Human beings are social creatures. We need to have other humans around to feel sane and happy. Well, not always, but you get the gist of it right? That said, there are times when you or someone from your team has to work solo. 

There are upsides to being a lone worker. Lone working doesn’t come with the pressure of small talk with colleagues and also gives the workers a sense of autonomy. However, lone working comes with problems as well.

Work-related accidents across the globe are responsible for more than 2 million deaths annually. Around 300 million occupational accidents happen every year in different kinds of work environments. These stats clearly are not only grim, but also demand business managers and company owners to pay more attention to their employees.

Research in accident analysis and prevention has indicated that even a 10 minute reduction in emergency response time would decrease likelihood of fatality by 33%! Yet, 20% of lone workers reported struggling to get help after an incident.

Let’s talk more about lone working risks, and what you as a business owner or a manager can do to take care of your solo workers’ wellbeing.

Understand the Lone Working Risks and Problems

Like everything else, working solo comes with its share of problems. If you are concerned with the mental, emotional and psychological wellbeing of your lone workers, it is crucial to pay attention to their problems.

Accidents and Medical Emergencies

Lone workers often experience unfortunate accidents, medical emergencies and safety hazards. 

Unfortunate incidents never come announced. And those working alone have to combat those all alone. When solo workers don’t get immediate assistance in such times, their injuries can escalate. 

Lack of Supervision

In the absence of constant supervision, a lone worker is unable to get immediate help. For instance, a lone worker injured himself/ herself while operating a machine, and got stuck in a manner that he/ she is unable to move. The lone worker would be unable to signal for help without a fail-safe in place (whether that be timed check-ins or SOS buttons.) 

Additionally, the unavailability of a constant supervision can also aggravate feelings of loneliness and stress which adds to the workers’ problems.

Isolation and Stress

Working solo for long hours day in and day out can mentally exhaust the workers. Isolation often results in chronic stress that can turn into anxiety or depression. According to ‘The Workplace Health Report 2023’, 76% employees reported moderate to high stress levels when working alone.

It is understandable how stress can creep in the body when one has no social interaction with another being for hours.

So how is it that you can help your lone workers, and know if they are doing okay?

How Support Your Lone Workers?

The fact that you are here shows you want to help your lone workers. They need to feel that they matter. And you can play your part to ensure their wellbeing and sanity.

Here are some good ways to get started with this task.

Talk To Them

Chatting on social media is the new normal, but the good old talking never goes out of fashion. People like to feel important so talk to your lone workers. Schedule a one-on-one meeting with your team members working solo at least twice a month.

Ask them about their problems. Take interest in their issues. And allow them to pour their heart out to you. A great approach could be to provide an employee assistance program with psychologist or therapy sessions available. 

Arrange Group Sessions 

Consider arranging group sessions for the lone workers in your company. These sessions would give a nice opportunity for the workers to interact with each other, find common ground and share their problems with one another. Plus, group sessions do wonders for team building. People working in similar scenarios have stories that resonate with each other which allows them to build a stronger connection.

Carry Out Lone Working Risk Assessment

Lone working risk assessment helps you identify any potential risks and hazards associated with a job that requires independent work. Make sure to conduct it so you are aware of the risks involved in a lone working task, and can prepare an action plan to handle it effectively.

See our range lone working risk assessment templates: 

• Risk Assessment Template for Remote Lone Workers
• Risk Assessment Template for Fixed Site Workers
• Risk Assessment Template for Healthcare and Community Services Workers

Conduct Lone Worker Training

Once you are through with the risk assessment, plan comprehensive training for your workers. 

The training should cover the following aspects:

• How to perform their tasks: Explain to them the process of carrying out the respective tasks along with whom to report, task details, what devices to use, any equipment involved and the like.
• Potential hazards: Elaborate in detail any hazards involved, and how to effectively handle them. Walk them through the process of combatting an emergency situation.
• Usage of the necessary lone working devices: According to the nature and severity of the tasks, different tasks require lone working devices such as personal alarms, GPS trackers, man-down devices, body cameras, check-in systems, sensors and panic buttons. Provide your workers with the essential devices, and also properly train them on how to use them.

Use Lone Working Apps

Lone worker apps safeguard remote, lone and isolated workers, and provide effective communication and rapid emergency response capabilities, despite the lack of nearby supervision and support. 

SafetyIQ is a leading lone worker solution that uses an automated check-in and escalation process to provide organizations with centralized visibility of their entire workforce. The lone worker is notified to check-in via SMS or in the app in periodic intervals. If the lone worker misses their scheduled check-in, the escalation pathway is triggered and management are alerted. With real-time access to the workers’ location, their manager can quickly send emergency services if needed. 

Implement a Digital EHS Management System 

Implementing a digital Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) management system can significantly enhance the safety of lone workers. With mobile access, lone workers can effortlessly stay engaged with safety protocols and updates no matter their location. For instance, the ability to instantly report a safety observation allows for immediate attention and swift resolution, reducing the time lone workers might be exposed to potential risks. This level of connectivity and accessibility specifically benefits lone workers, providing them with the same level of support as their on-site colleagues, even when they are miles away from the main workplace.

Take Care of Your Lone Workers

Your workers are your assets. Valuing them is crucial to amplify your productivity, and create a secure and thriving workplace environment. Give your workers the confidence that they matter to you. If you don’t already have a lone worker safety system in your organization, get in touch with Safety IQ’s experts to request a demo. In addition to working on these guidelines, read our guide to find more helpful steps to improve lone workers’ safety.