At the last count, there were somewhere between seven and nine million people in the UK who might be classified as lone workers – that’s almost a quarter of the country’s workforce.
It’s no wonder, then, that lone-worker safety has become more of a priority for many employers in recent years.
Much of the rise in lone work is due to the COVID-era switch to remote working, which has persisted as it has proved convenient and productive for both bosses and employees.
However, this now means that employees face a multitude of risks and hazards that they didn’t when they were obliged to go into the office, prompting a growing awareness among health and safety managers of the risks workers face when away from the office.
Below, we take a closer look at some of these risks and what employers can do to manage and mitigate them.
A Growing Trend
There have always been roles that have had to be carried out alone.
For example, HGV drivers, engineers, cleaners and assorted handymen have traditionally carried out their duties at a distance from teammates and colleagues.
But COVID-19 was a watershed in many ways for lone working.
As businesses closed their doors and workers retreated to the safety of their homes, it became evident that a range of roles bosses believed had to be carried out in person could in fact be done remotely.
Safety Concerns
However, the shift to remote work has changed the way employers are obliged to identify and manage workplace risks and hazards.
Whereas once, an employer had a limited number of work sites and hazards to contend with when it came to carrying out risk assessments and introducing safety regimes, the shift to remote work means worksites and work-related risks have multiplied.
Nevertheless, the HSE reminds employers that they have the same duty of care to remote workers as they do to traditional lone workers.
This means a company with lone workers must take measures to:
- Train, supervise and monitor lone workers.
- Stay in touch with remote workers and respond to incidents.
Monitoring and Keeping in Touch
The twin pillars of any lone-worker safety regime worth its salt are monitoring and keeping in touch.
The good news is that there is a range of technology out there designed to do just that.
A company like ANT Telecom has a product offering that features dedicated alarms, GPS tracking, and even mobile phone apps that make keeping in touch with lone workers easier than ever.
True man-down detection adds another layer of safety, raising the alarm back at base and with the emergency services if it detects the worker has fallen or is incapacitated.
Conclusion
There is a growing awareness of the importance of lone workers, and for good reason.
As more of us continue to migrate away from the office, it will only continue to grow in importance.
The good news is that there is technology out there that means it’s never been easier or more cost-effective to keep lone workers safe and sound.