PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND WORKWEAR
SAFETY WITHOUT NUMBERS
Here, SafetyBuyer outlines how managers can ensure that lone workers are adequately protected while working remotely.
Setting high standards in health and safety is all about instilling a team-wide ethos of supporting wellbeing in the workplace. But what happens when some team members aren’t based in the workplace at all?
It’s a question that more and more employers are having to answer, due to the growing number of professionals operating as lone workers. Between six and eight million people in the UK now work alone as part of their day-to-day activities, a trend that is accelerating as teams become leaner and the centralised office model gives way to more remote and home-based working.
As such, it’s never been more important for managers to think about the protection and safety measures they provide for lone workers - an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude simply won’t cut it.
WHAT RISKS DO LONE WORKERS FACE? Lone workers can include shop managers, maintenance workers, off-site construction professionals, service workers attending house calls, or carers helping patients in their homes, to name just a few. These professionals will face the same sort of hazards and dangers as anyone else in their field, but with additional risks posed by being unsupervised, without colleagues to offer support and protection.
Potential risks could include accidents when carrying out manual handling tasks, exposure to fire, chemicals and environmental hazards, being cut off from essential help in a remote area or becoming fatigued with nobody to provide aid.
Employers have a legal responsibility to protect lone workers against these risks; for those organisations that may be falling short of the required standard, the time to act is now.
WHAT PROTECTION IS REQUIRED? In order to ensure the health and safety of lone workers, it’s vital to provide them with all of the personal protective equipment (PPE) they will need to carry out their work, including appropriate gear to safeguard them against the elements and hazards they will encounter.
This might include hot or cold weather clothing, hard hats, eye protection, hearing protection, breathing aids,
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safety harnesses for working at height and slip-resistant work boots.
Additionally, lone workers may benefit from access to equipment to help them manage emergency situations, such as first aid kits, fire extinguishing tools and supplies for controlling dangerous spills. Transistor radios or GPS trackers may also be useful for those working in remote locations, where mobile reception may be unreliable.
Perhaps even more importantly, employers should have systems and procedures in place to ensure that the work proceeds safely and responsibly. A risk assessment can determine whether the job is truly suitable for a lone worker to handle, followed by thorough training for staff on the potential hazards that may emerge, and detailed instructions on how to safely use their PPE in any scenario.
Finally, setting out a detailed work schedule and exchanging multiple contact details will help workers and employers know where everyone is supposed to be at all times. By staying in regular contact with lone workers, bosses can ensure that help will always be available when needed.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LOOKING AFTER
LONE WORKERS? By proactively addressing the needs of their lone workers, organisations can fulfill their legal obligations and ensure their team is working flexibly and efficiently, safe in the knowledge that employees have everything they need to get the job done, even without direct oversight.
Staff, meanwhile, will be able to work with greater confidence and security, knowing they are being looked after by an employer that is committed to supporting their health and wellbeing, no matter where their work takes them.
To find out more about the kind of tools that businesses can use to safeguard their lone workers, visit SafetyBuyer to browse an industry-leading selection of safety aids and equipment. By investing in the right PPE and gear, bosses can make sure that their lone workers never feel like they are on their own.
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