Lone worker protection is an essential part of any business that involves employees who work in isolation. This type of protection is usually a combination of a dedicated software program, safety protocols and procedures that help to prevent employee injury, and emergency notification and response solutions to ensure that staff members are always safe.
To create a well-rounded lone working worker safety monitoring app protection plan, it’s important to understand the common risks that come with this kind of work. These include physical and psychological risks. The first is physical, and this can be a result of an accident that leaves a worker incapacitated. Or, it can be a case of intimidation and verbal abuse from other people the employee comes into contact with while working alone. These could include people such as customers or other workers who may be trying to extort money or steal equipment.
Having the right protective equipment will help to mitigate this kind of risk. This can include things like personal alarms and GPS trackers that help to communicate the location of a worker to others in an emergency. These devices can also alert headquarters or employees when an employee is in danger. This includes if they fall or have a medical emergency, and can help to prevent workplace accidents that may lead to serious injuries.
Another key component of lone worker protection is the creation of clear safety guidelines and procedures for all lone working employees. These should be clearly communicated to employees and reinforced through training programs and safety drills. This should include a guide to conducting a risk assessment, how to report hazards and incidents, and a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for how employees should respond to these situations when they occur.
Finally, lone worker protection includes a responsive monitoring system that’s tailored to a company’s needs. This can help to identify the most important risks and ensure that employees are always able to reach a supervisor or someone who can intervene in an emergency situation. This is especially important for remote work, where employees have limited options for communication and must rely on an emergency alarm to get in touch with someone who can help.
The most important thing to remember when creating a lone worker protection plan is that all employers have a legal obligation to protect their employees’ health, safety and welfare. It is crucial that businesses take the time to learn about the legislation, regulations and industry standards that exist with regards to lone worker protection. This will help them to protect their teams and ensure that they are compliant with any relevant rules and regulations. If they are not, the organization could face fines and other repercussions. For example, in the United States, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have established rules and regulations that must be followed by companies who employ lone workers.