Lone worker monitoring explained

Lone worker monitoring is the practice of monitoring the safety of lone workers who may be exposed to unique risks, due to work conditions in which they are isolated from people who might be able to offer aid in the event of an emergency.

Legislation

In some areas including the United Kingdom,^[1] Australian States,^{[2] [3] [4]} Ireland,^[5] New Zealand^[6] and certain Provinces in Canada,^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]} legislation has driven the adoption of lone worker policies as well as methods of monitoring the safety of these employees. In the United States, no explicit legislation exists regarding an employer's obligation to monitor the safety of its lone or isolated employees except in the shipbuilding industry.^[12]

Methods of Monitoring Lone Worker Safety

Numerous methods have been developed and are currently in use by companies world-wide. These methods include:

• Phone-based check-in systems. Employees are required to call in to a designated receiver after a predetermined time. Check-ins are often performed hourly or bi-hourly. The two approaches to phone-based check-in systems are call center-driven and cloud-based automated monitoring, which may use a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model.
• Buddy systems. Employees may be paired up to perform certain tasks. Theoretically, should an emergency occur and one of the employees be rendered incapacitated, the other would remain available to call for help and provide aid.
• Safety monitoring smartphone applications. With the widespread adoption of smart phones, the deployment of a dedicated application allowing employees to quickly request aid has become more feasible. These applications may provide a panic button or allow for prompt check-in without requiring a phone call to be made.^[13] Some smartphone apps allow for hands-free triggers as well, like pulling a tether from the phone's headphone jack, so that the lone worker can signal for help without having to unlock their phone.^[14]
• Safety monitoring devices. Dedicated monitoring devices for monitoring local environmental conditions, such as dangerous levels of gases, that smartphone-based lone worker monitoring solutions are unable to account for. These devices are often worn rather than carried, clipped to either the lone worker's safety suit, ID badge, or some other piece of vital equipment.^[15]

See also

• Employee monitoring
• Lone worker

External links

• What is Lone Working: Everything An Employer Needs To Know
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety - Working Alone - General

Notes and References

1. https://www.bsia.co.uk/zappfiles/bsia-front/pdfs/288-lone-workers-employers-guide.pdf
2. Web site: Queensland - Managing the work environment and facilities Code of Practice 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20150405150601/https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/58206/managing-work-environment-facilities-cop-2011.pdf. 2015-04-05. dead.
3. Web site: Western Australia - Guidance Note Working Alone 2009.
4. Web site: Victoria - Working Alone Information Sheet. https://web.archive.org/web/20130705132014/http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/9555/WS_MIA_WORKING_ALONE_WEB.pdf. 2013-07-05. dead.
5. Web site: Alone. Ok. 2019-09-12. Legislation and Regulations for Lone Workers in Ireland. 2020-12-15. Ok Alone. en-US.
6. Web site: Alone. Ok. 2019-02-28. Lone Worker Legislation & Policy for New Zealand. 2020-12-15. Ok Alone. en-US.
7. Web site: Archived copy . 2013-11-04 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130604041043/http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/WHS-PUB_wa001.pdf . 2013-06-04 ., Working Alone (Part 28 of the Occupational Health and Safety Code)
8. http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/ohsregulation/part4.asp
9. http://safemanitoba.com/sites/default/files/uploads/regulations/part9.pdf
10. Web site: Regulation of lone work in Canada - The NEOVIGIE solution. NEOVIGIE. August 2023.
11. http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/English/Regulations/Regulations/O1-1R1.pdf
12. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA_FS_3591.pdf
13. Web site: Why A Panic Button App Isn't Enough. 2018-12-04. AlertMedia. en-US. 2019-04-24.
14. Web site: A How-To Guide On How To Improve Lone Worker Safety. 2018-09-06. AlertMedia. en-US. 2019-04-24.
15. Web site: Lone Worker Safety Devices: A Complete Overview. 2018-12-11. AlertMedia. en-US. 2019-04-24.