Best Practices for Implementing Lone Worker Safety Programs in Construction
The health and safety of remote, lone and at-risk workers has become an important priority for many organizations. It is essential to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of a safety program to ensure that it meets standards and effectively protects workers.
Consider all potential lone worker hazards, whether they are obvious or not. For example, a care worker visiting patients’ homes could be at risk for theft or violence from criminals.
1. Develop a Lone Worker Policy
In order to develop a strong lone worker policy, it is important to first carry out a comprehensive hazard risk assessment. This will help you identify the specific hazards and risks associated with your work alone procedures and provide clear tactics for minimizing these risks. Involving your lone workers in this process is also an excellent idea as they are the ones who face these risks on a daily basis and will have valuable insight to share.
Once you have completed your hazard assessment, the next step is to create and implement your company lone working policy. This should include a statement of purpose that outlines why the policy was created, how it will help keep lone workers safe and how it aligns with the organization’s goals.
The policy should also define the responsibilities of managers and employees, including how often lone workers must check in and what types of incidents are required to be reported. It is also important to include a section on the use of real-time monitoring systems. This type of technology allows for the rapid response to an emergency situation and increases employee engagement with your safety program.
2. Train Lone Workers
While safety programs generally address all employees, those who work alone require special consideration. Lone workers are particularly vulnerable because they do not have immediate backup support. As such, it is important for companies to ensure they provide them with appropriate training and equipment.
In addition to training, it is also essential to have an effective communication strategy in place. This is critical to ensuring that all key stakeholders are on board with the program and understand their role in its success.
Finally, a risk assessment should be conducted to identify any foreseeable events and emergency procedures. This information should be clearly communicated to lone workers.
Once a policy is established and a system is put in place, it’s essential to conduct annual audits. This will ensure that all procedures are in place and working as intended. In addition, this will help to identify any potential improvements or areas for concern.
3. Establish a Lone Worker Monitoring System
When one-on-one supervision is impossible, indirect supervisory methods must be implemented. These can include instant messaging, real-time updates or a mobile device that is constantly connected to a 24/7 security monitoring center. Ensure that your lone worker solution has these features so that workers can contact safety contacts in a timely manner if there is an emergency or unexpected event.
Additionally, establish a system that requires lone workers to report incidents as they occur. Ensure this system is easy to use, effective and accessed quickly.
Once these key elements are established, lone workers can be trained in your company’s safety protocols. You can then set up systems to monitor and track training completion. Once all of these requirements are met, your lone worker program is up and running! The next step is to communicate the program to key stakeholders, such as senior management. This helps to gain support and align the organization around supporting initiatives. It also ensures that all key players have the information they need to participate in the lone worker safety program.
4. Provide Lone Workers with the Right Equipment
In addition to a well-documented lone worker policy, it’s important for construction employers to provide employees with the right equipment to minimize safety risks. This could include mobile phones with GPS capabilities, wearable technology with fall detection and emergency escalation features or even AI programs that offer a range of safety-related services (such as monitoring weather conditions, identifying potential hazards in proximity, movement analysis and more).
For example, if a lone employee will be working alone at a remote cell tower site, it’s important to make sure they have the ability to contact management through two-way radio, in-person check-ins, video chat or, if possible, by phone if there is a service in the area. This enables managers to keep tabs on the employee’s location and progress, ensuring their safety and security.
In addition, any device or software that includes a man down alarm will help to ensure if an employee falls, they’re automatically detected and can be quickly rescued. Adding such technology to your lone worker program can significantly reduce the risk of injuries or worse, a potentially fatal situation.
5. Conduct Annual Audits
Lone workers are not the same as employees who are part of a group, and they face distinct hazards that may require a tailored approach. For example, some lone workers may need to monitor for carbon monoxide poisoning or other respiratory illnesses when working alone.
To ensure your lone worker safety program is on track, it’s vital to conduct annual audits. Going through accident and ill-health records can help you identify patterns and create proactive measures to prevent future incidents. In addition, you should also consider shadowing a lone worker to get an idea of the types of work they do and their environment.
This will allow you to determine whether any policies need to be updated or new equipment added. It is also a great way to show that you care about the safety of your lone workers. You can also increase key stakeholder commitment to a lone worker safety program by including them in the communication strategy. This will help them understand the value of the program and encourage them to support it. lone worker alarm device
