“We provide a full ecosystem around safety: from dashboards and alerts to ongoing support and monthly check-ins with account managers,” Pagnin said. “The goal is to make safety seamless for both staff and managers.”
Councils can also benefit from the platform’s reporting and analytics tools. By reviewing activations and trends, managers can better understand risks in specific areas or roles, helping to inform future safety strategies and training.
The need for such solutions has never been clearer. Staff often operate alone, in public spaces, or in unpredictable environments. The ability to immediately signal for help, track location, and have verified communication can be lifesaving. By integrating technology like Duress devices, councils can provide an extra layer of protection, ensuring its teams can work with confidence.
With modern safety challenges evolving, Duress offers councils a practical and technologically advanced approach to staff wellbeing. Their devices are not just emergency tools – they are part of a broader safety culture that empowers teams and reassures communities that council staff are protected while performing their essential roles.
To find out more about Duress’s safety solutions, visit duress.com or email government@duress.com
