There’s a certain amount of risk involved for workers in every industry. After all, millions of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses are reported every year – but, according to the CDC, lone workers are often more at risk than those who work in teams. It may seem obvious that those who are working alone are more likely to experience a safety hazard or emergency, but not everyone knows exactly how much risk there is for lone workers.
As a business owner, manager, or other administrative leader, it’s your job to keep your employees safe. The first step to protecting the lone workers on your team is identifying the risks involved in your industry, whether that’s warehousing, manufacturing, construction, or even hospitality. Then, you can find a way to implement safety solutions.
To help you get started, we’ve created a guide to lone worker safety and provided some solutions that can help you keep your workers connected.
What Are the Risks for Lone Workers?
Although we don’t know the exact number, one estimate showed there are over 50 million lone workers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, making up about 15% of the workforce. As advancements in technology and automation continue, the number of lone workers is expected to grow in the U.S.
In many cases, lone workers experience the same types of risks as those who work in teams. However, the risk for lone workers is greater because they’re working by themselves. Even risks such as exposure to violence can be greater simply because there’s no one else around, but that’s not the only risk lone workers face.
Sometimes, lone workers face risks due to self-management – essentially, they may be more likely to ignore safety rules or develop new skills since they’re working independently. Regardless of the reasoning behind the risk, it’s important to identify what risks are the greatest for lone workers.
Some of the most common risks for lone workers include:
- Slips or falls
- Accidents related to heavy machinery
- Exposure to harmful chemicals or environments
- Medical emergencies
- Vehicle-related accidents
Accidents related to slips or falls are some of the most common and can happen in any industry. There are also industry-specific safety risks that can vary greatly from one industry to the next. For example, industrial workers alone on a job site are more likely to be working with heavy machinery. As a business owner or manager, keeping your employees safe is a vital part of your position – and there’s a significant cost involved when employee safety is not the priority.
The Importance of Safety in the Workplace
While the process of actually keeping lone workers safe is vital to managing a business, it’s just as important that your workers feel safe in the workplace. According to one survey of 250 lone workers, nearly half expressed that they feel unsafe at work.
So why does this matter? A survey done by Ansell showed that 94% of workers claimed it was very important that their employer prioritizes physical safety. Even if no accidents have occurred on your watch, if the lone workers on your team don’t feel safe, they’re more likely to leave and find a place where their safety is prioritized.
Although fatal workplace incidents are far less common than nonfatal, workers can still be greatly impacted by minor incidents at work. One of the best solutions to keeping your lone workers safe is having access to clear communication and safety devices.
Simple Solutions You Need to Stay Safe
Now that you’ve identified the risk your lone workers face and what can happen if they’re not able to communicate, it’s time to implement solutions that work for you and your team. Solutions like Relay have provided communication devices to businesses with lone workers across North America. From manufacturing teams to facility management teams, the need for safety is universal across all industries.
Here are some of the features of Relay that can help keep you and your team safe:
Panic Alerts with Two-Way Talk
While some lone worker safety devices offer panic alerts, our communication device combines a panic alert system with two-way communication. With just the touch of a button, a worker can send a panic alert by rapidly pressing the center button at least five times. This will notify the Relay devices designated as panic responders, and allows the worker to continue communicating with those assigned responders during the emergency.
Accurate Location Alerts
When someone sends a panic alert, it’s necessary that their safety device accurately tracks their location. Our communication devices can save you valuable time in the event of an emergency by sending instant notifications when a panic alert is activated. Within seconds, the designated responders will receive an alert with the name and location of the worker.
Unparalleled Connectivity Reliability
A survey by Ansell of 250 lone workers showed that less than half of the workers were able to send messages when out of cell phone range. Considering spotty cell service is a common problem on job sites, this can cause significant delays during an emergency. Relay devices offer unparalleled reliability when it comes to connectivity, with its redundant connectivity between W-Fi and multiple cellular networks.
Live Language Translation
When it comes to emergencies, whether it’s an accident or a medical emergency, every second counts. Language barriers are another issue that can cause significant delays when a worker is at risk. That’s why Relay has built-in language translation, which saves valuable time during a dire situation.
Stay Safe and Connected with Relay
There’s nothing more important than the safety of your team, and this is especially important with lone workers. Almost one in five lone workers have reported that they struggled to get help during an accident – but Relay has solutions that allow workers to communicate clearly, even in emergency situations.
Check out this blog to learn how to use Relay during emergency evacuations.
No matter what type of industry you’re working in, Relay helps businesses stay safe by allowing managers and administrators to customize their panic alerts and workflow management within the Relay dashboard.
There’s a reason why businesses across the U.S. are replacing their bulky two-way radios with Relay devices. With an innovative dashboard that’s designed for system administration and alert management, we make communication simple for teams with lone workers.
If you’re ready to find a better way to enhance safety for your workers, book a one-on-one demo with one of our experts today!
