How Do You Know If Your Lone Worker Program Is Successful?
Table of Contents
Check-In compliance – are workers staying accountable?
Incident and near-miss tracking – are you preventing harm?
Safety tool usage – are workers using the systems provided?
Return on investment (ROI)
Training and preparedness – are workers equipped to act?
Safety risk exposure levels
The structure of a strong safety program and lone worker policy
Review and revise regularly
A successful lone worker program can mean the difference between safety and serious harm. For employees who work alone or in isolated environments, these programs serve as a dedicated safety net—ensuring support is available in the event of an emergency, injury, or medical issue on the job.
More organizations are beginning to recognize that monitoring safety metrics doesn’t just improve safety outcomes—it also offers a meaningful way to assess overall workforce performance. With at least 15% of today’s workforce operating alone—and that number expected to rise—prioritizing lone worker safety is more important than ever. Industries like healthcare are seeing a significant shift from facility-based to home-based care, meaning more professionals are working in the field without direct supervision.
The business case is equally strong: investments in safety programs have been shown to yield substantial financial returns, with every dollar spent delivering up to four dollars in reduced injury-related costs.
But how do you measure success? Which lone worker safety metrics are actually worth your time?
Below are key indicators every organization should track to evaluate the effectiveness of their lone worker program.
Check-in compliance and frequency rates
Tracking incidents and near-misses
Technology usage
Return on investment (ROI) amounts
Safety training completion rates
Safety risk exposure and amount of time alone
When measured and monitored regularly, these different metrics will provide an overall, accurate picture of how effective the lone worker program is protecting isolated and vulnerable employees and if any updates should be made.
Check-In compliance – are workers staying accountable?
A high check-in compliance rate (goal: 95% or higher) indicates that lone workers are consistently confirming their well-being. Low compliance—suggests disengagement or potential gaps in understanding protocol. Track metrics such as:
Users who've checked in and users who haven't checked in
Average check-in delay
# of missed check-ins
Use this insightful data to coach individual workers or adjust communication protocols.
Incident and near-miss tracking – are you preventing harm?
Tracking all lone worker incidents—whether minor, major, or near misses—is essential to identifying patterns and anticipating risks before they lead to harm. Just as missed check-ins and alerts can signal vulnerabilities in a safety program, incident data provides valuable insights that can guide preventative measures.
To ensure accurate reporting, organizations must foster a culture of trust where employees feel safe reporting occupational hazards without fear of retaliation. According to OSHA, workers have the right to report safety concerns freely upholding this right is not only a legal obligation but also a critical step toward maintaining a proactive and transparent safety culture.
Safety tool usage – are workers using the systems provided?
Monitoring the adoption and day-to-day engagement with safety tools is essential to ensure they’re being used as intended. Key indicators include:
The percentage of lone workers actively using safety tools daily
% of user profile is up to date (target: 100%)
Message frequency in check-ins (e.g., Check-ins include custom messages)
Low usage rates may lead to issues such as insufficient training, lack of awareness, or tool fatigue. Regularly reviewing these trends allows you to proactively address gaps and ensure that safety technologies are fully integrated into daily workflows.
Return on investment (ROI)
According to the National Safety Council Safety Investment Calculator, companies that invest in lone worker safety apps often see:
Reduction in incident rates by 10–20%
Emergency response times improved by up to 50%
Average ROI of $2.80 for every $1 invested in mobile safety solutions
Calculate your own ROI by tracking costs avoided (e.g., reduced downtime, fewer compensation claims) versus software/hardware investment. Document changes in incident frequency and severity pre- and post-deployment.
Training and preparedness – are workers equipped to act?
Training should be tracked with:
% of lone workers completing safety training on time (target: 100%)
Post-training quiz scores (target average: >85%)
% of workers receiving refresher training annually
Compare these metrics to incident logs—workers who score below 70% may correlate with higher incident rates, highlighting the need for retraining or one-on-one coaching.
Safety risk exposure levels
While difficult to quantify precisely, understanding the level of risk your lone workers are regularly exposed to is a critical component of any safety program. Employers can assess exposure by evaluating how frequently employees work alone, identifying any newly introduced hazards, and conducting routine hazard assessment of the worksite and surrounding environment. These assessments should be performed regularly—at a minimum, once per year—to ensure that evolving risks are recognized and addressed proactively.
The structure of a strong safety program and lone worker policy
In addition to regularly monitoring these metrics, the structure of a successful lone worker program also has specific components.
Lone worker program and lone worker policy definition which clearly states its mission, objectives and the lone worker policy for the organization.
Hazard and risk assessments which identify and document any dangers before they harm employees.
Safety work procedures and protocols which are clearly communicated to everyone.
A monitoring and communication system that keeps the lone workers connected at all times.
A training and competency structure that maintains compliance as well as employee engagement.
An incident, reporting and investigation system which both protects everyone and allows workers to report risks without worry of retribution.
A performance, measurement and review process of important lone worker safety protocols and practices.
Review and revise regularly
The bottom line is that the success of a lone worker program is measurable. You can measure how effective it is – in specific areas and ways. These metrics and measurables, when monitored consistently, don’t only inform and educate you, they also protect your workers and organization. Review and revise the data as a habit, making small adjustments as needed. Soon your lone worker program will become the team you want it to be.