In 2019, 2.8 million nonfatal job injuries and illnesses occurred in the US private sector. Of these, 888,220 cases led to private industry workers missing at least one day of work. Lone workers, such as truck drivers, were among those with the highest number of days away from work.

Lone workers have much higher safety risks due to their solitary working conditions. After all, they don’t have a colleague who can watch their back and help them when they, say, get into an accident at work.

That’s why lone worker safety devices play such a crucial role in the health and safety of people who work alone.

So, what exactly are these devices, and how do they help keep lone workers safe? Who are these lone workers who need them in the first place?

This guide answers all those questions, so be sure to keep reading!

Who Are Lone Workers Who Need Extra Safety?

A lone worker is any person who works alone and without close or direct supervision. These include employees who work by themselves, contractors, and self-employed individuals.

An example of a lone worker is a person working in a fixed establishment, such as a petrol station. A solitary employee at a food kiosk or a small shop is another example.

People who work by themselves in a separate location within a building can also be lone workers. An example is a factory worker who works alone in one department. Another is a warehouse employee who performs duties alone in an operations room.

Individuals who work outside normal business hours can also be lone workers. A security guard, repair technician, maintenance staff, or cleaner are some examples.

Mobile workers, which numbered 78.5 million in the US in 2020, may also be lone workers. These include information mobile workers, such as programmers, researchers, and lawyers. They also include frontline workers, such as healthcare professionals and construction workers.

Service workers, including social workers, architects, and engineers, may also be lone workers. The same goes for postal staff, drivers, and agricultural and forestry workers. District nurses, estate agents, and sales representatives also often work alone.

What Are Lone Worker Safety Devices?

Lone worker safety devices are apps and tools that help reduce the hazards and risks of lone working. One of their key uses is to enable continuous lone worker-employer communications. They provide both parties a quick way to stay in contact with each other.

Below are a few examples of such lone worker safety solutions.

Check-in Technologies

Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, employers must account for each lone worker. They must do so either by sight or verbal communication.

Check-in technologies allow employers to fulfill that obligation. These can take the form of two-way messaging devices, such as walkie-talkies. More modern options include messaging apps downloadable to smartphones.

Panic Buttons

Panic buttons or panic alarms are discreet devices that, when pressed, summon help. They connect and send a signal to another location, such as the security team’s office. The signal’s recipient gets a notification that someone is in duress and needs help.

Let’s say a shop employee separated from others encounters an aggressive customer. The lone worker can press the panic button to subtly notify security that they need help. The security team can then go to the lone worker’s location to assist them.

Audible Safety Alarms

Unlike a panic button, a lone worker safety alarm sounds out a loud alarm when triggered. Their primary function is to scare off potential threats.

Some audible alarms are stand-alone devices in fixed locations, while others are portable. Others have connections to another department, such as security or law enforcement.

Fall Detectors

In the construction sector, falls are the number one cause of worker fatalities. However, they’re also leading causes of nonfatal injuries in healthcare, cleaning, and maintenance. Transportation and logistics workers are also at a higher risk of such accidents.

Wearable fall detectors can help save lives by detecting a potential fall. If the device detects that its user has fallen, it notifies people in another department. These can be the security team or emergency medical services.

Gas Detectors

Portable or wearable gas detectors detect potentially deadly gas concentrations in the air. When they sense high levels of gas, they sound an alarm to let the user know. What’s more, they can check for invisible, tasteless, and odorless gases.

Carbon monoxide, which causes an estimated 2,100 accidental deaths in the US, is one example. Carbon dioxide, sewer gases, and radon are other toxic gases that lone workers may get exposed to.

Location Devices and Services

These technologies work as a lone worker geo-tracking solution. They allow employers to monitor their lone workers’ location while clocked-in at work.

Location devices can be stand-alone wearables with GPS trackers, like pendants or watches. They can also be applications installed in a lone worker’s smartphone.

These lone worker safety devices are excellent choices for mobile lone workers. This is especially true for drivers who are always on the move. With a location monitor, employers can know exactly where their hardworking drivers are.

24/7 Monitoring and Response Systems

Live, round-the-clock monitoring usually involves cameras installed in the premises. A team of safety and security professionals then watch the live feed 24/7/365. So, when an emergency occurs, the pros can contact the appropriate department for help.

Suppose a lone cleaner falls from a ladder or suffers a slip and fall. If the accident is severe, the injured worker may be unable to reach out for their phone to call for help. This can result in their condition worsening, or worse, lead to a fatal consequence.

Monitoring pros can help keep such disasters at bay as they’re always watching the live feed. They can then respond immediately by calling emergency services or the police.

Keep Your Lone Workers Safe with Safety Technologies

There you have it, your guide to lone worker safety devices that can help save lives. With these, employers can rest easy knowing that their workers are safer and more secure. At the same time, lone workers can be at ease knowing that others are watching their back.

So, if you are a lone worker or employ one, make sure you invest in these safety devices.

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