Lone Worker Safety Solutions for Government Workers

Every one of our communities' civil servants perform a wide range of public services that we depend on, like providing clean water, sanitation, electricity, public libraries, emergency services, and many more. This diverse group of professions also faces a diverse category of occupational safety hazards that present unique social and circumstantial challenges.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) acknowledges that in 2019, North American employers reported more than 400 work-related fatalities in all levels of government, with local government, interestingly, accounting for more than half of those fatalities (240). And a year earlier, in 2018, the BLS reported that nearly 3 million American workers experienced nonfatal injuries and illnesses while on the job. Looking at these numbers, those working in government services can be at serious risk of injuries, fatal and nonfatal. To protect the safety of their employees, some government operations use traditional, manual check-in procedures to confirm the safety of these vulnerable and lone workers. However, these check-ins are sometimes not fast enough, cannot provide the precise location of the worker in distress, or are at risk of human error. SafetyLine eliminates that risk by providing a reliable, automated worker safety monitoring system available 24/7 in any location and keeps lone workers connected with missed check-in notifications and alarms, man-down detection, an emergency panic button, and more.  

Lone worker monitoring for local government workers in the United States

Government employees can be found virtually everywhere in public and are at risk of serious safety hazards like violence and assault. In a comprehensive look at why employers need to invest in safety, the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Safety+Health Magazine says, “When analyzing the cost efficiency of specific safety and health interventions – such as training programs, new equipment or risk assessments – focus on what you’re aiming to accomplish, how it will be measured and what would constitute success.”  

To help employers get started on their lone worker safety program, Washington State developed “Working Alone Safely: Controlling the Risks of Solitary Work,” a thorough document that stresses the importance of safety hazard assessments and the resulting safety protocols from those assessments, including lone worker emergency communication systems. Another fantastic resource is the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) 10 tips to Protect Lone Workers with a Safety Management Program, which provides simple-but-effective steps and guidance on important areas such as assessing risks, implementing certain safety controls, and lone worker monitoring.  

Working alone is common in the U.S., but OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires organizations to consider and address risks to lone workers performing tasks on fixed and mobile work sites. As more and more US workers are now finding themselves working alone and in isolation, their safety - and lives - are increasingly becoming more vulnerable. Occupational safety for government workers is a very comprehensive challenge and therefore requires an equally comprehensive lone worker emergency communications system that satisfies their unique needs and safety requirements.  

Lone Worker Monitoring for local government workers in Canada

Bill C-45 was passed in 2004 and is now called the Westray Law, which amended the Criminal Code so that organizations and individuals can be criminally liable for not taking the necessary steps to maintain employee safety - it also affects the criminal liability of organizations.  

Additionally, and equally as significantly, each Canadian province and territory has legislation to protect those working alone within their jurisdiction. To learn more about Canada's provincial and territorial lone worker safety legislation, visit our regularly updated Canadian working alone regulations page.  

Due to the different roles in the overall government employment umbrella, employers need an advanced work-alone solution, such as a lone worker monitoring system that can immediately send for help even when the employee is unconscious or disabled. Additionally, due to the different OHS regulations above, government and municipality services must ensure the health and safety of their lone workers and employ a dependable lone worker monitoring system.   

The Solution: How SafetyLine can help government lone workers

Using SafetyLine’s lone worker solution, workers can proactively check in, signal an emergency, leverage motion features such as man-down and fall detection, discreet alert of a panic emergency, and integration with satellite devices if a worker is out of cell service, and many more benefits.

Proactive Notifications and Monitoring

SafetyLine is a lone worker monitoring system that does not require a worker to signal for help manually. For example, if a sanitation worker were to get in trouble and couldn’t call for help, SafetyLine’s lone worker safety app would alarm once the timer expires and let the monitor know they need help.

High-Risk Check-in timers

Depending on the hazard-risk scenario, government workers in all areas can set their check-in duration to under 15 minutes or every hour manually or with a lone worker emergency communications system. If the worker misses a check, a supervisor would be immediately notified of a possible emergency and be sent the exact location and any other details the worker has previously supplied, such as voicemails and work itinerary.

Emergency Panic Button

SafetyLine also has an in-app panic button that can signal for help. When triggered, all of the emergency contacts will be notified of a confirmed emergency and sent any voicemails that have previously been recorded, details of location (GPS), and work profile.

Full Device Integration

SafetyLine’s lone worker app and lone worker emergency solution can be used on almost any common device employees are already carrying and using such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, landlines, and satellite devices such as Garmin and Globalstar. Therefore, there is no extra cost to purchase and carry additional devices and equipment.

Compliant with Lone Worker Legislation

Lone worker legislation and regulations vary in every region and jurisdiction. SafetyLine’s lone worker safety features help companies and individuals remain legally compliant with overall occupational health and safety (OSH) laws. Using SafetyLine demonstrates that the organization is demonstrating due diligence in OHS.

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With no commitment, you can try SafetyLine yourself and see how easy it can be to have the best safety monitoring for your team! Let’s connect, and we'll help you get started.

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Frequently Asked Questions for Lone Workers in Government

  • Government workers encompass several positions ranging from engineers, sanitation, and surveyors, to social workers. Most of these people work in a public setting where they are at risk of violence and assault. However, any government employee, who works in circumstances or environments where help is not readily available, will benefit from a lone worker device or app.

  • The SafetyLine app will only track employees when they have checked in and are working. Once the lone worker checks back in after their shift, any tracking or monitoring will be deactivated. Prior to using the SafetyLine system, employers must establish and communicate when and where their team members will be monitored

  • SafetyLine will protect lone workers in areas that do not have cellular coverage via other networks including satellite, GPS, and wi-fi. By partnering with satellite messenger leaders like Garmin and Globalstar, SafetyLine can protect workers anywhere without a cell service.

  • SafetyLine is a very cost-effective work safety solution that will result in safer people and, as a result, a solid return on investment. SafetyLine can fit in any budget – big or small – with several packages for any team, regardless of team size.

  • An emergency response alert can be activated through several ways on SafetyLine, depending on the safety hazard or threat. Emergency response alerts will be initiated through SafetyLine’s discreet, Bluetooth panic button, and motion sensors that detect a dangerous impact on the device, and when the worker fails to check in after their shift or at the predetermined time.