Inside: 5 Effective Strategies to Enhance Lone Worker Safety. Collaborative post.
Keeping any worker safe can be a challenge, but, when it comes to lone workers, it can be especially so.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) describes employees who work by themselves without close or direct supervision as lone workers.
This means lone workers work without a teammate in tow and are often asked to carry out their duties far from base.
It is important, therefore, that if a company has employees who fit this description, it should strive to adopt policies and procedures to protect them.
Below, we take a look at five strategies you can adopt to keep lone workers safe.
- Perform a Risk Assessment
A central pillar of any lone worker strategy that is fit for purpose is a risk assessment.
In the UK, it’s also a legal requirement for companies to carry out a risk assessment of their workspaces. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 are the two main pieces of legislation that apply here.
They stipulate that employers have legal duties to assess all risks to health and safety, including the risk of lone working.
It should be noted that if the risk assessment finds that lone work cannot be carried out safely, then the company must make other arrangements.
However, if the risk assessment gives the lone worker the go-ahead, measures must be put in place to manage and mitigate the risks and hazards a lone worker will likely face.
Where there are more than five employees in a company, the risk assessment must be kept as a permanent record.
- Use a Check-in Procedure
Keeping tabs on lone workers is half the battle when it comes to keeping them safe.
After all, it’s only if you know where the lone workers are and when that you can protect them.
A check-in procedure needn’t be complicated, but it must be rigorous.
Regular check-ins might involve a simple phone call to confirm that the worker has arrived and when he or she expects to finish.
A more sophisticated strategy might involve an online check-in system whereby the lone worker updates a check-in system remotely and is then monitored via GPS.
- Provide Training
Training is important in any job but it might be the difference between life and death when it comes to lone work.
Again, this is not just good practice, it’s a legal requirement in the UK.
According to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), suitable equipment and training in the use of work-related equipment must be provided.
This should include the technology a company uses to keep lone workers safe.
- Use Technology
Nowadays, technology has an important role to play in keeping lone workers safe and should be at the heart of any lone worker safety strategy.
Lone worker technology can be a simple walkie-talkie or handset.
However, an added layer of protection comes in the shape of a lone worker alarm, which uses WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity to monitor the status of lone workers and track their movements throughout a worksite.
Lone worker alarms are extremely adaptable and come in different shapes and sizes – from wearable bracelets and small key fobs to smartphone apps and dedicated handsets.
- Establish Feedback Channels
Lone worker safety shouldn’t be a one-way street.
The worker should feel free to provide input and feedback on the safety measures and equipment that a company has adopted.
After all, the lone worker often knows the dangers and hazards of a worksite better than anyone.
Feedback allows a company to tailor its lone worker safety protocols and procedures to the lived experience of the worker.
Conclusion
Keeping lone workers safe can seem daunting, but by employing a few simple strategies and the right technology, it’s not impossible.
Technology has an important role to play here and can solve part of the challenge of keeping lone workers safe and sound.