How organisations can improve lone worker safety

There are many ways that companies can improve lone worker safety, firstly by identifying lone workers and common hazards.
The wide scope of a lone worker classification means that companies may not be automatically aware of who is lone working and who is not.
For instance, staff working from home may also be classed as lone workers and an employer would have the same responsibility to provide support in an emergency as if they were in the office. Vice versa, someone working from the office or a construction site by themselves, or not within ear shot of another employee, would also be classed as a lone worker. Therefore, identifying who could potentially be a lone worker is an important step in keeping them safe.
Once lone workers have been identified, categorise all the potential hazards that are present in their various environments. For example, a structural surveyor could be at risk of slips, trips and falls or even having their equipment stolen if it is not adequately secured. In addition, another risk may be a vehicle accident if they are commuting from job to job.

The most common workplace hazards are ones that could cause harm to people, property or equipment and should be flagged as risks. Every workplace contains hazards with varying degrees of risk. Where office workers may be more at risk of a Display Screen Equipment (DSE) injury, a worker on site would be more at risk from falling from height.
Identifying as many hazards as possible allows a company to lay the foundations for proactive emergency response and serious injury prevention. Taking strong action against risks should be the first responsibility in protecting lone workers.