Lone working is risky at the best of times, but in high-risk environments, it can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.

In the UK, under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, businesses that have workers who carry some or all of their duties alone must have policies in place to assess and manage lone-worker risk.

This means that keeping lone workers safe should be a top priority for any business, especially for those with workers who routinely face elevated levels of risk.

Below, we take a look at how to do just that.

High-Risk Roles

Certain high-risk work requires at least one other person to be present while the worker is on the job.

Other high-risk roles can be carried out alone after an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.

Such roles include:

• Farm and agriculture worker.
• Security guard.
• Maintenance worker.
• Cleaner.
• HGV driver.

Monitoring

Keeping tabs on these lone workers is a must.

Technology has an important role to play here.

Modern safety devices allow employers to keep in touch with lone workers while they are on the job and monitor their health and safety.

Monitoring equipment comes in different shapes and sizes, but a couple of the most effective ways an employer can keep an eye on lone workers is via a smartphone app or a two-way radio.

Lone Worker Apps

In many high-risk environments, a lone worker app is a convenient and cost-effective way of keeping workers safe.

Apps come with a host of features that are designed to keep the worker safe, including a lone worker alarm, which can be sounded should the worker need help, and true-man down detection, an alert system that automatically reaches out to the emergency services if it detects the worker is in trouble.

Lone worker apps can be installed on compatible Apple and Android devices and run quietly in the background while the worker is on the job.

Apps are ideal for workers in high-risk environments, especially on jobs where the worker needs to keep his hands free.

Radios

Another highly effective lone worker safety device that comes into its own in high-risk environments is the trusty two-way radio.

Because radios keep things basic – a simple button push allows the workers to communicate with teammates – they take the stress out of communicating.

Radios really come into their own in emergency situations when a simple press of a button is all that is needed to call for aid.

Radios are also useful in high-risk remote work locations and difficult terrains because they don’t need a WIFI or telephone communications network to function, meaning they can cover locations other devices can’t.

Conclusion

All work is risky, but lone work can be especially so.

In high-risk environments, the lone worker has to know he has the tools to reach out should he hit a snag.

The good news is that the technology is out there to keep all lone workers safe, regardless of the hazards and dangers they face.

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