Working alone is not a new concept. There are many jobs that are best handled by one persona and, if the work is remote or away from other people then it is inevitable that they will be lone workers.
After all, even if this is deemed to be dangerous, it is not viable for a business to pay to have a second person there, for no reason other than to reduce the risk.
The problem isn’t generally the risks that a lone worker faces. These are broadly the same risks as any other worker faces. However, if you are working alone and injure yourself, you may be unable to call for help.
In this instance, it is a question of how long would you have to wait for someone to realize that you are missing, and would they be able to get to you in time?
Fortunately, there are several ways modern technology can be used to help lone workers reduce or even eliminate the risk of being undiscovered.
Alarm Systems
There are a variety of duress alarms available that can help a lone worker. The most basic version is a simple alarm that can be activated by the worker. This will emit a sound that attracts attention and is good if other people are in the vicinity.
Take this up a notch and you’ll find duress alarms that can be activated manually but alert the head office, allowing them to send help immediately to your location.
It is worth noting that there are even automated duress alarms. These are generally activated by certain movements or lack of them. For example, if your body is horizontal instead of vertical the alarm signal may be transmitted. Or, if your vital signs slow down too much.
Trackers
Another way to ensure lone workers are safe is to track them. There are several ways of doing this. A tracker app can be added to their phone, allowing the head office to monitor where they are at all times. This will help them know where to send help It will also help alert them to an issue if the tracker doesn’t move when they expect it to.
Equally, a more manual approach can be for the worker to call in every hour to confirm they are fine. This means that a maximum of one hour will pass before an issue is noted and action is taken.
Digital Cameras
Depending on the role of the lone worker it may be possible to use digital cameras to monitor the work and specifically their safety. The cameras can upload images to the web which can be accessed in real-time or at set periods to ensure the worker is fine.
Of course, while these measures give the lone worker a sense of security that they will be located if there is an issue. It doesn’t change the fact that all lone workers should be properly trained and take sensible precautions when working by themselves.
