Alone, but not forgotten...Lone Worker Safety Craig Swallow, Lone Worker Section Chairman, BSIA


A wide variety of organisations and industry sectors employ people whose jobs require them to work or operate alone, either regularly or occasionally. Lone working has been widely accepted within our society and as the definition of a lone worker broadens, more and more people are needing solutions.


There are more than six million people in the UK working either in isolation or without direct supervision, often in places or circumstances that put them at potential risk.


Almost by definition, lone working can potentially be both intimidating and at times dangerous, so the protection of lone workers involves a twofold approach; not only to provide safeguards but also to offer reassurance to the people involved.


The number of UK employers deploying lone worker solutions continues to grow at pace and is


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now being accelerated as new technologies like the use of video start to become a reality. Employers are not only in tune with the need for legislative compliance but more and more, they are recognising the risk of reputational brand damage, high staff churn, impact on staff wellbeing and the increased insurance costs that can exist if lone workers are left to fend for themselves.


Here at the BSIA, all section members are focusing hard on helping employers remove these risks and better protect their mobile staff. The section is also focused on the continued demonstration that expertly managed lone worker alarms can also significantly reduce the unnecessary Police time that is often wasted in handling false or poorly categorised alarms.


All BSIA section members hold a collective goal to verify a lone worker alarm and understand its


severity level as soon as possible and then escalate it based on this. So, in short, the Police are only involved when there is a clear and direct risk to personal safety.


UK employers should be proud of their proactive stance in stamping out lone worker risk. Not only does it genuinely help with improved employer/ employee relations and cost reduction, but it also places UK employers at the forefront when compared to other countries, some of whom are lagging when it comes to strong legislative support and an appreciation for staff wellbeing.


There is the offer of guidance for lone worker across different industries on the BSIA website, which offer support on ethics, HR, Health and Safety, Standards and choosing a lone worker service. It is definitely worth taking a look at these or contacting the BSIA directly with any further questions.


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