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When an emergency happens, rapid and clear communication can save lives. Whether it is a fire, medical incident, severe weather, or a security threat, the ability to quickly and clearly share information with the right people is what turns a plan into action. Emergency communication systems are the tools that make this possible.

While there are different types of emergency communication systems, the common theme is that they need to respond quickly to emergency situations, communicate effectively with their audience, and use readily available equipment - or be installed easily. 

Whether it's in schools, hospitals, workplaces, transport hubs or even during public events, we're going to check out the types of emergency notification systems, and how digital signage is becoming one of the most effective solutions for emergency messaging.

What is an Emergency Communication System?

An emergency communication system is a coordinated set of tools that allows organizations to warn, inform, and guide people during critical incidents. Their core purpose is to provide clear, timely and reliable information that helps people respond quickly and appropriately.

Traditional systems such as fire alarms and PA systems remain essential, but newer technologies like mobile alerts, mass notification platforms, and digital signage have expanded the options available. The most effective emergency strategies layer multiple systems so that information reaches people in more than one way.

In addition to this, effective responses to emergencies also thrive on awareness and a degree of training. While a clear siren might be a good way to alert people to an emerging threat, you also need the processes in place to make sure that people respond promptly and effectively to those alerts. In short, this means regular drills and training based on the use of these emergency communications. 

There are several categories of emergency communication systems, each designed to work in specific contexts.

These are the most familiar methods for many - using speakers or intercoms to broadcast audio messages across a building or campus. The benefits are that they are fast and can reach everyone within earshot. But in noisy or chaotic environments, spoken announcements may be missed and additional formats to communicate might be needed.

These use SMS, email, or push notifications to alert people on their personal devices. They are effective for reaching large groups instantly, including those not physically present, but they rely on mobile coverage and people checking their phones.

An example of this is the UK Government's Emergency Alert System which is designed to broadcast regional or nationwide alerts in the event of extreme weather or in case of disaster. Or in certain regions, tsunami alerts can be sent to all cellphones within certain regions in the event of seismic activity.  

Traditionally these were static boards with evacuation maps or printed notices about muster points and first aiders. Today, digital signage is a more dynamic version of these boards, allowing real-time emergency alerts, situational updates and integration with wider communication systems.

These are seen often in workplaces such as factories or other industrial settings, but are increasingly being adopted by public spaces such as schools and hospitals, airports and transport hubs.

Audible alarms remain the fastest way to trigger awareness. Fire alarms, sirens, and flashing lights immediately indicate danger. However, alarms usually provide no detail on the nature of the emergency or the next steps meaning they're less well suited to public safety communications. 

These include radios, intercom phones, and emergency call boxes. They are useful for coordination between staff, first responders, or security teams. But their limitation is scale, as they do not reach the wider public directly.

Many organizations now use apps to send targeted alerts or safety instructions. These are customizable, often location-based, and can be tested in advance. Like mass notifications, they depend on mobile access and may not be noticed during high-stress moments. But when it comes to disaster management, they can be a powerful tool in the kit, and can be integrated with other systems.

Each of these systems has strengths and weaknesses. But of course, the most resilient emergency communication strategies combine several, ensuring redundancy and flexibility.

Different environments present different challenges, and different types of local threat. What works in one location, or with a specific demographic, might need a different approach elsewhere.

In some cases, the actual systems remain the same, but there needs to be training to coordinate responses in the event of an incident. Lets look at how these locations might vary...

Educational settings face threats ranging from severe weather to intruder situations. Communication must reach students, teachers, and visitors, often across multiple buildings. 

PA systems remain common, but schools are increasingly using digital signage to show lockdown instructions or evacuation routes. 

Mobile alerts are used for parents and staff, while static posters and drills help reinforce procedures. 

The key challenge in schools is speed, particularly during high-pressure situations like lockdowns, where seconds matter.

Read more: Improving school safety with digital signage.

In hospitals, communication systems must support both patient safety and staff coordination. Code alerts are often delivered via PA systems and overhead paging, while staff may receive simultaneous mobile notifications. 

Digital signage in lobbies and waiting rooms can inform visitors of exits or restricted areas. 

Accessibility is particularly important, as patients or visitors may not understand spoken instructions or may have hearing impairments. In this instance, visual signage ensures information is universally understood.

Workplaces: Offices, Warehouses, and Factories

Workplaces vary widely, but common risks include fire, chemical hazards, and accidents. With multi-environmental workplaces, such as outdoors locations, industrial facilities or construction sites, factors such as weather, air quality or heat can impact the workforce. 

In offices, PA systems and mass notifications are most common, while in warehouses and factories, alarms and visual signage may be more effective due to noise levels. 

Digital signage is increasingly used to reinforce safety training daily and then switch to emergency instructions when needed. Where screens are used for communication, digital signage can also be used to override the usual display and play emergency announcements. 

In fact, in large facilities, the ability to update every screen instantly can guide workers to the nearest safe exit or assembly point.

Transport hubs face some of the most complex communication challenges, especially in the event of emergency incidents. They must reach thousands of people simultaneously, often in multiple languages, and manage crowd movement without creating panic. 

Audio announcements, alarms, and staff radios are essential and often form the foundation of an emergency response. But digital signage provides a clear visual layer and a way to convey additional information or clear evacuation instructions on screen. 

Because there are screens in use, flight and train information screens can be overridden with emergency instructions, and wayfinding signage can display evacuation routes. 

The ability to reach passengers who may not speak the local language is also a significant advantage - with the option for multi-language displays.

Read more: How airport digital signage sets the standard.

Concerts, sports events, and festivals all carry the challenge of communicating with large, moving crowds. In these settings, PA announcements are standard, but they can be hard to hear over event noise. And - in case of disaster - it isn't always clear that a vocal announcement is related to the emergency in question.

Large video walls or digital signage displays allow organizers to broadcast instructions across the venue. Mobile notifications can also be used for ticket holders. The main concern is managing crowds calmly, especially as the audience might not be familiar with the location. So visual signage often plays a vital role in directing movement safely.

The Benefits of Digital Signage in Emergencies

While many systems play important roles, digital signage has become one of the most adaptable tools for emergency communication. As part of an emergency communication system, digital signage can help to manage risk and in the event of a disaster, it can be used to help manage the expectations of the audience and to support first responders. 

Its benefits lie in its ability to combine visibility, speed, and integration. ScreenCloud offer various ways to trigger emergency alerts via digital signage, with the notifications either triggered by popular Mass Alert Platforms (MAP) such as Omnilert or RAVE. But you can also use your own custom triggers too.

So why should you use digital signage as part of your emergency communication system?

Digital signage can be updated instantly. If a fire breaks out in one area of a building, every screen across the site can display the relevant information or display evacuation routes within seconds.

Unlike audio systems, screens are not affected by background noise. In factories, stadiums, or transport hubs, digital displays can cut through the noise with visual instructions.

For organizations with multiple campuses or offices, digital signage software allows messages to be broadcast across all locations simultaneously. This ensures consistent messaging and faster response.

Modern digital signage platforms can integrate with fire alarms, mass notification software, or security systems. When an alarm is triggered, screens automatically switch to emergency mode, displaying evacuation maps, safety instructions, or alerts.

Visual instructions are essential for people who are hearing impaired or who do not speak the local language. Digital signage can display multilingual instructions or use clear icons to guide people.

Once the immediate threat has passed, digital signage continues to be useful. It can inform people when it is safe to return, share updates about transport disruptions, or provide reassurance and guidance.

Best Practices for Implementing Emergency Communication Systems

Organizations that want to strengthen their emergency communication should consider a layered and practical approach.

First, assess the risks specific to your environment. A hospital faces different emergencies than a factory, and a school has different needs than an airport.

Second, use more than one system. Audio alarms are essential, but they should be paired with visual communication such as signage. Mobile alerts can reach staff outside the building, while intercoms allow staff to coordinate inside.

Third, build redundancy into the system. Emergencies could disrupt power or connectivity, so systems should have backups in place. ScreenCloud digital signage can display cached messages in the event of a loss of connection. 

Fourth, test regularly. Even the best systems fail without practice. Employees/students should be familiar with how alerts sound, where to look for instructions, and what actions to take. There is no substitute for being prepared.

Finally, keep systems updated and integrated. Outdated or fragmented tools can cause delays. A well-integrated system where alarms trigger both sound and signage ensures speed and clarity.

Better Incident Management with ScreenCloud

Emergency communication systems are not optional. They are the foundation of any safety strategy, ensuring that in moments of crisis, information flows quickly and effectively to those who need it. 

Digital signage has emerged as a vital layer in these systems and ScreenCloud provides an effective solution for those looking to support their emergency communication network.  

Whether managing digital signage across a school or college, within a factory or dispatch center, or in a public area such as an airport or conference hall, ScreenCloud's emergency alerts app is designed to ensure that when worse comes to worst, your emergency response is as robust as it can be.

Find out more about how ScreenCloud digital signage fits into your communications network by booking a demo today - or sign up for a 14 day free trial. 

Sharing timely emergency alerts can be the difference between life and death. Find out how to use emergency communication systems and digital signage.

A Guide to Emergency Communication Systems in Business

Employee health and safety is a core component of every workplace. Which is why you'll often notice an abundance of safety signage, especially in industries with high injury risks like manufacturing.

There's also a focus on finding new and efficient ways to elevate workplace health and safety. Enter digital signage. The dynamic content capabilities and real-time information delivery of most digital screens enable workplaces to implement better safety signs and explore other ways to promote health and safety.

But how exactly does digital signage improve workplace safety, and where can you start implementing it for the best results?

The importance of safety signage in the workplace

Safety signage helps employees quickly understand the potential risks or dangers around equipment or materials and helps prevent accidents and injuries. This is especially important in an industrial environment where heavy machinery and potential safety hazards abound.

First of all, safety signage is usually a legal requirement - so displaying standard workplace safety signs isn't just a nice to have.

But in addition to fulfilling your legal requirements, safety signage can be helpful for:

Sharing safety standards at the point of use

In public spaces, health and safety signage can help maintain safety standards and compliance, provide direction in cases of emergencies, or simply help prevent accidents. Some examples of this include:

Hygiene and sanitation signage like restroom signs or no littering

Hazard signs like "wet floor" and construction zone signs.

Safety signage comes in various forms, each serving a specific purpose. Here's a breakdown of the most common types:

Warning Signs: These alert workers to potential hazards, such as "Caution: Wet Floor" or "High Voltage Area."

Mandatory Signs: These signs indicate actions that must be taken, such as "Wear Safety Goggles" or "Hard Hats Required."

Prohibition Signs: Indicate actions that are not permitted, such as "No Smoking" or "Do Not Enter."

Emergency Information Signs: Provide critical information during emergencies, including "Exit" signs and first aid locations.

Fire Safety Signs: Show the location of firefighting equipment and escape routes.

Regulatory Signs: These highlight legal requirements, protocols and other regulations related to the workplace.

While many of these safety signs are often static, there are opportunities to present a more dynamic display.

Why use digital signage for health and safety in the workplace?

Digital signage can deliver dynamic information, making it particularly helpful for updating workers on current safety protocols and, of course, displaying safety signage.

But that’s not the biggest reason to adopt digital signage in the workplace; it’s all the other ways you can use screens to share information.

Instead of having one static sign that displays the same info, you could have a screen that cycles through various safety signages, depending on the context. Additionally, the screen could also display other helpful information, including:

Updates to keep deskless workers in the loop

Returning to health and safety signage, here are some reasons to use digital displays instead of static signs.

Digital safety signs can provide real-time updates about active or potential hazards, emergency alerts, or safety procedures in environments where conditions can change.

For example, if a spill occurs in a specific area, safety personnel can immediately change a digital sign from “Hard Hats Required” to notifying workers to avoid that area and follow alternative routes.

In a non-industrial setting, real time safety signs can also inform people about local challenges such as weather alerts, access problems (such as faulty elevators) or local security issues.

That can save time and make the process of informing everyone more efficient.

Interactive digital signs can be used for training purposes, allowing employees to engage with safety protocols through videos, quizzes, and simulations. This interactive approach can offer many untapped opportunities, including making the learning process more engaging and ensuring better retention of safety procedures.

A great example is workers participating in simulated emergency drills or equipment handling procedures, which enhances their preparedness for real-life situations.

Displays can also share reminders periodically to reinforce the information they’ve received in the training process.

Read more: What is interactive digital signage?

Using a digital signage solution can enable safety managers to update displays remotely, making it easy to keep information current across multiple sites. Safety signs will always be safety signs, but sometimes, the workplace may introduce processes, safety protocols, or PPEs, and these may need to be reflected in your signage.

This use of digital signage is particularly beneficial for large companies with numerous facilities, where manually maintaining printed safety signs would be impractical.

With digital signage, you can make central updates on new safety protocols and propagate them to all locations in a timely manner.

If you have a diverse staff, digital signs can be used to display messages in multiple languages, ensuring all employees understand the safety information. This could be just as helpful for employees whose first language isn’t English.

When it comes to life-saving safety information, it’s vital that everyone knows precisely what to do and what not to do, and digital signage could be helpful here.

Creating slides in specific languages to display on your safety signs ensures that everyone is aware of the potential hazards, even if they're not fluent in the language if your business. Simply set up your message, create a translated version (or versions), set the safety information to cycle through.

How to design workplace safety signs for digital displays

To create effective safety signs for digital screens, you need a blend of clarity, simplicity, and attention to detail. The signs must be prominent enough so that anyone can look at them and immediately understand the message and what’s required of them.

But they also need to avoid the problem of 'too much information'.

Here are some tips to help make sure you get it right:

When it comes to health and safety information, the signs should be easy to read and understand at a glance. Flashy graphics with motion animation and colorful backgrounds have their place in creating digital signage content - but not with safety signs.

You don't need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to signage. Keep your message succinct, and if you have multiple messages, don't worry about using more than one slide on your digital signage - that's one of the benefits if using digital.

It's also important to stick to health and safety color codes. According to the HSE network, here are the most important things to remember.

Red for fire safety and prohibition signs

Green for emergency escape and first aid safety signs

With health and safety digital signage, it’s essential to get to the point quickly.

Use bold text or bright colors to highlight the most important information, such as the nature of the hazard or the required action.

Thanks to digital signage's dynamic nature, you can also add extra context to provide further information. But, the key details should always lead.

Some health and safety signs don’t even need a lot of words; just the icons and graphics convey the information well enough. For Example, when most people see the below image, they immediately understand that there's a high chance of falling in the area.

Using icons and graphics like these can help improve the speed of information delivery and make your signs much more effective.

Consistency in style and font is critical when creating these safety signs. To avoid confusion, stick to the same font, colors (appropriate to the type of signs), and layouts. This will contribute to the overall readability.

Create effective digital safety signs with ScreenCloud

Implementing digital health and safety signage in the workplace is a step towards a safer, more informed work environment. Whether it's in a bustling factory, a busy logistics hub, or an office setting, digital displays can improve communication and ensure that safety information is always up-to-date and accessible for everyone.

With ScreenCloud, you can quickly create health and safety signs and roll them out to as many screens as you need. Our digital signage solution also allows you to implement multiple uses for your screen as needed without extra costs outside your plan.

Find out more by booking a demo or starting a 14-day free trial today.

Health and safety signage needs to be visible and accessible. While static safety signs are good, there are also digital signage solutions for safety signage.

How to Use Health and Safety Signage in the Workplace

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Why use Digital Signage to display emergency alerts?

In conjunction with other warning systems such as text messages and email, you can also use the Emergency Alerts app to broadcast information and instructions via your screens. With emergency alerts, your screens become another part of your multi-channel alert output, helping ensure critical information gets to those impacted – quickly.

Reach all corners of your deskless workforce - Make sure everyone gets the message and knows what to do. Screens are particularly useful for targeting ‘digitally detached’ individuals. 

Automation you can rely on - There’s no requirement to manually access ScreenCloud and cast alerts – these are automatically triggered by a third party alerts platform. 

Get the right message to the right people - Organize your alerts by spaces to ensure only individuals in affected areas are notified.

Emergency Alerts is an app within ScreenCloud that acts as an extension of an existing Mass Alert Platform such as Singlewire, RAVE and Omnilert. When an event is triggered, we receive a message via common alert protocol (CAP) and override what is displayed on the screens. It will remain on screen until you decide to remove it.

When an emergency alert instance has been set up there is no need to schedule this within a playlist or channel. The instance will simply sit in the background listening for an alert and when triggered will automatically cast to all screens within that space.

The Emergency Alerts feature is available on our Pro and Enterprise plans and is included for all of our education and non-profit customers. If you can't see it in your account, please reach out to your account manager or support and we’ll get you sorted.

We would love to hear how you have been using the Emergency Alerts app. If you have any feedback for the team or just need help getting started, chat with us.

Alternatively, if you’re not yet with ScreenCloud, talk to Sales here to get up and running: https://screencloud.com/contact

When an unexpected event occurs, it's critical to take prompt action to ensure the safety of your employees, students or customers. ScreenCloud’s ‘Emergency Alerts’ feature complements and amplifies your existing safety protocols and processes; while keeping your people well-informed and up-to-date  before, during and after these events.

ScreenCloud’s ‘Emergency Alerts’ feature complements and amplifies your existing safety protocols and processes; while keeping your people well-informed and up-to-date  before, during and after these events.

Speed, Automation, and Reliability Matter When an Event Occurs | Emergency Alerts App in Studio

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Employee engagement: What are we missing?

No matter what industry a business finds itself in, safety and compliance are vital to ongoing success. In warehouses, factories, plants, and production facilities, there are countless at-work injuries and accidents that could have been prevented if employees had followed mandated company safety protocols and guidelines. 

Manufacturing companies need a simple, yet effective way of communicating and sharing safety and compliance information with employees. Unfortunately, most companies in manufacturing and production employ a largely deskless workforce who don’t occupy an office or have a pc, rendering mass emails and desktop reminders useless. 

Industrial display systems are a smart and cost-effective way to improve health and safety communication and compliance in the workplace. From digital signage in cafeterias and kitchens to production screens on the assembly line, industrial display systems can keep employees engaged, informed, and up to date on all health and safety measures in the workplace. 


What Are the Risks of Poor Workplace Safety Compliance?

In industries that operate heavy machinery or potentially hazardous chemicals or materials, employee safety is paramount and is often interdependent. This means that if one employee doesn’t follow safety protocols correctly, they not only endanger themselves but also every other employee in the vicinity. 

Poor compliance with workplace safety regulations could result in consistent injuries and accidents, affecting employee productivity and satisfaction. This could result in companies paying more to cover workplace compensation for employee medical bills and a higher employee turnover rate. In the long-term, ongoing safety incidents could potentially harm a company’s public image and hamper profitability.

The risks of poor workplace safety compliance are simply too great for companies to discuss safety protocols only once or twice a year. It’s essential for businesses to actively share and communicate safety procedures to employees at all times. Here’s how industrial display systems can help companies to do this with ease. 


How Can Industrial Display Systems Improve Health and Safety in the Workplace?

Industrial display systems allow companies to consistently broadcast important health and safety procedures at all times. As mentioned, one accident or step missed in a safety procedure could put everyone working at risk. Digital signage allows businesses to fill in any employees’ gaps in knowledge or understanding through constant reminders. 

Keeping safety rules and regulations in front of employees at all times greatly reduces any risk of accidents or injuries. Companies can also use industrial display systems to test employee knowledge of safety protocols by sharing interactive quizzes and tests that employees can answer.

Through digital signage, sharing consistent messaging across multiple locations is easy. This is useful if a business has multiple manufacturing, production, or shipping locations, all of which require comprehensive workplace safety communication. Industrial display systems allow companies to easily share consistent messaging across all workplace locations to maintain consistent employee health and safety compliance levels across the board. 

Over time, there may be edits and additions to the safety policy. New protective gear 

As time goes by, there will be amendments and updates implemented to workplace safety policies, and these changes will need to be effectively communicated to all employees. Relying on industrial display systems to share these important updates is the best way to encourage the highest possible adoption rate of them by employees. 

Along with an official announcement, new updates can be rolled out across the company via digital signage which will ensure that employees everywhere take note. Consistent reminders and follow-ups can then be implemented until the changes have been fully adopted into workplace routines. 

Sometimes you may need to share an urgent or update with employees, whether it’s related to internal or external circumstances. Digital signage enables you to share accurate information with all employees in the fastest possible way. Whether it’s a fire, hazard, or extreme weather condition, industrial display systems can override current messaging to broadcast emergency updates and instruct employees on safety procedures to follow. 

Celebrate employee accomplishments and build workplace morale

Safety is vital in every place of work, but that doesn’t mean that following safety protocols can’t be fun for employees. Gamification of workplace safety compliance is a great way to encourage and motivate employees to stay updated on safety regulations and actively follow them. 

Companies can divide their workforce into teams and set goals and KPIs to track, like which team can go the longest without a safety incident, with rewards and prizes as incentives for high levels of safety compliance. Digital signage can also be used to celebrate workplace accomplishments and employee achievements, which boosts employee morale and happiness in the workplace. 

Ensuring your workplace safety messaging is comprehensive and consistent and that your employees understand and follow them correctly is always a challenge, especially for companies that employ a deskless workforce. Industrial display systems and digital signage software are an easy and effective way to share accurate and updated health and safety messaging with all employees and encourage better compliance with safety regulations. 

At ScreenCloud, we help businesses to enhance their workplace safety compliance and minimize the risk of workplace-related accidents or injuries by leveraging digital signage solutions. Book a demo with us and we’ll show you how we can help to level your health and safety compliance procedures.

Safety in the workplace is a constant challenge that companies deal with. Discover how industrial display systems can be leveraged to boost employee safety and compliance levels.

Businesses across the board are fighting an ongoing battle with low levels of workplace safety compliance. Sharing essential safety protocols and encouraging employee compliance are the key issues behind these challenges. Industrial display systems are the solution to these persistent communication and compliance issues.

How to Enhance Workplace Safety Using Industrial Display Systems

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