Have you heard of lone worker solutions but aren't sure what they are, how they work and if you really need one?
All too often we hear of managers using mobile phones, Microsoft Teams or WhatsApp to keep in contact with their lone workers. Whilst this might sound like you have it covered, what happens if your lone workers are injured, stuck or unable to speak - how will they communicate with you that something is wrong? And with no means of quickly alerting someone to an emergency how long could they be left for without help? This is where lone worker solutions are invaluable.
What is a lone worker solution?
A lone worker solution is a dedicated, robust, safe system of work - keeping people working alone safe and providing peace of mind and reassurance to managers, lone workers and their families.
A lone worker solution gives those working alone a way to immediately raise an SOS alarm in the event of an emergency and managers a way to quickly respond to, monitor and report on incidents.
A lone worker solution is usually a combination of a product or app, a management system, aftercare support and in some cases, an alarm receiving centre (ARC). Without one or another the solution is unlikely to be comprehensive enough to support the needs of you and your lone workers.
Why are lone worker solutions important?
Lone worker solutions are important because they;
- help to protect workers who work alone or in isolated locations, ensuring they get help quickly when needed
- help reduce the risks associated with working alone
- help to increase employee morale and retention (as employees feel safer when at work)
- allow for better resource allocation and cost savings (as they reduce the reliance on, and need for, a "buddy" system) resulting in increased efficiency and productivity
- support with data driven decision making (by creating & downloading reports)
- provide a truly scalable and flexible way of protecting lone workers
- help employers to comply with lone working regulations and fulfill their duty of care, therefore avoiding fines, other legal issues and damaged reputation.
What's the difference between using WhatsApp vs a lone worker solution?
WhatsApp is primarily used for casual communication, whereas a lone worker device is built specifically for providing reassurance, alerting someone to, and ensuring a quick response to, an emergency situation.
Whilst WhatsApp can be used by an organisation to check in with colleagues it cannot mitigate the risks for employees working alone. This is because it cannot actively monitor, respond to or report on incidents or emergencies.
Lone worker solutions also offer a range of functionalities to provide added safety & reassurance to lone workers and their managers, including; a dedicated SOS button, automated alarms (e.g. in the event of a fall), the ability to set timers and location tracking. WhatsApp does not have these functionalities.
As part of your lone worker policy, you will need to identify the systems and equipment your lone workers need to conduct their job safely. A lone worker solution may be included in this. If you haven't already written your lone worker policy we can help with this.
How does a lone worker solution work?
A lone worker solution combines:
- a lone worker device or app (used by the lone worker)
- a management system (used by managers of lone workers)
- in some cases - an ARC (alarm receiving centre)
If a lone worker has an accident or finds themself in danger an alarm can be raised to alert a manager or colleague to this. In the event of an alarm being raised;
- This is received by The OWL (the LONEALERT lone worker management system)
- The OWL then directs the alarm to either a nominated manager/colleague (via a call, text message and email) or the ARC
- The manager, colleague or ARC receiving the call will then respond accordingly.
*If using an ARC they will only alert the emergency services if there is a genuine emergency, not for every alarm received.
How are alarms raised?
All lone worker devices and apps feature an SOS button which can be pressed to manually raise an alarm. In addition each lone worker device has different functions that will mitigate the risks identified dependent on job role. Therefore an alarm can also be raised when;
- a fall is detected (by impact or by free fall)
- no movement is detected (after a set period of time, which can be customised for you)
- the device remains tilted at a particular angle (defined by you)
- a lone worker has not responded to the end of timer
- a lanyard had been ripped from a device
How are alarms answered?
Alarms are answered by either;
- a manager/colleague/your security team or
- an ARC (alarm receiving centre)
This will be decided when you first set up your lone worker solution.
If a manager/colleague/security team are designated to answer alarms they will be alerted by automated phone call, text message and email one by one, until action is taken or everyone in the lone worker's escalation chain have been contacted. In this case your organisation is responsible for contacting the lone worker who has raised an alarm to check they are safe. This can be done by going to their location (shown in The OWL portal) or by calling them. In the event of a false alarm a manager will need to log in to the OWL portal to close down the alarm.
If the ARC are designated to answer alarms, when the alarm is raised this will direct a two-way voice call to the ARC. The ARC will call several times, will remain silent for a couple of seconds and then will try to speak to the lone worker to ascertain the situation and decide on the best course of action. This may be contacting the lone workers' colleagues, next of kin or the emergency services. If a false alarm has been raised the ARC will simply ask for the lone worker's PIN number and close down the alarm. If the ARC need to pass responsibility over to someone in the worker's organisation, a manager will need to log in to the OWL portal to manage the alarms once the lone worker has been attended to and is safe.
What is a management system?
A lone worker management system is an operating system used by employers to monitor the safety of their lone workers. Here at LONEALERT, our lone worker management system is known as The OWL. Lone worker management systems are connected with the devices and apps used by lone workers within an organisation so that employers can:
- set-up their lone workers as well as manage and configure their devices & alerts
- see if lone workers have raised an SOS alarm / an SOS alarm has been activated and respond to these
- see if lone workers have set a timer session and if these have elapsed without the worker making contact
- view the live location of their lone workers, so they can be found in an emergency
- download insightful reports needed for key decision making within their organisation or health & safety documentation, policies & audit trails.
What is an emergency response procedure?
An emergency response procedure is a set of instructions to follow in the event of an emergency. Before you can use a lone worker solution you will need to consider your emergency response procedure.
A critical part of this is who will be contacted in the event of an emergency. Your lone worker solution provider can help you with this and help you to set this up in your lone worker management system and ensure your lone worker apps and devices are configured accordingly. They can also assist you should you need to alter this at any time (for example during holiday time or if a staff member changes).
How much does a lone worker solution cost?
The cost of a LONEALERT lone worker solution starts from as little as £102 per worker, per year. Pricing varies depending on the functionalities you require and therefore the type of device(s) you purchase. Payment is flexible; choose from monthly or upfront payments - whichever is best for you.
