A GUIDE TO
LONE WORKER SAFETY

Introduction

As the number of lone workers continues to rise— with an estimated 15-20% of today’s employees reportedly working by themselves—so too do concerns about their safety.

To keep these vulnerable workers safe, it’s vital to have a full picture of all the circumstances in which people work alone and what hazards they face. A comprehensive lone working program that defines roles, responsibilities, training and resources—alongside knowing the legislation in your jurisdiction—is equally vital.

This guide outlines strategies for building a robust lone worker safety program. The ultimate goal is to ensure every worker has the confidence to get the job done and return home safe to their families at the end of the day.

EVOLVING LEGISLATION

Work-alone legislation has been enacted in many regions. While a foundational component is the periodic confirmation of employee well-being—often through a manual check-in process—these protocols can be manually intensive and prone to human error. Employees forget to check in or out, causing false alarms. Supervisors get complacent and neglect to check in on someone who may need help. That’s why legislation is evolving and becoming more stringent globally:

United Kingdom

The UK outline formal parameters on the responsibilities of employers and lone worker equipment and monitoring equipment, making it one of the most successful nations when it comes to workplace safety.

Australia

They make it compulsory for employers to monitor the health and well-being of any of their employees working remotely or in isolated conditions.

United States of America

Cal OSHA Senate Bill 553 requires every employer in California to formulate a comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, train employees on how to identify and avoid workplace violence, and begin logging violent incidents in detail by July 2024.

Canada

Regulates working alone in three-quarters of provinces and territories with employer requirements to assess the health and safety hazards associated with each particular job.

BENEFITS OF CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY

Cloud-connected IIoT safety devices—like gas detection and lone worker wearables, and area gas monitors—are becoming standard as workplaces transform digitally. They can link employees with live monitoring, enable real-time information sharing, collect vital location data, support more informed decision-making, and facilitate faster emergency responses. Most importantly, workers can confidently get their jobs done knowing they are protected.

Specific capabilities to look for that support your lone work safety checklist include:

Fall/No Motion Detection

Senses if a worker slips, trips, falls or when a person is motionless, then triggers an alarm.

Two-Way Voice

Enables monitoring personnel to talk with lone workers via speakerphone.

Automated Analytics

Delivers out-of-the-box or customisable analytics to help you understand gas exposure, improve efficiency, and manage compliance.

Blackline Safety have created a short guide covering Lone Worker Safety. Within the guide, it covers:

Who are Lone Workers?
Hazards and Risks
Evolving Legislations
Benefits of Connected Technology
How to Develop an Effective Lone Worker Safety Program
How to Drive Successful Program Adaption

Knowing who your lone workers are, assessing and mitigating the risks, and developing a comprehensive policy that clearly defines roles and accountabilities is critical to protect this growing and vulnerable segment of the workforce.

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