Working alone is common—there are around 25 million lone workers just in the United States, a number which is expected to increase according to the CDC and the American Society of Safety Professionals.
When employees are required to work alone, it creates the potential for numerous risks. In fact, in their 2021 survey, the National Safety Council found that 70% of organizations reported a safety incident involving a lone worker between 2019 and 2021, with one in five of these incidents being described as either “quite severe” or “very severe.”
These incidents aren’t isolated—they happen often, and employers can help prevent these incidents and reduce hazards overall by a) developing a safety program that all employees are trained on and b) ensuring employees who are required to work alone have a way to stay connected to other team members.
Understanding Lone Worker Hazards
While OSHA doesn’t have a standard requirement for lone workers across multiple industries, they do have a General Duty Clause that requires employers to identify and abate workplace hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. For lone workers, these hazards could include:
- Medical Emergencies: If a worker suffers an unexpected medical emergency like a heart attack or a stroke while working alone, they may not be capable of calling for help.
- Slips, Trips, & Falls: Serious falls can often leave workers immobilized, leading to delayed emergency responses if the worker is not able to call for help from where they fell.
- Exposure to Hazardous Substances: Lone workers in chemical or industrial settings may be at risk of exposure to a range of hazardous substances that require an immediate emergency response.
- Equipment-Related Incidents: Anytime lone workers are working with or around heavy equipment, there’s the potential for serious accidents.
There are plenty of instances where these risks became realities. For example, this lone worker suffered a heart attack while working alone but was saved thanks to Blackline Safety’s G7 device, which features a pullable SOS latch and built-in GPS. Without this device, the lone worker would have likely died because she would have had no way to call for help and no way to be located.
The National Safety Council has also highlighted other real-world examples in past publications, such as an agricultural worker who slipped and fell while working alone inside a chicken coop and an arborist who had to deal with a person illegally hunting in the area while pruning a tree by himself.
So, while safety programs are needed, they can only go so far. You still have to ensure your lone workers can stay connected, especially during emergencies.
How Blackline Safety’s G7 Lone Worker Device Reduces Risks
Blackline Safety’s G7 Lone Worker Device has real-time monitoring and response capabilities that make immediate emergency response possible for lone workers.
Some of its features that can help reduce the hazards associated with working alone include:
- Built-in Cellular Connectivity: Once this device is turned on, workers are automatically connected to a network. The G7 device can also include optional satellite connectivity and portable bridge if workers are in remote or hard-to-access areas.
- Live Location Tracking: Its integrated GPS technology ensures that responders can quickly locate a distressed worker, even in remote environments. The device also allows direct-to-cloud data streaming, so you can access real-time information about your workers whenever needed.
- Automatic Incident Detection: The G7 lone worker device will automatically provide alerts when it detects a lack of movement and slips and falls.
- Two-Way Communication: Lone workers can connect with Five-Diamond Certified monitoring personnel anytime for immediate assistance in emergencies.
- Additional Alert Options: The G7 provides time-based alerts if a team member misses a scheduled check-in and also features a patented emergency SOS latch that, when pulled, will emit a visible and audible alarm and notify monitoring personnel that help is needed.
- Gas Detection Configuration: The G7 device can be configured to monitor air quality and alert lone workers when they are exposed to certain hazardous gases.
These features of the G7 device are already making a real difference. From Liberty Utilities to Aboca and more, there are countless case studies of companies that are now using this technology to enhance lone worker safety and improve incident response times.
Keep Your Lone Workers Safe With Help From Archview Services
Archview Services is a specialty contractor committed to helping businesses throughout the Midwest keep their employees safe.
Whether you need help developing a safety program, providing on-site safety training to your employees, or implementing lone worker safety technology, such as Blackline’s G7 device, we’re here to help.
If you want to learn more about our available lone worker safety devices or consulting and training opportunities, you can reach us via phone at (314) 998-4505 or by filling out our online form.