New Feature: Automated Check Call System for Guard Welfare
TacDesk’s new check call system automatically contacts guards at set intervals to verify their welfare, with escalation if they don’t respond.
By Michael Bryce · 17 December 2025 · Updated 11 March 2026 · 2 min read
Lone Worker Safety Is Not Optional
Many security guards work alone, often at night, in environments where confrontation, accidents, or medical emergencies are real risks. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty of care on employers to ensure the welfare of lone workers. Check calls are one of the most effective ways to discharge this duty.
Today we’re launching TacDesk’s automated check call system, replacing manual phone-based welfare checks with a reliable, documented solution.
How Check Calls Work
Once enabled for a site, TacDesk automatically contacts clocked-in guards at intervals you define — typically every 1-2 hours. The guard receives a notification and responds with a single tap to confirm they’re safe and alert.
If a Guard Doesn’t Respond
The system follows an escalation procedure:
- First missed check — the system retries after a configurable delay
- Second missed check — supervisor is alerted
- Third missed check — on-call manager is alerted and welfare check initiated
Each step is logged with timestamps, creating an audit trail that demonstrates your duty of care compliance.
Configuration Options
Managers control check call settings per site:
- Interval — how often guards are checked (30 minutes to 4 hours)
- Active hours — check calls can be limited to specific shift times
- Escalation contacts — who receives alerts at each escalation level
- Response window — how long a guard has to respond before escalation
Why Automated Beats Manual
Manual check calls — where a control room operator phones each guard — are labour-intensive, inconsistent, and poorly documented. Operators forget, get busy, or skip calls. Automated check calls happen on schedule, every time, with every response (or non-response) logged.
The cost difference is significant too. A dedicated control room operator costs far more than an automated system that only requires human intervention when something is actually wrong.
Compliance Documentation
Every check call and response is recorded in the guard’s shift timeline and the site’s occurrence book. This creates the documented evidence of welfare monitoring that HSE inspectors and ACS assessors expect to see.
Check calls are available on TacDesk Professional and Enterprise plans. Try the demo to see the system in action.
Related Articles
- → Check Call Systems for Lone Workers: A Guide for Security Companies
- → Lone Worker Safety for Security Guards: Check Calls, Legal Duties, and Smart Solutions
- → Security Guard Scheduling: How to Build Rotas That Actually Work
- → New Feature: Shift Marketplace — Let Guards Claim Open Shifts
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Michael Bryce
Founder of TacDesk. Writes about SIA compliance, operations, and running a UK security company, from someone who actually works the shifts.
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