Staying Compliant with Lone Worker Safety Legislation, Regulations, and Industry Standards - Part 2
Table of Contents
Best practices for ensuring lone worker safety
Current lone worker safety legislation and regulations in North America
Embrace future safety legislation and regulations
How can an automated lone worker solution like SafetyLine help?
Welcome to part 2 of our series on Staying Compliant with Lone Worker Safety Legislation, Regulations, and Industry Standards. If you missed part 1, be sure to check it out https://safetylineloneworker.com/blog/lone-worker-safety-legislation-regulations-and-industry-standards-part-1.
In Part 1, we focused on the definition of a lone worker, the hazards they face, and employers' legal obligations to protect lone workers. You also discussed the types of lone worker safety systems, including manual lone worker safety procedures, smartphone apps, location-based tracking systems, and personal safety alarm systems.
In this post, we will continue our exploration of the best practices for ensuring lone worker safety, Current lone worker safety legislation and regulations in North America, and how can an automated lone worker solution like SafetyLine help.
Best practices for ensuring lone worker safety
In addition to staying on top of local safety legislation and regulations, there are several steps employers can take to make sure their lone workers are safe.
Communication and monitoring systems
The first best practice to ensure lone worker safety has effective communication and monitoring systems. Employers must establish a system for workers to be able to communicate with others in case of an emergency. This can include radios, cell phones, or personal alarms. Additionally, employers should use monitoring systems such as GPS tracking to keep track of lone workers' locations and ensure they are safe.
Regular check-ins
As mentioned earlier, safety check-ins are an essential practice that can reliably let the employer know that their lone workers are okay. Essentially, it involves the lone worker communicating, through a check-in, that they are safe. Check-ins can be performed manually on a whiteboard or a phone call/text but are at risk of human error, and check-ins can be missed or lost track of. To eliminate that risk of human error, lone workers can also check in on an automated system like SafetyLine, which will notify the employer if the lone worker misses the pre-established time that they would check in to confirm their safety.
Having a policy and training
Employers should also have a comprehensive lone worker safety policy, which outlines the company's commitment to protecting its employees who work alone. The policy should cover risk assessments, emergency procedures, communication systems, and reporting requirements. Employers must also provide regular training to employees on how to use communication and monitoring systems and the procedures to follow in an emergency.
Hazard assessments
Consistent compliance and lone worker safety benefit when hazard assessments are conducted of the lone worker(s) work environment, documenting all dangers facing their team members. When the occupational hazards of a workplace are identified, proactive safety measures can be planned and implemented to mitigate these hazards.
Reporting requirements for lone worker incidents
Employers must have precise reporting requirements in place in an incident involving a lone worker. This will ensure that any issues are dealt with promptly and that the safety of other lone workers is not compromised. Employers should require employees to report any incidents, accidents, or near-misses immediately, so the necessary steps can be taken to prevent them from happening in the future.
Communication and location monitoring
A strong line of communication must be maintained between the lone worker and the employer or a safety monitor. The successful emergency response includes a wide range of context and details, much of which can come during communication during the lone worker’s shift. If the lone worker is in a remote area with questionable cellular coverage, they will need satellite and GPS tracking.
This leads to location monitoring which is also vital when sending help to an injured lone worker. When seconds count, a strong location monitoring tool like SafetyLine can get help to the correct location and maintain a dependable communication link. Using a location monitoring device is incredibly important, and it must be communicated how and when it will be used during the shift or work.
Current lone worker safety legislation and regulations in North America
Canada: The Westray Law (formerly Bill C-45)
Under the Westray Law, Canadian organizations and individuals can be criminally liable when they do not take reasonable measures to protect their employees, including lone workers. If the employer does not mitigate safety hazards through lone worker technology or other measures, they may be at risk of litigation.
Due diligence
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says due diligence "means that employers shall take all reasonable precautions, under the particular circumstances, to prevent injuries or incidents in the workplace.” These measures can cover situations not addressed or identified in other OHS legislation.
United States OSHA regulations and standards
Created in 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has helped protect workers in the United States through regulations and standards. Under the OSHA’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Shipyard Employment, it states:
OSHA 1915.84: Working alone.
1915.84(a) Except as provided in § 1915.51(c)(3) of this part, whenever an employee is working alone, such as in a confined space or isolated location, the employer shall account for each employee:
1915.84(a)(1) Throughout each work shift at regular intervals appropriate to the job assignment to ensure the employee’s safety and health; and
1915.84(a)(2) At the end of the job assignment or at the end of the work shift, whichever occurs first.
1915.84(b) The employer shall account for each employee by sight or verbal communication; maintaining lone worker safety is an important employer responsibility to properly protect lone workers; organizational leadership must consider OSHA regulations, lone worker safety best practices, and employee needs and expectations.
This requires American employers to ensure their lone workers can be accessed through verbal or visual communication, including automated check-ins.
General Duty Clause
Under the OSHA’s OSH Act, the General Duty Clause (section 5 (a)(1) states US employers must provide a work environment that is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”
Embrace future safety legislation and regulations
While there may be several different pieces to keep track of, staying on top of lone worker safety legislation and regulations is manageable with planning, practice, and the safety measures of automated check-ins, hazard assessments and reporting, strong safety training, and policies, as well as dependable communication and location monitoring.
Like taxes, new safety legislation, regulations, and standards in your industry are inevitable. The employer’s legal and moral responsibility is to ensure that their organization and lone workers are compliant and safe. Monitor any new legislation and embrace whatever comes down the road.
How can an automated lone worker solution like SafetyLine help?
Automated lone worker solutions like SafetyLine can provide a range of benefits to organizations with employees who work alone or in remote locations. Here are some of how SafetyLine can help:
Improved safety: SafetyLine can help ensure the safety of lone workers by providing them with a reliable means of communication in an emergency. With SafetyLine, lone workers can check in regularly and send alerts if they encounter problems or require assistance. SafetyLine can also help organizations track the location of their lone workers, making it easier to respond quickly in an emergency.
Enhanced productivity: By automating the check-in process, SafetyLine can save time and help lone workers be more productive. Lone workers can quickly check in and get on with their work without spending time manually reporting their location or status.
Increased compliance: Many industries have regulations or guidelines that require organizations to ensure the safety of lone workers. SafetyLine can help organizations comply with these requirements by providing a reliable means of communication and tracking the location of lone workers.
Peace of mind: SafetyLine can provide peace of mind for lone workers and employers. Organizations can be confident that their lone workers are safe and that they are meeting their obligations to ensure their safety. Lone workers, on the other hand, can feel reassured that they have a reliable means of communication and that someone is looking out for their safety.
Overall, automated lone-worker solutions like SafetyLine can significantly benefit organizations with lone workers. By ensuring the safety of lone workers, enhancing productivity, increasing compliance, and providing peace of mind, SafetyLine can help organizations meet their obligations and keep their lone workers safe.