Lone Worker Safety Solutions for Non-Profit Organizations

Do you work for one of North America's many nonprofit organizations (NPO) that performs some sort of public or social service? Even if you don’t, chances are that you have worked with an NPO at some point or benefitted from an NPO’s services. A nonprofit organization is “a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in contrast with an entity that operates as a business aiming to generate a profit for its owners.” 

This sector employs millions of workers in the United States and Canada, helping satisfy the full range of social, societal, and charitable needs in our communities. In some cases, these NPOs require workers to be in remote locations alone, which can potentially have hazardous situations. Safetyline's lone worker safety devices keep employees safe with its emergency response system and remote monitoring.  

Working alone for non-profit organizations in the United States

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations are registered in the United States, including private foundations, public charities, and many other types of nonprofit groups doing good work throughout the 50 states. 

Although there is no passed safety legislation for NPO workers and volunteers, several groups have realized the need to protect these people, particularly those working alone and in vulnerable conditions. They recognized this occupational safety issue in Virginia, and the Nonprofit Risk Management Centre was formed. Experts at the center say, “workplace safety programs are important to all nonprofit organizations.” The center also states that “to make the workplace safer, the organization has to acknowledge which potential health and safety hazards are present. This involves determining where, what, and how a worker is likely to become injured or ill on the job.” 

The Washington Nonprofit Organization says roughly eight percent of Washington employees work in nonprofit organizations and developed “Safety & Health in Nonprofits” which provides helpful information on safety and health culture and legislation and regulation compliance. And in a great article from OHS Online, they recommend that nonprofits provide and require “occupational safety and health training which will result in a more alert staff, reduced injuries, increasing well-being of employees, money and time savings, and compliance with local OSH regulations and legislation.” 

Working alone for non-profit organizations in Canada

There are more than 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada, with two million Canadians working in the charitable and nonprofit sectors. On top of that, there are over 13 million Canadians who volunteer for charities and nonprofits every year. That’s significant. 

With so many people dedicating their time to help these organizations accomplish their goals, the employee’s safety, and well-being must be a priority for the employers, coordinators, and/or managers to ensure they are safe when performing their work – much of which is volunteered time. Especially when these people are working alone, the NPO has a moral and possibly legal responsibility to protect their employees to the best of their ability and resources.

The safety hazards of working for an NPO  

NPOs provide a range of services and/or goods, satisfying several important – if not essential – needs in our communities. Because of the diversity of programs provided, lone NPO workers face an equally diverse safety hazards and risks. These OHS hazards can include, but are not limited to: 

• Violence in the workplace 

• Vehicular and travel accidents. 

• Dangerous and extreme weather. 

• Slips, trips, and falls. 

• Heat stress and illness.