Protecting lone workers is a must for all employers.
The risk profile of lone work is elevated simply because the worker doesn’t have a colleague to call on should he run into trouble.
Such are the unique dangers that lone workers face that in the UK, employers must abide by lone-worker-specific rules and regulations aimed at keeping them safe and sound.
These rules stipulate that employers have a minimum duty of care to the lone workers on the payroll.
But it’s important that employers go above and beyond what’s legally necessary by kitting them out with the technology and tools to keep them safe when working alone.
Below we take a look at some of the most popular of them.
- Lone Worker App
A lone worker app can be installed on compatible Apple and Android devices and provides a convenient and cost-effective way of keeping lone workers safe.
Once installed, a lone worker app runs in the device’s background and monitors the worker while he’s on the job.
Should the worker hit a snag or need to call the emergency services, the app is ready to help.
Apps often come with added extras such as an always-on-top SOS button that can be hit from the device’s main screen and true man-down detection, which sounds the alarm and alerts colleagues if the system suspects the worker is hurt or incapacitated.
- DECT Handsets
Lone-worker apps are great and work well when the worker has a robust and reliable mobile network to rely on while on the job.
However, that’s not always the case.
The nature of some roles means they must be carried out in remote and hazardous environments where network coverage is patchy at best and sometimes nonexistent.
In this case, an IP DECT handset is the answer.
DECT technology is suitable for difficult wireless environments, keeping people connected across the plant when mobile coverage is unreliable.
- Two-Way Radios
Back in the day, the main way lone workers kept in touch with base was the tried and trusted two-way radio.
These devices still have a role to play in keeping lone workers safe today.
They come into their own when workers need a simple and robust piece of technology they can rely on in the most dangerous environments.
Where other safety devices sometimes require special handsets to work and come with bells and whistles, the two-way radio is a simple push-button device that allows workers to keep in touch with teammates.
- Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC)
Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) marries the convenience of two-way radio with the WIFI or network connectivity of a lone worker app.
This gives lone workers the best of both worlds.
PoC uses the power of mobile communications to give lone workers a means of connecting with colleagues and teammates but offers the pared-down functionality of a two-way radio.
Conclusion
Lone work is often dangerous and sometimes deadly.
However, by using some of the tools mentioned above, all lone workers can have the protection and peace of mind they deserve.
