Lone workers can be found in a vast range of industries and roles – from manufacturing and utilities to retail and healthcare.
Each industry presents various hazards, and different roles within organisations can face vastly different risks in their day-to-day work.
Coming up with a lone worker policy may be daunting for H&S managers faced with such varied roles and a vast range of potential solutions. But once a risk assessment is carried out and the hazards are clearly understood, the process is relatively straightforward.
Let's explore the main industries employing lone workers and highlight the common hazards, so you can get a head start on what to consider when developing your lone worker policies.
How To Protect Lone Workers In Different Roles and Industries
The Definition Of Lone Workers
The first step to creating a lone worker policy is identifying the lone workers in your organisation. Lone workers are any employees in any industry that work alone for any length of time.
WorkSafe New Zealand defines lone working as: “Working alone is when work is done in a location where the employee can’t physically see or talk to other staff members.”
This includes staff who travel solo between different sites, work in remote areas of your building or site, and even employees working in the same area as other colleagues without the ability to contact them – whether that’s for the whole day or just part of it. It can also refer to staff members working from home.
Lone Worker Industries and Risks
There are many industries where Lone Workers may be present. Let’s have a look at some of them and the potential risks that you may need to consider.
Manufacturing – Including Biotech and Pharmaceutical
Lone workers may be engineers, operators, assemblers and more. Most will work with specialist machinery and be exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals. Strong Health and Safety protocols are definitely required, and Lone Worker devices that might also include gas detection functionality add an extra level of protection.
Utilities and Public Works
Working at height is standard, as is working with utilities such as electricity and gas. Dangerous or specialist equipment can present hazards, and workers are required to drive to different sites. Consider safety devices with man-down alerts, fall detection, and GPS tracking, you might also need to consider whether devices need to be intrinsically safe, and have gas detection.
Oil and Gas
This industry shares similar hazards with the above category, with the added complications of hazardous substances. Again, safety devices will give Lone Workers in this industry a level of protection they would not have had otherwise. Intrinsically safe product is important for oil and gas environments.
Natural Resources
Mining, forestry, and energy workers face a vast range of hazards, and workers may be located in remote areas without cellphone coverage. The use of satellite connection devices should be investigated.
Government
Education, public safety, transportation, utilities and healthcare can all fall under the umbrella of government. Along with the common hazards for these roles, your policy will need to consider privacy and strict security protocols. Often, a product with silent or discreet functionality is useful for workers who have some level of interaction with public.
Engineering and Construction
These industries present many risks related to dangerous machinery, tools, working at height, and electrocution. As falls are one of the main hazards, fall detection devices should be considered.
Healthcare
According to research, healthcare workers in NZ fall victim to violence more than any other profession. Panic alerts and check-in alarms can help to keep them safe, with optional discreet settings.
Transportation and Logistics
Road accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the workplace. GPS tracking and check-in devices are a likely necessity, with impact alerts monitored 24/7.
Retail and Hospitality
Retail crime is on the rise, and your lone retail workers are at risk of aggression and violence. Safety apps with timed sessions and panic buttons are commonly used in these roles.
Protect Your Lone Workers With A Strong Safety Strategy
After identifying your lone workers and the risks they face, it’s time to develop a plan to reduce, isolate, or minimise those risks to keep your team safe. This should be done in consultation with your staff and communicated clearly throughout the entire organisation to ensure compliance.
Digital solutions offer enormous benefits for lone workers in all industries. They allow employers to monitor the safety of workers or contractors with SOS panic, fall detection, no-movement and automated welfare checks 24/7.
At Direct Safety, we have the experience and knowledge to assist you in building a rigorous lone worker health and safety policy to protect your people.
Our safety solutions are customisable and designed specifically for your organisation. Call us today to find out how we can help you keep your team safe.