A Look at the Lone Worker Safety Landscape: SafetyLine’s 2023 Customer Survey Results
Table of Contents
Executive summary of the lone worker landscape
Why Canadian companies use a lone worker solution
Lone worker safety legislation and standards in the United States
Why do American companies use a lone worker solution
SafetyLine’s customer survey
General key findings
Why this data matters
Top safety concerns
Most valued safety features
“Very reliable” and “Very trustworthy.”
Safety legislation and regulations
The current state of occupational health and safety
A look at the primary challenges of lone worker safety
How can employers improve safety training for their lone workers
Essential steps that employers must take to improve lone worker safety
Which employees benefit the most from a lone worker solution
Customer feedback and testimonials
Conclusion: Moving forward
Executive summary of the lone worker safety landscape
Regardless of the industry, almost every employer has lone workers on their team. There is a wide, diverse range of jobs that require the individual to work alone at some point. As you will read below, lone workers are employed in the healthcare, agriculture, utilities, and energy sectors.
Before we look at lone worker legislation and safety standards in North America, let’s explain what a lone worker is defined as. A lone worker is an employee who spends most of their work hours without supervision by a manager or co-worker, limiting their access to help in an emergency or accident. (Lone workers often perform their jobs in remote locations and/or outside normal work hours.)
Berg Insights says that about 15 percent of all employees in North America can be considered lone workers – 22 million in the United States and 2.7 million in Canada. Lone worker safety legislation and standards in Canada
Lone worker safety legislation and standards in Canada
In Canada, under Westray Law, companies and individuals can be criminally liable if it’s proven that they failed to take reasonable measures to protect their employees and line workers. Additionally, most provinces and territories have individual occupational health and safety bodies enforcing legislation and safety standards.
Why Canadian companies use a lone worker safety solution
Compliance: Under Westray Law, SafetyLine helps employers meet their legal obligation of taking steps to protect their employees by providing a monitoring system that improves their safety and well-being.
Improved occupational health and safety: While it may be an obvious point, SafetyLine benefits the health and safety of employees with its real-time monitoring and communication and safety reporting features – in an emergency, SafetyLine will know where to send help.
Automated features: A significant safety issue is when human error occurs with manual check-in systems, emergency response, and overall communication – particularly for the safety of large teams. SafetyLine’s proven design provides automated safety check-ins, notifications, and monitoring, making it significantly more reliable and effective.
Peace of mind: A significant benefit of SafetyLine that many customers talk about is how it provides valuable peace of mind. This includes peace of mind for the lone worker who can perform their job knowing their safety is monitored and ease of mind for the employer using a reliable monitoring tool to ensure their people are safe.
Cost and time savings: By preventing accidents from occurring or improving the emergency response if one does happen, the return on investment in SafetyLine will include reduced impact on operations and productivity, as well as potential compensation claims, legal costs, and safety fines.
Lone worker safety legislation and standards in the United States
Employers in the United States are responsible under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH) to provide a safe workplace for lone workers and all employees. Under the OSH Act, the US government formed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to enforce safety standards and regulations, providing safety training, education, and other resources to aid compliance; in 2015, the OSHA published new guidelines on the definition of working alone as well as the requirement for employers to ensure the safety of employees who are considered lone workers – even if it’s only part of the time. Several states have also implemented their own safety guidelines for lone worker safety.
Why do American companies use a lone worker safety solution
Even though the US does not have federal legislation to protect lone workers specifically, American companies still need to protect these people for several reasons.
Safety and liability risk: American organizations have a general duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees under the OSH Act. If proven a company has failed to do so, it can face legal liability and steep financial penalties. SafetyLine can prove general duty by dependably supervising their safety and security.
Industry regulations: Different industries may have safety regulations and standards, such as healthcare, water and electrical utilities, and oil and energy. Like the above point, implementing SafetyLine into your operations will prevent damaging litigation and fines.
Lone worker well-being: Providing an unintrusive, reliable monitoring system for lone worker safety will also improve their well-being, knowing that their safety is being watched and is a priority. Having somebody watch their back, so to speak, will allow them to focus on work and safety at hand.
Cost-effective and time-saving: When an accident occurs, the damage is immediate and can impact operations, productivity, and the harm done to the employee and their family. SafetyLine proactively prevents costly accidents from happening while providing a monitoring system that is very simple to use.
SafetyLine’s customer survey
Conducted in April 2023, SafetyLine Lone Worker surveyed its customers on lone worker safety, and the results are now available. Over 1,500 SafetyLine users completed the survey, including lone workers themselves, safety monitors, and administrators across various industries, including healthcare, water and electrical utilities, government services, hotels, and hospitality.
These are industries and people working alone whom SafeyLine has helped protect for over 20 years, helping pioneer the lone worker and occupational health and safety sector since 1999. It has helped pave the way for lone worker safety by constantly adapting to the dynamic OHS landscape and its safety challenges. SafetyLine has managed to successfully adapt by continually listening to the expertise and feedback of its customers and those in the safety industry, which includes this survey and the valuable commentary it provides not only on our product but, as you will see below, for the safety of those who selflessly work alone and in vulnerable occupational circumstances.
Below are the survey results that are significant to lone workers’ occupational health and safety.
General key findings
75 % of SafetyLine users understand the lone worker regulatory and legislation requirements
75% of respondents said they consider themselves a lone worker
A total average of 93% of users said they have formal policies in place to protect lone workers
An average of 28% of companies have experienced an accident or emergency involving a lone worker over the last 3 years
Key Findings for Administrators
Most administrators said SafetyLine meets their needs “very well.”
Most administrators said SafetyLine is “very professional.”
Most administrators rated the SafetyLine service as “high quality.”
A huge majority of respondents (97%) have “formal policies and protocols in place for lone workers.”
The top lone worker accidents/emergencies experienced by administrators over the past three years include:
slip, trips, falls, accidents - 30%
Physical health issues requiring professional attention – 3.33%
Hostility, verbal abuse from others – 6.67%
Physical violence from others – 13.33%
Environmental and weather hazards – 10%
Other – 36.67%
Top three reported OHS responses and strategies to these accidents:
New policies and procedures
OHS training
Other protective measures (i.e. implementation of safety check in application)
Key findings for Monitors
A majority of monitors said SafetyLine is “very convenient.”
A majority of monitors said SafetyLine is “very reliable.”
Most monitors said SafetyLine protects their privacy “very well.”
Most monitors rate SafetyLine as "high quality.”
Most monitors said they were “very satisfied” with SafetyLine
97% of respondents said their company “have formal policies and protocols in place for lone workers.”
The top 5 used features by SafetyLine monitors are:
Acknowledge emergency
Emergency response protocols
GPS available mapping
History
System history reports
Key Findings for Workers
Most workers said SafetyLine is “very convenient” to use.
Most workers said SafetyLine’s mobile app interface is “very user-friendly.”
Most workers said SafetyLine is “very reliable.”
Most workers said SafetyLine is “very trustworthy.”
Most workers (89%) have “formal policies and protocols in place for lone workers.”
25% of workers don’t understand legislative requirements.
75% of respondents said they consider themselves a lone worker at times.
The top 4 most liked aspects of SafetyLine by workers are:
Convenience
Functionality
Reliability
Speed
The top 5 occupational safety hazards SafetyLine workers worry about are:
Environmental and weather hazards
Slips/trips/falls/accidents
Hostility and verbal abuse
Physical violence
Stress and mental/emotional health issues
Why this data matters
In addition to valuable feedback about SafetyLine as an effective lone worker solution, the responses we received communicated several valuable safety insights into occupational health and safety, including, as you just read, the top hazards workers worry most about.
Top safety concerns
Across an almost full range of industries and sectors, employees are most concerned about environmental and weather hazards only, followed by slips, trips, and falls, consistently ranked as a top occupational hazard and one of the most frequently cited safety standards following worksite inspections. With increasing trends in extreme weather and growing occupational hazards such as wildfires, this data reflects a changing occupational safety landscape.
Most valued safety features
To mitigate occupational hazards like environmental and weather risks and slips, trips, and falls, SafetyLine offers a comprehensive selection of safety features that provide solid, overall safety for the worker. With emergency acknowledgment and safety protocols ranking as the top two most-used features by safety monitors, it is evident that emergency response and emergency preparedness are significant priorities in the workplace.
“Very reliable” and “Very trustworthy.”
Additionally, this survey told us a lot about SafetyLine users, and most respondents, in all three categories, feel the lone worker app is “very convenient,” “very reliable,” and “very trustworthy,” with most monitors rating SafetyLine has “high quality.” This demonstrates the proven functionality of the safety app as well as consensus amongst workers, monitors, and administrators that SafetyLine is an effective OHS measure.
Safety legislation and regulations
We also learned that a quarter of workers don’t understand local legislative requirements. Government safety laws can be worded in dense, confusing language, so employers must prioritize the education and training of employees on local OHS laws and regulations. As local OHS legislation evolves and changes, regular updates are required for impacted lone workers and employees.
Additional information for staying compliant with lone worker safety legislation:
Staying Compliant with Lone Worker Safety Legislation, Regulations, and Industry Standards – Part 1
Staying Compliant with Lone Worker Safety Legislation, Regulations, and Industry Standards – Part 2
The current state of occupational health and safety
As stated earlier, the data collected in this survey is representative of the concerns and challenges regarding the current state of occupational health and safety across all industries. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has enforced safety standards and regulations for lone working, particularly OSHA 1915.84: Working alone. and OSHA Section 5(a)(1): General Duty Clause. In Canada, the Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) helps enforce the Westray Law, which makes companies and individuals criminally liable “for failure to take reasonable measures to protect employee safety.”
Since 1999, SafetyLine has played a pioneering role in lone worker safety. As occupational health and safety grows and changes, so does SafetyLine, constantly trying to anticipate future lone worker safety challenges before they harm anyone.
A look at the primary challenges of lone worker safety
Employees who perform their jobs alone face occupational hazards unique to a lone worker's work conditions. Some of these hazards impact all employees, but in this case, they present a higher risk to lone workers due to several factors.
Communication and monitoring: One of the biggest challenges is maintaining regular communication with lone workers and supervising their safety and well-being, impacting their access to help.
Emergency response: Their isolated working circumstances make it difficult to provide emergency help in an accident or a case of violence and assault, especially when communication and monitoring are inconsistent or spotty.
Risk mitigation and assessment: Identifying current and potential safety hazards for lone workers can be challenging as they are unique for every industry, role, and/or work environment – they must also be performed regularly.
Isolation: When working for long periods alone, people can feel isolated, sometimes leading to increased stress and decreased job satisfaction.
Environmental and meteorological factors: Many lone workers perform their jobs outdoors, where they are at risk of extreme, unpredictable weather and temperatures.
Effective safety technology and devices: Due to the secluded circumstances of lone workers, it can be challenging to find safety technology and devices that meet all of your needs and maintain communication without a cellular signal.
How can employers improve safety training for their lone workers
Safety training is significant for any occupational health and safety program; according to our survey results, training is our customers' third most-employed safety strategy. Safety training for lone workers can benefit by:
Communicating clear information on potential safety hazards and risks connected to the job and working alone.
Offering practical training can help lone workers prepare for certain circumstances and events while working alone.
Providing the regular support and resources that lone workers need to perform their jobs safely, such as communication protocols, proper PPE, and access to mental health services.
Essential steps that employers must take to improve lone worker safety
To effectively address and mitigate the safety challenges that lone workers face, employers and organizations need to take specific steps to improve the safety of their team members working alone.
Create a lone worker policy that outlines safety protocols and solutions implemented for the safety of lone workers. (we found in the survey 7% did not have a lone worker policy)
Conduct safety risk assessments and implement safety measures to identify and mitigate potential occupational hazards unique to the lone workers.
Provide safety training and resources/support that is uncomplicated and addresses key OHS areas such as emergency response procedures and hazard identification/reporting.
Implement a safety check-in system or schedule that requires lone workers to check in with the employer at preestablished times to confirm their safety.
Which employees benefit the most from a lone worker solution
When lone workers are protected, the entire team and organization benefit in some way. But there are certain parts of the company’s team whose safety is particularly improved.
Workers and users benefit by having their safety monitored non-intrusively while at work, providing ease of mind that the employer knows their location in an emergency.
Safety monitors benefit by having a reliable tool that will notify them if the lone worker is in trouble or has experienced an accident; they also will receive safety confirmation if using a check-in system.
The company benefits by having an OHS tool that will protect its people and team members dependably, providing their location and other important details in an emergency.
Customer feedback and testimonials
Along with the data to support its efficacy as an OHS solution, customers have also told us about the peace of mind that SafetyLine provides when protecting their coworkers and team.
“Workers appreciate the automated system and the notification to the check in,” said Robert Engel, EHS Supervisor at Windsor Salt. “It’s also good peace of mind knowing that there is a non-biased system on the other end that will kick-start an emergency action plan into place if needed.”
“There is always someone working 24/7, and knowing that person was safe gave me peace of mind,” said Daryl Stevenson, Wastewater Treatment, City of Peterborough. “They could check in on multiple devices, such as their desktop app, and even call in. We love all the different features on it.”
Additional testimonials
“A great device to provide good coverage for work-alone situations. The product and device are user friendly and provide a great solution for companies that are trying to create a safe working environment for their employees. “
-Jayne J. at Air Liquide
“It is easy to use, and the fact that it can be accessed by phone, or app, or webpage is very convenient. Being able to add notes is helpful.”
-Meghan from Family Futures
“It provides an excellent service and is generally simple to use. “
-Jeremy from the City of West Kelowna
“I myself think it’s a good thing because what if, all of a sudden, you fall or have a heart attack. If you're by yourself, no one will know until the next day.”
-Anonymous User
Conclusion: Moving forward
With this new insight into current lone worker safety and its challenges, how can we utilize it to benefit our lone workers and organizations? The most obvious opportunity is to prioritize the communication and education of local safety legislation and regulations. This ties into safety training and other OHS measures like lone worker safety apps that focus on emergency preparedness and response.
Overall, what this survey tells us is that communication is still key, regardless of the safety hazards and challenges your lone workers may be facing. SafetyLine leverages the data collected from this survey and other channels to improve its safety app and service to protect more vulnerable workers across North America.