The Benefits of Lone Worker Devices for Construction Workers

Lone worker devices act as an extra layer of prevention against the risks that face construction workers. This includes social risk such as showing homes alone, and environmental risks like weather hazards, chemicals or the possibility of slips and falls.

Many lone worker solutions include features such as automatic alarms that are triggered when the device hasn’t moved for a certain period of time. These can be downloaded onto existing, portable smartphones to reduce cost and training time.

1. Safety

Lone worker devices offer safety and reassurance for workers who work alone. These may be care workers, estate agents, delivery drivers, construction workers and cleaners. They could also include staff who work in hazardous locations or environments that can’t be easily supervised by others, such as factory workers and security guards.

The risks faced by lone workers should be identified in a risk assessment and emergency procedures put in place. A lone worker device should be a key part of these, along with a comprehensive lone working policy.

Automated lone worker systems provide real-time GPS location tracking, quick and discreet panic alarms, activity timers, check in alerts, resource access to safety forms and checklists and more. They are easy to install and use, and they adapt more readily to changing circumstances compared to manual systems.

2. Communication

Lone worker devices help provide a safe, secure and effective method of communication for your employees. However, a device alone is not enough to ensure your workers are protected. You must also establish a clear and robust lone working policy and provide training and support.

This will make sure that your lone workers understand their responsibilities and how to respond in emergency situations. It will also give them the confidence that they can trust you to keep them safe and to respect their rights and privacy.

Specialist lone working solutions like Tunstall’s lone worker monitoring allow your employees to quickly check in and trigger a duress alarm when needed, providing peace of mind for them and their employer. They also feature a live dashboard to see your front-line staff, wherever they are in the world.

3. Awareness

Lone working shouldn’t terrify employees, it should simply be one of many safety measures that are put in place to protect them. As a result, companies should take a holistic approach to lone worker protection that includes adequate training, comprehensive policy development and regular communication with staff.

Lone Worker Personal Alarm For example, utilising a smartphone application with the ability to monitor and reassure staff whilst they are working alone can be an effective and efficient way of delivering a cost-effective lone worker solution. It also allows staff to remain on the job despite the disruption caused by motorway closures and other external factors that can affect travel times and work locations.

Using a specialist lone worker app like Ok Alone will ensure that workers can check-in regularly with their employers and emergency services, while being assured of their safety and the security of their work environment.

4. Support

Workplace safety is a vital responsibility for all companies and lone workers are no exception. While improvements in safety equipment and practices have lowered the rates of serious injury, the risk increases when an employee works alone.

A lone worker device is the best way to monitor an employee while providing them with a means of calling for help should they become injured or incapacitated. A device like Blackline’s is designed to allow a lone worker to check in regularly without impacting their productivity.

When you have a policy, communication and action plan in place, and a reliable lone worker device, it shows your people you care about their safety. It also enables you to comply with the law, known as duty of care.

5. Training

Lone worker devices allow employers to monitor employees’ safety remotely, providing a way for colleagues to check-in and offer assistance if necessary. These specialist devices can be in the form of smartphone apps, Bluetooth buttons, handheld satellite devices, and more. They can provide a variety of features including emergency alerting, GPS tracking, low-latency two-way messaging and more.

To ensure the best results, it is essential that a thorough training programme is in place when using lone worker devices. This should be delivered by a trusted partner such as Direct Safety, who can help with the development and implementation of comprehensive lone worker procedures. These should be made compulsory and clearly state that staff are not being spied on and that their privacy is respected.