How to Create a Lone Worker Safety Policy
Creating a lone worker safety policy can be overwhelming; that’s why Becklar can help from start to finish with Becklar’s Digital PPE™.
When it comes to lone worker safety concerns, some unique challenges must be addressed by lone worker policies and procedures.
Hazards and personal safety issues present differently when there is no one to report problems or support employees in the issues they face. This might include physical injuries and falls, loss of consciousness due to an accident or health emergency, assault or harassment, and more.
What Is a Lone Worker Safety Policy & Why Is It Important?
A lone worker safety policy is a written outline of the particular risks and hazards a lone worker might encounter in your organization. It then lays out rules and provisions that will help keep your worker safe in these types of situations. It is ultimately an agreement between the worker and employer that states both parties understand the risks a lone worker might face and what both will do to avoid and mitigate these risks.
Every employer is obligated to ensure the safety of all its workers, regardless of the environment or setting. While your organization likely has general safety policies and provides standard personal protection equipment (PPE), these measures often fail to address the additional precautions required in isolated working conditions.
If no one witnesses an accident because of isolation, an employee is left with fewer options and a limited ability to get proper and timely responses to emergencies. Developing a specific lone worker policy that accounts for these unique conditions can go a long way toward promoting worker morale and safety where it matters most.
Which Businesses Need a Lone Worker Policy?
If your company has employees who are required to work alone or in isolated environments, whether due to location, restricted communication options, or non-standard working hours, a lone worker policy is always a good idea.
When identifying lone workers, don’t forget to consider the equipment used and tasks that involve heights or hazardous materials like power lines and chemicals. Assess work setup, extreme temperatures and climate, and risks from unsafe clients, neighborhoods, and businesses. Finally, look at any other hazards your employees have expressed concerns about.
Even if your employee is in close proximity to others, if their job frequently requires them to be alone and out of contact with the team, they could be considered a lone worker.
The Benefits of Lone Worker Safety Policies
Lone worker safety incidents are among the most severely underreported issues many companies face. This means you may be unaware of significant safety gaps in your employee practices that may only come to light when a costly injury or preventable tragedy occurs.
By taking the time to establish an employee-centric lone worker safety policy, you are proactively managing and mitigating risks, ensuring compliance with industry-defined duty of care requirements, and avoiding the costly consequences of lone worker injuries. You are also fostering workplace confidence among your employees.
OSHA Standards for Lone Worker Safety
An effective lone worker safety policy begins with an understanding of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) guidelines. The OSHA General Duty Clause applies to every work setting and identifies two key components of every safety policy.
- An employer must provide a work environment free from recognized hazards that can cause serious harm or death. Companies and businesses are to ensure they comply with any publicly known occupational safety and health standards.
- An employee must be properly informed and trained on their obligation to comply with all occupational safety and health rules.
To assist with understanding the rules and regulations of your industry, you can also consult OSHA industry-specific resources. For example, section 1915.84 outlines the employer’s responsibilities for a lone worker in shipyards. This policy states that the employer must ensure the worker’s safety and health through visual or verbal communication at established intervals appropriate to the nature of the job.
OSHA is also working in tandem with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to make further strides in defining and eradicating lone worker health and safety risks.
Legal Regulations and Requirements for Lone Workers
As an employer, you are legally obligated to uphold current laws, regulations, and industry standards related to keeping every worker safe, including the unique situations a lone worker may encounter.
You must:
- Provide appropriate training on your safe work practices and procedures.
- Regularly assess your work environment for new and ongoing hazards.
- Provide appropriate protective gear for every employee.
- Develop an emergency response plan to address your employees’ risks and needs.
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Steps to Create a Lone Worker Safety Policy
Employers and employees share responsibility for maintaining mechanical safety. Workplaces become safer when everyone involved closely follows industry standard protocol and maintains reliable daily safety habits.
1. Identify Lone Workers
Identify your at-risk and defined lone workers by utilizing workplace observation, job descriptions, common tasks and environments, and employee surveys and input.
2. Conduct Risk Assessments
Begin with a lone worker risk assessment to better understand the types of situations your employees may encounter and identify effective ways to protect them. Take a closer look at the tasks and environments your employees face. Then, evaluate them for the likelihood of occurrence and potential outcomes if a hazard is encountered.
3. Develop Lone Working Procedures
Develop your lone worker procedures based on your risk assessments, with specific procedures for frequently encountered hazardous tasks, such as working at heights, confined spaces, extreme temperatures, or exposure to natural forces and high-risk areas.
Implement a reliable system of lone worker monitoring and regular contact to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals. Define your expectations for communication and emergency check-in procedures.
Invest in the appropriate PPE gear to assist with policy and procedure execution. Remember that employee hazards can be more than falls and injuries. Digital PPE™ solutions can help with hydration reminders, heat stress responses, and other concerns.
4. Implement Communication Tools and Digital PPE™
Along with standard PPE, having a reliable means of communicating their location, condition, and needs, even when they are incapacitated, is paramount to keeping lone workers safe in common circumstances. Technological advances now offer promising options to help keep your employees safe, regardless of location.
Available options include:
- Two-way communication devices like radios, cell phones, or personal emergency response systems (PERS)
- Computer and mobile phone apps
- GPS-enabled tracking
- Panic buttons and alarm systems
- Lone worker monitoring and digitally enhanced PPE
When considering the best options for your workers, be sure to take into account:
- A typical work environment
- Reliable communication options such as cell phone service
- What your employee wears and the available PPE during a typical work event
- The ability to access real-time data
- Scheduled and emergency check-in options
- Emergency alert capabilities that do not require specific employee interaction or initiation
- Silent alert and panic button options for other dangerous situations such as robbery or harassment
- Automatic enabling, disabling, and alerts when an employee enters hazardous areas
- Discretion and portability
- Employee privacy and data protection
Becklar safety devices are the most comprehensive and customizable digital PPE solutions available. It is an unparalleled system that bridges the gap between lone workers and their workplace by leveraging the power of protective gear and providing real-time emergency support.
Explore our entire line, including the WorkerSafety Pro, to gain a deeper understanding of digital PPE™. Then, discuss your needs with Becklar Workforce Safety to see how flexible and cost-effective lone worker safety can be.
5. Provide Training
Employee training modules should include an overview of the hazards you have identified and guidance on how employees can maintain awareness of their environment and identify both imminent and potential hazards. Ensure that each employee understands how to use the appropriate safety equipment comfortably and what is expected of them in accordance with your documented safe work practices and policies.
6. Document and Distribute Policy
Keep all policies and documentation clear and concise. We highly recommend that your risk management team and legal counsel review all documentation and policies. Be sure that your employees are aware of your established lone worker policies. Make sure that written safety procedures are readily available and easily accessible in both digital and paper formats.
7. Review and Update Regularly
Just as with any other business policy, things change over time as we become more aware of different circumstances and technological advances that bring better solutions. Schedule regular reviews that align with your industry standards.
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From the Field to the Factory: Keeping Workers Safe with Smart Tech
Lone Worker Safety Policy Checklist
Creating a lone worker safety policy can feel very overwhelming; that’s why Becklar is here to help from start to finish. Review our checklist of items to help create a lone worker policy that fits your needs.
What to Include in a Lone Worker Policy
- The purpose of the lone working safety policy.
- A company-specific lone worker policy This can be divided into a crucial “need to know” portion and a fully detailed policy.
- Your definition of lone working roles and circumstances.
- A review of lone worker risk assessments that have been identified.
- Established lone worker procedures and safety measures.
- Defined expectations of how and when PPE and digital PPE is to be used, what will be provided, and the worker’s and employer’s responsibilities.
- Reporting procedures for identified hazards or incidents.
- Who to contact and where to find additional help & support.
Protect Your Lone Workers with Becklar’s Digital PPE™
Lone worker health and well-being revolve around their need to be safe and feel safe, all while allowing them to do their job. The type and functionality of safety solutions and PPE form the backbone of that need. That’s why Becklar is proud to provide you with cutting-edge safety solutions that are easy to use, effective, maintain productivity, and improve employee morale. Let us help you eliminate your lone worker safety pain points with our wide range of innovative safety solutions.
Book a demo from Becklar to help protect your workplace and lone workers with digital PPE.