Workplace violence and occupational hazards are a growing concern for businesses that employ onsite and offsite workers. On average, OSHA reports workplace violence affects 2 million American workers and workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses approximately $52 Billion dollars per year. Across industries, increased automation and the mobility of the workforce means employees are no longer required to be in close proximity to supervisors and co-workers.
These lone workers are at increased risk for workplace injury, physical assault, and unaddressed medical emergencies. Here, we provide an overview of lone workers, discuss examples and challenges, and present safety best practices and the value of mobile risk intelligence platforms in lone worker safety.
Lone workers are individuals who work without co-workers or supervisors in the vicinity. This can mean that they are especially vulnerable if their job site is in an unprotected or unpredictable environment. Robbery, physical assault, verbal abuse, harassment, injuries and even animal encounters are just a few of the dangers that lone workers face as a result of working out of vehicles, customers’ homes, and on work sites.
As the number of lone workers in the labor force increases, the need to engage employees on preventative safety measures and safety culture is growing urgent. It is vital to develop an intuitive reporting process and to provide easy-to-use tools that connect employees to safety information and support. An increasingly popular way to facilitate lone worker safety is by deploying a mobile risk intelligence communications platform that offers intuitive reporting processes, reliable mass notifications, customizable resources, and more. One such platform is Vector LiveSafe.
Vector LiveSafe leverages the one device everyone has on their person - their smartphone. Within the Vector LiveSafe Mobile App, employees can receive important safety alerts, anonymously submit questions and concerns, access organization-specific resources, and engage in real-time conversations with security team members. There is also one-touch access to 911 and organizational security teams to ensure employees can immediately receive assistance in the event of an emergency.
This is particularly valuable for lone workers, as they can have immediate access to evacuation plans, risk assessment checklists and results, and security team support. To learn more about the role and value of mobile risk intelligence communications platforms, consider our recent buyer’s guide.
For further information about lone worker risks and safety considerations, download our free guide, "Lone Worker Safety: Risks, Considerations & Solutions."
Jeff Dalto, Senior Learning & Performance Improvement Manager
Jeff is a learning designer and performance improvement specialist with more than 20 years in learning and development, 15+ of which have been spent working in manufacturing, industrial, and architecture, engineering & construction training. Jeff has worked side-by-side with more than 50 companies as they implemented online training. Jeff is an advocate for using evidence-based training practices and is currently completing a Masters degree in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University. He writes the Vector Solutions | Convergence Training blog and invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn.
