3 Effective & Surprisingly Simple Safety Tips for Lone Workers | The number of lone workers is increasing year after year. This is partly due to an increased awareness of their presence. But, it is mainly due to the fact that lone workers are becoming increasingly common. Technology, the pandemic, and several other factors have converged to make lone working the best option in many scenarios.
However, if you are working by yourself there are risks that need to be considered. After all, if something happens to you and there is no one else around, how are you going to get the help you need?
The good news is that lone workers can feel much safer by utilizing the following three simple tips.
- Assess the Risks
The most important thing that any employer can do is to assess the risks that a lone worker faces. This means attending the various locations they will be working and understanding what they need to do.
By doing this you can develop an understanding of the risks they face and the most likely hazards. This is important as you can only implement safety precautions if you know what you are dealing with.
Knowing the risks ensures you have the right preventative and reactive measures in place.
- Use Technology
Technology has advanced tremendously in the last few years and there are many things that can be used to help keep your lone worker safer or allow them to call for help.
Every lone worker should be supplied with duress alarms. These can be activated in an emergency to attract help. There are several different types of duress alarms. At the basic end of the scale, they simply emit a loud piercing noise that is designed to get the attention of anyone nearby.
However, the better versions incorporate GPS tracking, allowing the head office to know where the lone worker is at all times. This also allows the alarm to send an alert to the head office and even the emergency services, getting help to the lone worker as fast as possible.
This is especially important if the lone worker has lost consciousness and is unable to call for help.
In fact, the best alarms will monitor the vital signs of a lone worker and call for help if they drop below certain thresholds.
- Know Your Limits
While every employer has a responsibility to provide as safe a working environment as possible; the lone worker must also do their part.
That means knowing your own capabilities and limits. You should never take on something that you don’t think you can do and is dangerous. In effect, you’ll be asking for something to go wrong.
It’s important that every lone worker communicates with their employer to ensure they know when they need extra help or equipment. The employer can then supply this, it’s the most effective way of keeping everyone safe and happy.
Don’t forget, it’s not just physical injuries that can cause a problem for lone workers. They can also suffer from mental anguish. This needs to be monitored and dealt with if necessary.
