More than half of lone workers believe their employer could do more to protect them, while 43% say they have felt threatened at work. These findings raise questions about whether current safety procedures, training and access to assistance are meeting employees’ needs.
Protecting lone workers requires organisations to understand the risks associated with their roles and ensure appropriate support is available. Security systems can contribute to this, alongside clear procedures, effective communication and training that prepares employees to respond.
Reviewing lone worker procedures
Lone worker policies need to translate into clear procedures employees can follow and managers can monitor. Agreed check-in arrangements, straightforward reporting channels and a defined response when someone misses a check-in or raises a concern can help ensure potential problems are identified.
These arrangements should be reviewed as working patterns and responsibilities change. Feedback from employees, incidents and near misses can help identify gaps and highlight where procedures or additional support may be needed.
Preparing employees to work alone
Employees need to know how to recognise potential risks, when to seek assistance and how to respond if circumstances change. Where safety equipment is provided, they should understand how to use it and what happens when they raise an alert.
Regular training and opportunities to discuss concerns can help employers identify whether their procedures are working as intended. This is relevant for employees visiting unfamiliar sites or working outside normal hours, when access to colleagues and immediate support may be limited.
Where security technology can help
Security systems can support lone worker safety by helping organisations monitor buildings, manage access and identify incidents requiring attention.
Access control can provide information about who has entered or left a building, while CCTV can help authorised personnel assess activity in monitored areas. Monitored alarm systems can alert the appropriate people when an incident occurs.
For employees working remotely or travelling between sites, dedicated lone worker devices and monitoring services may be more suitable. Depending on the solution, these can allow employees to request assistance or raise an alert when they feel at risk.
The value of any system depends on how it is configured and supported. Employers need clear arrangements for receiving alerts, coordinating assistance and responding to incidents. They should also understand the limitations of individual systems and ensure that technology complements established safety procedures rather than replacing them.
Keeping safety arrangements under review
Regular reviews of risk assessments, training and reporting procedures help ensure lone worker arrangements remain appropriate. Listening to employees is important, particularly where staff have experienced threatening situations or are unsure how to access support.
Security provision should be considered as part of this wider review, with organisations assessing whether their existing systems meet employees’ needs and support the procedures in place to protect them.
Amthal supports organisations in assessing their building security technology requirements and identifying how access control, CCTV and monitored alarm systems can contribute to staff safety.