Making sure lone workers are never truly alone
Lone workers are an essential part of the economy, contributing significantly despite working independently. From truck drivers traversing vast distances to deliver goods, to healthcare professionals providing in-home care, and security guards safeguarding assets, these individuals play vital roles. Estimates indicate that approximately 15% of the global workforce, including Canada, performs their duties alone in the field.1
Those workers are often at higher risk of accidents, violence or other hazards, and the consequences can be tragic if they can’t get help quickly – a situation that is all too common. One study found that almost one in five lone workers had experienced an accident and struggled to get help.2 Another found that 68% of companies had experienced an incident involving a lone worker in the previous three years, and 20% of those incidents were severe or very severe.3
While most companies have a check-in process to enhance the safety of lone workers, these policies are uneven: 28% check in once a day, 39% once a week, and 10% say they check in multiple times per day.2 Often, these processes are only effective when employees are within cellular range: just one-third of employers said they could track their staff’s location outside cellular range, and only half had a way to communicate with out-of-range employees.2 This leaves many lone workers – including those who work underground or at remote sites far from the nearest cell tower – effectively on their own much of the time, increasing their risk.
Safety solutions designed to meet the needs of lone workers can help businesses take better care of their employees. These solutions offer features like automatic check-ins and reliable communication methods, even in areas with limited or no cell service. Here are some additional features:
- Tracking employee locations in real time and dispatching emergency services fast if something happens.
- Simplifying compliance with health and safety regulations, including federal work-alone legislation.
- Eliminating the need to pause work for a check-in call, allowing field workers to be more productive, and giving them the peace of mind of knowing someone is watching out for them.
Find out how Bell helped NL Health Services and the City of St. John’s enhance their safety processes to better protect their lone workers. Additionally, check out how Bell is helping employers watch over their most vulnerable workers.
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