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Guide to lone working

Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about lone working. From identifying the lone workers in your organisation, to the risks they face in different environments, our lone worker guide will ensure you know how to keep your staff protected and meet your legal duty of care.

Contents

  1. What is a lone worker?
    Take a look at some of the official definitions and how to identify the lone workers in your organization, including ‘hidden lone workers’.
  2. What are the hazards and risks of lone working?
    Explore the hazards and risks faced by lone workers in different environments and job roles.
  3. Australia lone worker legislation
    Understand the health and safety guidance that regulates lone working in Australia and what you are required to put in place in order to meet your duty of care.
  4. Who can work alone?
    We answer the question of who can work alone by looking at groups of potentially vulnerable or high-risk employees.
  5. Lone worker risk assessments
    What is a lone worker risk assessment and what should be included?
  6. Creating a lone worker policy
    How to create a lone worker policy, including checklists to ensure you include everything you need.
  7. How can I keep my lone workers safe?
    We outline the practical ways in which you can protect your lone working staff from harm, including apps, panic buttons, wearable technology and satellite devices.

SECTION 1

What is a lone worker?

A lone worker is anyone working without the direct and immediate support of supervisors or colleagues.

What is the Safe Work Australia definition of an isolated worker?

Safe Work Australia states that:

“Remote or isolated workers may be isolated from help because of where or when they are working, or the nature of the work they are doing. For example, they may be working in locations or at times where it would be difficult for them to be rescued, get medical assistance or be reached by emergency services. Workers may face additional WHS risks if nobody else is around to help with difficult tasks, alert them to hazards or give a second opinion about how to safely do a task, or notice if they are fatigued or making mistakes.”

What is classed as lone working?

If an employee cannot be seen or heard by a colleague, they are a lone worker – whether that be for all or part of their working day. This also includes staff who work from home.

Lone working can constitute a wide range of job roles across any industry. Traditionally, the phrase ‘lone worker’ would likely conjure images of an employee working in complete isolation, such as a security guard manning a building at night, or an engineer carrying out maintenance in a remote area. While this may be true for some job roles, lone working doesn’t always mean completely alone.

When identifying lone workers in your organization, it is important to consider ‘hidden lone workers’ in situations which may be overlooked, such as;

  • Those working on the same site but out of sight and sound of a colleague
  • Colleagues working alone in different parts of a building
  • Employees left alone for periods of time while a colleague takes a break
  • A single employee working late after everyone else has left the worksite
  • Anyone working alone but alongside members of the public or in populated locations
  • Staff travelling alone during work hours
  • Staff members who work from home

What types of jobs involve lone working?

There are many different jobs that involve lone working. Lone workers can be found across every industry, in various job roles, anywhere in the world.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, there has also been a significant increase in employees who work from home. In a study conducted by 451 Research – the technology research unit of S&P Global Market Intelligence – 67% of businesses expect their home working policies put in place to tackle the virus to remain in place either permanently or for the long-term.

Some roles commonly utilizing lone workers include:

  • Utilities: remote engineers, meter readers, field service staff, maintenance and repair staff
  • Housing: real estate agents, surveyors, housing officers
  • Housing agents, social workers
  • Healthcare: health visitors, paramedics, nurses
  • Charities and not-for-profits: outreach and community workers
  • Retail and hospitality: shopworkers, keyholders, cleaners, security guards, sales representatives
    Construction: laborers, builders, repairmen
  • Corporate businesses: office workers working from home or remotely

 How many people work alone?

Globally, The International Data Corporation estimates approximately 1.3 billion people are mobile workers, many of whom work alone for all or some of their working day.

This figure is likely to increase year on year. Technological advances mean that jobs that used to require a team can be done by an individual with specialist equipment and meetings that used to have to be conducted face to face can be done remotely.

 What are the roles of lone workers?

Lone workers are employees who do not have direct supervision when carrying out their duties. Sometimes work is undertaken in areas which are remote, or one-to-one with members of the public or clients. 

Lone workers can be at additional risk from violence, aggression or injury as there is no one there to raise the alarm in an emergency. 

Workers that are particularly vulnerable to violence and aggression are often those who are public-facing, such as social care workers, paramedics and security guards. 

Other job roles are more susceptible to accidental injury, for example construction workers, engineers, field service workers and delivery drivers.

However, it is important that despite these additional risks, lone workers should feel protected. It is the duty of an employer to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to mitigate any risks they face.

How can security be achieved in the workplace?

  • Ensure a risk assessment is completed prior to any work being carried out and correct health and safety strategies and training are executed
  • It is an employer’s responsibility to conduct relevant and thorough training for their lone workers
  • Ensure lone workers are wearing protective and conspicuous clothing, such as Hi-Vis jackets if working underground or during late shifts
  • Keep a record of where staff are, when and who they are with or implement a specialist solution that can do this for you

StaySafe is a solution that has been designed to give visibility of employees locations when they are working alone and enable them to signal for help in an emergency situation.

SECTION 2

What are the hazards of lone working?

The most common hazards faced by lone workers vary according to industry and job role. However, the top causes of workplace accidents, incidents and fatalities are fairly consistent around the world.

Lone working hazards include:

  • Violence and aggression from clients or members of the public
  • Spills, cables and other tripping hazards
  • Working at height such as ladders, scaffolding and roofing
  • Operating machinery and equipment
  • Working with electricity, chemicals and other harmful substances
  • Heavy lifting, repetitive movements and vibration
  • Working around vehicles
  • Driving for work

According to Safe Work Australia statistics 2019/20:

  • 3,751 workers were fatally injured while working from 2003 to 2018
  • 121 Australian workers killed at work in 2020
  • 107,355 serious injury claims were lodged in the 2014-15 financial year

The biggest risk factors in the workplace

The biggest work-place risk factors for employees in Australia are accidental injury, acts of violence or a health emergency. 

According to Safe Work Australia statistics, of the 107,355 serious injury claims that were lodged in 2014-15, 41% of serious claims were due to lifting or carrying objects and 25% were due to non-powered hand tools, appliances and equipment.

Safe Work Australia data (2014/15) shows that the industries where the most injuries occur are health and social care, manufacturing and construction. For fatalities the highest risk industries are agriculture, forestry and fishing, transport, postal and warehousing and construction. 

The most recent statistics on workplace bullying and violence reported by Safe Work Australia in 2017 showed that 37% of workers reported being sworn at or yelled at in the workplace and 22% of workers reported being physically assaulted or threatened by patients or clients.

Quad bike accidents are also a risk factor for Australian workers. Of the 128 quad bike fatalities that occurred between 2011 and 2018, 49% occurred when the deceased was working.

A health emergency, such as heart attack or stroke, can occur anytime and requires immediate medical assistance.

Violence at work

Results of the Australian Workplace Barometer 2014/15 showed that:

  • The most common form of harassment experienced by Australian workers was reported as being sworn at or yelled at (37%)
  • Being physically assaulted or threatened by patients/clients was experienced by 21.8% of workers
  • Negative comments due to race or ethnicity were experienced by 7.4% of respondents.  
  • Unfair treatment due to gender was experienced by 10.9%  
  • Women were more likely than men to be bullied and experience unwanted sexual advances, unfair treatment because of their gender, and experience being physically assaulted or threatened by a client or patient.  
  • Men were significantly more likely to experience being sworn at or yelled at in the workplace

Who is most at risk from violence at work?

According to the Psychosocial health and safety and bullying in Australian workplaces report, there is a 55% higher chance among young workers (≤ 24 years old) of being awarded a mental disorder claim due to exposure to workplace violence compared to workers 55 years or older.

There is more than twice the rate of claims due to workplace violence among females compared to males­ – 11.3 vs 4.7 claims per 100 million hours worked. Violence can happen in any occupation; however, workers in some industries are more likely to experience work-related violence. Those industries are: 

  • health care and social assistance – this includes nurses, doctors, paramedics and residential carers 
  • public administration and safety – such as police officers, protective service offices, prison guards and welfare support workers
  • education and training – including teachers and teachers’ aides

As an employer, you have a duty of care to ensure that all staff are safe at work, no matter what their role is. Risk Assessments can help you to understand the specific dangers faced by your employees in different situations and enable you to put measures in place to mitigate any risks.

What are the risks of lone working?

Workplace hazards such as injury or violence can be an increased risk to lone workers because there is no one to intervene or call for help in an emergency.

How many lone workers are attacked every day?

There are no official figures for Australia. Unfortunately, lone workers are more vulnerable to violence and aggression due to the nature of their work or being seen as easier targets.

Not only can attacks result in physical injury, violence towards lone workers can result in stress, anxiety, fear and depression. This in turn can lead to sick leave, loss of confidence and low productivity and problems with staff retention.

How high risk is lone working?

Lone workers face similar types of risks to non lone working employees – however, as any risks are faced alone they are more vulnerable.

Lone working is considered a higher risk activity for a variety of reasons. Lone workers may be more susceptible to attack because they are seen as an easy target. If they suffer an accident or other emergency situation, there is no one with them to help or call for assistance. A lone employee may take on more physical work, such as lifting, than they are capable of because no one is there to help and then hurt themselves as a result.

What types of risks do lone workers face?

The main risks associated with lone working include people, environmental risks and ill health.

People risk

Unfortunately, lone workers are at higher risk of violence and aggression and are often regarded as easier targets. This could be down to the nature of their work, such as working with vulnerable members of the public and behind closed doors (social, housing and outreach workers for example) or working with large amounts of money (retail, bar, hospitality and security staff).

Environmental risk

Lone workers are at risk from workplace hazards such as slips, trips and falls, heavy lifting and electrocution. Working alone poses a challenge in regard to receiving immediate assistance and medical support if an accident does occur.

Ill health

Similarly, if a lone worker suffers from a medical emergency such as a heart attack or fainting, receiving immediate support and alerting emergency services could prove difficult without nearby colleagues, particularly if working remotely or out of sight and sound.

Risks of lone working in different environments

Different environments pose different sets of risks for lone working staff and in many industries the dangers faced by staff – especially violence – are increasing. Here we examine the risks posed in some common lone working roles.

Many lone workers visit clients in their homes, placing them at higher risk of violence, aggression and hostage situations, particularly if working with vulnerable individuals. Entering a client’s home comes with an element of the unknown. There could be aggressive animals present in the home, trip hazards, aggression and hostility from individuals within the property and potential alcohol and substance abuse.

In a study published by the BMJ journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 22% of domiciliary care workers reported at least one incident of verbal abuse by clients or their relatives in the previous 12 months. Heightened risk factors included cramped client living conditions, clients with dementia and limited mobility. Interestingly, workers with predictable working hours had a 26% lower risk of being verbally abused – indicating that workers who have changeable rotas are at an increased risk.

Other community workers such as social workers, community nurses and charity workers are also vulnerable to similar risks. This can be particularly true for those working in environments where drugs, alcohol and mental health issues could be involved.

Many community workers also drive between appointments and so are at risk of being involved in a road traffic accident whilst at work – especially those who drive at night. Many lone workers visit clients in their homes, placing them at higher risk of violence, aggression and hostage situations, particularly if working with vulnerable individuals. Entering a client’s home comes with an element of the unknown. There could be aggressive animals present in the home, trip hazards, aggression and hostility from individuals within the property and potential alcohol and substance abuse. Find out more

Lone workers in public facing roles can be at risk of violence and aggressive behaviour. Lone working retail staff can be seen as easy targets for robberies, while frustrated members of the public or clients can act aggressively towards staff in any situation.

The 2017/18 CSEW asserts that the majority of workplace violence (54%) is carried out by a stranger, with 28% of attacks conducted by a client or member of the public known through work.

Construction suffered the third highest fatality rate in 2018. There were 24 fatalities, which is a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 workers.

Even if you have several employees on site, the size and noise levels could mean that some or all employees could be considered to be lone working. As there are many hazards present when working in construction, such as dangerous machinery and tools, electrocution and working at height, failure to quickly gain the attention of a colleague in an emergency could result in life changing or even fatal injuries.

Those who work in utilities and field service, such as engineers, are also at risk of injury whilst on site or visiting clients homes.

Common risks to field-based workers include;

  • Working at height
  • Working with utilities including electricity and gas
  • Working with specialist or large equipment
  • Working next to busy roads
  • Driving to and from site
  • Unsocial hours

Learn more about lone worker safety in utilities or field service.

In a study published by Security Magazine – Crimes at Night: Analyzing Police Incident Reports in Major Cities – violent crimes are most likely to occur after dark. Murder, rape, drink/drug driving, robbery and assault are all more likely to occur at night than during the day.

Along with the additional risk, the number of people working at night is also increasing.

 According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2017), 204,000 Australians regularly work night and evening shifts.

With the number of employees who work at night increasing, including more women and older workers, it is more important than ever to consider the risks associated with working after dark.

Working alone at night can come with an increased risk of robberies and assault. Staff lone working in a shop or working alone in an office may face the danger of armed robberies and theft from criminals targeting properties when they are quieter and less populated. Nurses and carers may face more anti-social behavior or drink and drug related incidents when working and driving at night.

Sadly, we frequently see news reports of assaults and threats being made against healthcare staff.

According to Work Safe Australia, healthcare and social assistance workers are one of the highest risk industries for experiencing violence and aggression at work.

 

Medical staff most at risk include nurses, paramedics and mental health staff, yet everyone across the healthcare is at risk – particularly as staff shortages create high stress environments and increase the number of lone working employees. With a growing number of patients and lack of additional staff, there is a growing risk to staff who are often faced with anger and hostility when performing their duties to aid members of the public.

Aggression and violence in the retail industry is also on the rise. A survey of retail and fast food workers conducted by the SDA Union in 2016/17 showed that: 

  • More than 85% of respondents have been subjected to verbal abuse from a customer in the last 12 months
  • 24.35% were subjected to verbal abuse every week
  • 14.49% have experienced physical violence from a customer

Retail workers can be particularly at risk when asking for ID before selling age-restricted products or experience aggression due to anger towards the establishment or even personal attacks due to gender, race and sexuality. Lone workers in retail are also at risk from armed robberies.

The reasons behind assaults within the property industry are wide-ranging and complex. Many jobs involve delivering bad news and working with clients facing a range of issues. Many incidents occur away from the public, and behind closed-doors, putting staff at increased risk and limiting the options for calling for help. Find out more

Risks of lone working for property and Real Estate Agents

Real Estate Agents are vulnerable to aggression and attack as their job involves entering properties alone with vendors and buyers on a daily basis. They are also some of the most well known lone workers as they have been subject to some high profile crimes. One of the most prominent lone worker safety charities, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, was formed following the disappearance of Real Estate Agent Suzy Lamplugh during a property visit in the UK in 1986. In 2008, Lindsay Elizabeth Buziak, was murdered in Canada and another female Agent, Monique Baugh, was killed by a client in December 2019 in Minneapolis. Find out more

SECTION 3

Australia Lone worker legislation

What is the lone worker legislation in Australia?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OHS), along with the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS) are the legislations that govern Work Health and Safety practices in Australia. Each territory has their own version, but each covers similar guidance to ensure a balanced and consistent framework for health and safety practices in their area.

Section 3.3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (1996) requires that: Isolated employees to have communication for emergencies. If an employee is isolated from other persons because of the time, location or nature of the work then the employer must ensure that —

(a) there is a means of communication available which will enable the employee to call for help in the event of an emergency; and

(b) there is a procedure for regular contact to be made with the employee and the employee is trained in the procedure.

Who regulates lone worker legislation in Australia?

State and territory governments regulate and enforce the health and safety laws in their jurisdiction. 

What are the penalties for breaching OHS regulations?

There are a range of offences and penalties under OHS and WHS regulations, including large fines. Imprisonment is reserved for the most serious offences. 

 

 

What must the employer of a lone worker do?

Carry out a lone worker risk assessment

Risk assessments for lone working are a basic legal requirement and should be carried out for all employees. When carrying out a risk assessment for lone working staff, you must consider hazards related to the work being carried out, the people they come into contact with and the different environments they travel through and work in.

Produce a lone worker policy

Following on from your risk assessment, you will need to produce a safety policy for your lone workers. A lone working safety policy is a guide that will set out your companies’ rules on working alone and help your employees to understand the risks of their role. It should also provide them with practical advice and instruction on how to safely work alone.

Provide lone worker training

For lone working staff, training is particularly important as they work in environments where there are no colleagues around to provide a helping hand or point out a mistake that could lead to an accident.

News stories regularly point out lack of training as a contributing or sole factor for serious workplace injuries and fatalities.

Training for lone workers is incredibly important for a business to implement as it can:

  • Prevent accidents caused by improper work practices or techniques
  • Prevent serious incidents of violence by defusing potentially violent situations
  • Prevent escalation/severity of an accident or incident by knowing how to respond
  • Challenge complacent attitudes amongst lone workers
  • Create a positive health and safety culture
  • Increase wellbeing, confidence and productivity
  • Help you meet your legal duty of care to lone working staff
  • Help you avoid the financial costs related to accidents and incidents

Implement a lone worker solution

Lone worker solutions are specialist products that are designed to monitor staff safety and give employees a quick way to signal for help in an emergency. They can help employers not only to meet their duty of care to staff, but to ensure staff also feel protected and cared for whilst at work.

StaySafe is an app based solution that is used by employers to protect their staff. It gives visibility of lone workers locations, as well as providing them with a panic button and a range of alerts so they can summon help immediately – to their exact location – in an emergency.

Where can I find out more?

We have written an easy to digest article to help you better understand lone worker legislation in Australia. You can read it here.

SECTION 4

Who can work alone?

Legally, anyone can work alone as long as a risk assessment has found that it is safe to do so. Lone working is usually completely safe once extra procedures have been put in place to minimize the additional risks lone workers face.

However, there are some instances where lone working should not be permitted if the job is high risk. For example, operating machinery which requires more than one person, visiting clients where there are concerns about violence or other environments where aggression is common, such as betting shops.

Can someone with medical conditions work alone?

To determine whether someone with a medical condition can work alone, you will need to consider employee medical conditions as part of your risk assessment and ensure there are procedures in place to protect them.

Employers should seek medical advice for specific employees if necessary. You should consider both routine work and foreseeable emergencies that may impose additional physical and mental burdens on an individual.

Can an apprentice work alone?

An apprentice can work alone if it is safe to do so. Employers have the same responsibility to apprentices as they do any other employee. Therefore, they hold a primary responsibility for the health and safety of the apprentice and are required to carry out risk assessments and put in place measures to manage any dangers.

Can a 16-year-old work alone?

A 16-year-old can work alone if the organization employing them has conducted a risk assessment and found it safe to do so. Young people under 18 have different employment rights from adult workers, including where and when they can work so you must ensure you refer to specific guidance if you employ under 18’s.

When is lone working not allowed?

 

Certain situations can put lone workers more at risk than others and in some circumstances, it may be better to not allow lone working at all. For example, some mental health care workers must work in pairs at all times when visiting certain patients as it has been deemed unsafe to go alone. It is down to you to ensure that you have undertaken a thorough risk assessment and if you cannot sufficiently mitigate the issues raised, then allowing lone working could put you in breach of your duty of care.

Supervising lone workers

 

Work Safe Australia guidance states that employers should ensure that they maintain regular contact with lone working employees and have a way to call for help in an uncomfortable or emergency situation. Lone working solutions, including apps and wearable technology can ensure that these requirements are met by providing lone working staff with a means to contact their employer, check in safely and raise the alarm in an emergency.

SECTION 5

Lone worker risk assessment guide

Conducting risk assessments is an integral part of adhering to health and safety legislation and meeting your duty of care to lone workers.

Lone workers face a range of hazards and risks on a daily basis, that can differ from those based in a fixed or office environment.

What is a lone worker risk assessment?

A lone working risk assessment is a process of identifying and assessing risks associated with a job role carried out by a lone worker. When carrying out a risk assessment for lone working staff, you must consider hazards related to the work being carried out, the people they come into contact with and the different environments they travel and work in. The purpose of the assessment is to identify what needs to be done to control health and safety risks for your lone workers

What is a dynamic risk assessment?

A dynamic risk assessment is the process of identifying risks in the current environment. Unlike a traditional risk assessment, which is done in advance, a dynamic risk assessment is the practise of mentally observing, assessing and analysing an environment ‘on the spot’. This is an important skill that enables employees to make decisions regarding their own safety in any situation and one you should consider providing additional training on.

Read more about dynamic risk assessments in our blog

Are lone working risk assessments a legal requirement?

Lone working risk assessments are a basic legal requirement and should be carried out for all employees. It is often kept as part of your Lone Worker Policy.

How do I create a lone worker risk assessment?

Your lone working risk assessment should contain:

  • The hazards identified
  • Who might be harmed and how
  • The procedures already in place to prevent harm and;
  • What further action you will take to further reduce risk

It is also useful to include on your written report who carried out the risk assessment, the date it was carried out, the date of any next steps and when the next review is due.

Free Lone working risk assessment template and guide

To help you get started with writing your lone working risk assessment, we have created a comprehensive step by step guide, including a template document for you to use.

Lone worker risk assessment example:

SECTION 6

Lone working policy and procedures

Following on from your risk assessment, you will need to produce a safety policy for your lone workers. A lone working safety policy is a guide that will set out your companies’ rules on working alone and help your employees to understand the risks they may face.

What is a lone worker safety policy?

Lone workers require their own policies and procedures to ensure they are protected from any specific risks and hazards. A lone worker policy as an official written document that covers the risks faced by lone working staff and the responsibilities of both the employer and employee in ensuring that lone workers can work safely.

It includes your lone worker risk assessment and practical instructions, as well as any details on any lone worker solutions in place and how to use them.

Why do I need a lone worker policy?

There is a general duty under Australian Health and Safety legislation to eliminate all risks to health and safety, and if risks cannot be eliminated they must be minimised as far as is reasonably practical.

A lone worker safety policy and risk assessment helps you to meet your duty of care under the legislation in your territory.

Tips for creating your lone working policy

Creating your lone working policy is an important task and we understand that sometimes it can seem daunting. Getting your lone workers on board is perhaps the greatest challenge which is why we have put together these tips for creating your lone worker safety policy.

Keep it simple

To ensure your lone workers understand and follow your policy, you should keep it as concise and simple as possible. Use language they would understand and clearly outline what is expected of them. Clarity is important, so consider the layout of the document as well as the language used.

Update regularly

It is important that your policy is regularly updated whenever your risk assessment is reassessed or whenever you introduce new lone working policies, such as a new training course or implementing a lone worker solution.

Involve your lone workers

In order to get your lone workers on board with your new lone worker policy, you should consider involving them in all aspects of the process. Ask them to help you identify risks and suggest ways they would feel safer.

Once your lone working policy has been developed, consider holding a workshop or health and safety day where you can openly discuss why you have developed the policy and what has been put in place. Be sure to focus on a clear safety message and the benefits to your lone workers.

Be direct

While you want to encourage adoption through focusing on employee safety and wellbeing, you also need your employees to understand that the policies and procedures you have implemented are a requirement and non-optional.

Be direct in the language you use in your lone working policy. Avoid using words such as ‘you should’ or ‘you could’ which suggests a choice. Use ‘You must’ or ‘It is a requirement that…’

Your lone working policy will be developed as an extension to your lone working risk assessment. The policy document will include your risk assessment and the lone worker procedures you have put in place to reduce or eliminate the identified risks.

Lone working procedures

A lone worker procedure refers to a series of steps that need to be followed in order to work alone safely. You should document your lone worker procedures in your lone worker policy document.

You may find it useful to write a number of procedures suitable for different groups of employees so that they are able to digest the correct information easily.

Lone working procedure examples:

  • How the lone worker should check-in with their supervisor and how often
  • How and when to use any lone worker solutions, such as apps or devices
  • What to do in an emergency including evacuation procedures and who to contact
  • What to do when a client shows signs of aggression
  • What to do when unauthorized visitors attempt to enter a building where the employee is working alone

This is not an exhaustive list and there are many more scenarios that will require a lone worker procedure. However, implementing as many procedures as is necessary can save lives. This is why it is important that your procedures are made compulsory and you avoid any language that could suggest a choice such as ‘you should’ or ‘you could’.

When first introducing new work alone procedures, it is important to provide briefing and training for your lone workers so that they know exactly what is expected of them. A written step-by-step guide should be distributed for them to refer to and it may be helpful to produce a safety checklist for your lone workers to follow until procedures become routine.

Free lone worker policy template and guide

Need some help getting started? We have created an in depth lone working policy guide and document template for you to use in your business

SECTION 7

How can I keep my lone workers safe?

A lone working employee is still subject to all the requirements stated within the WHS and OSH Acts relevant for their state. As working alone can put an employee at higher risk due to not being under direct supervision in an emergency, it is especially important to ensure that any lone workers are risk assessed, provided with adequate safety equipment and communicated with regularly. 

Section 3.3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (1996) requires that: Isolated employees to have communication for emergencies. If an employee is isolated from other persons because of the time, location or nature of the work then the employer must ensure that —

(a) there is a means of communication available which will enable the employee to call for help in the event of an emergency; and

(b) there is a procedure for regular contact to be made with the employee and the employee is trained in the procedure.

Many companies choose to implement a specialist lone worker safety solution to ensure they meet this requirement.

Types of lone worker solutions

Lone worker safety isn’t a new concept for health and safety professionals and the types of protection that businesses can offer staff are comprehensive. Historically companies have relied on diaries and buddy systems to keep in touch with lone workers. However, as with many industries, advancing technology is leading the way with regards to the solutions employers are choosing, leaving these manual methods outdated.

According to a 2019 Berg Insights Report, 20% of all lone worker solutions in Europe, and more than 40% in North America, are now app based. This number is predicted to grow; worker safety devices based on GPS and cellular technology in Europe are expected to reach 1.1 million users at the end of 2022.

Typically lone worker apps consist of the app itself, which has a range of functions including panic button, GPS location, timed sessions, man down alerts and check-ins. Employee activity and their safety status whilst at work is monitored via a cloud based hub where employers can respond to any alerts.

Lone worker apps are particularly suitable in the current climate because of how well they lend themselves to being trialled, rolled out and utilized by staff remotely. You now no longer need to be in the same room, or even the same country, to be able to roll out and use a product successfully.
Apps can be downloaded directly onto employees’ cells without the need for any additional equipment being delivered. At a time when supply chains are likely to be majorly disrupted, this is a big advantage. Monitors can be trained to use a system remotely via WebEx and staff protected quickly. Alternatively, the monitoring of staff can be outsourced to professional monitoring firms who will handle any alerts.

StaySafe was at the forefront of the safety app revolution, having first entered the market in 2011. Now used by tens of thousands of employees across five continents, our easy-to-use app and monitoring hub allows lone workers to raise an alert in a range of situations while providing monitors with the accurate locations of employees while they work alone.

Why do businesses choose StaySafe?

Organizations who choose StaySafe do so because it is so easy and simple to use, with no capital outlay – most employees already use a cellphone everyday. It is scalable for use in any business, in any industry – we work with Ericsson to Oxfam and everyone in between. We also provide a full end-to-end service – including innovative in app training – to ensure you and your staff get the most from the app and are protected everyday.

Find out more about StaySafe solutions

Lone Worker App

Our intuitive app allows employees to check in safely following a lone working session and raise an alert in an emergency.

Cloud Based Monitoring Hub
Our hub uses GPS to accurately locate your lone workers and provides you with real-time updates on their movements.
Wearable Technology
Pairing the app with V.BTTN is a great solution for anyone working at height, with gloves or machinery, where pushing a button may be a more convenient way of using the StaySafe app.
Satellite Tracking Devices
Our satellite tracking devices are designed for those regularly travelling to remote areas where you can’t even get a mobile signal.