Working alone is significantly more risky than working in teams or busy areas. After all, there’s no one to help if something goes wrong. That’s why lone worker safety procedures are absolutely crucial (and required by law).
Here are five tips for keeping lone workers safe on the job site.
1. Make a law-compliant lone worker policy.
You need to have a lone worker policy in place to ensure the safety of your workers. However, most provinces require employers to have a policy by law. Your work alone policy needs to be law-compliant and comprehensive.
Your company’s lone worker policy should address several key concerns. It should cover the risks your workers face, safety procedures that mitigate these risks, how your lone workers communicate with others, and emergency procedures. Additionally, the policy should include what safety equipment and support is available.
Be sure to also check local regulations and legislation to avoid any infringements. You should also regularly monitor and review your lone worker policy procedures.
2. Conduct a risk assessment.
A risk assessment is crucial for identifying what risks lone workers are likely to encounter. Look for hazards in work tasks and the environment. For example, do your lone workers work with hazardous materials (chemicals or equipment), work from heights, or encounter loud noises or biological hazards (viruses, insect bites, animals)?
Regardless of industry, most lone workers are at risk from slips, trips, and falls. Falls from heights, such as ladders, are also common. Ergonomic hazards, like repetitive motion, awkward movements, or poor posture, are also common.
The next step is to evaluate the severity of those risks and take the appropriate safety measures to keep your workers safe.
3. Invest in work-alone monitoring solutions.
However, identifying risks and establishing safety procedures isn’t enough. You also need to take further steps to protect lone workers—specifically, a lone worker monitoring system.
CommAlert’s lone worker safety service uses top-of-the-line software and 24-hour call centre agents to ensure comprehensive check-in and monitoring. If the worker misses a check-in, we initiate emergency call-out procedures. Our systems are also highly customizable, ensuring your workers receive the best protection for their roles.
4. Send regular updates to the live operator.
When you work with CommAlert, our live operators check in with your workers throughout the day via phone call, text or a lone worker smartphone app. However, lone workers should also keep their monitors informed of any change of plans, conditions, or location. That way, the right people have the right information in an emergency.
5. Keep devices on at all times.
Lone workers must always keep their devices turned on and on their person. If a worker is away from their phone or satellite device when a check-in goes out, emergency call-out procedures will be activated unnecessarily. Alternatively, the lone worker could get into trouble while away from their device. This means they cannot send for help, potentially leading to an even more severe emergency.
Learn more about CommAlert’s lone worker safety services.
