Digitalisation | Off grid but never alone
Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control, explains how advances in satellite communications, the Internet of Things and ruggedised devices have revolutionised lone worker safety in the hydro industry
IT IS A WINTER’S morning on the reservoir. A worker stands on the embankment, the wind cutting through layers of thermal clothing. He is there to inspect the outflow valves – an unglamorous but vital task that keeps millions of litres of water in check. He is, however, alone – with no colleagues to help him if he slips, and none to hear him call for help should a gust of wind send him tumbling below.
Sadly, this scenario is not a flight of fancy, but a daily reality in the waterways sector, where vast expanses of remote infrastructure demand boots on the ground. From maintenance engineers assessing the structural integrity of sluice gates to technicians clearing debris from spillways, lone working has long been the norm in the industry. Yet, as the moral, legal, reputational and financial ramifications of inadequate safety measures move even further into the spotlight, leaders must ask, ‘are we doing enough to protect our workers?’.
Below: Technological advances have revolutionised lone worker safety in the hydro industry
Accountability In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety at
Work etc. Act 1974 establishes a bedrock principle:
employers, including dam and water utility operators, must do whatever is ‘reasonably practicable’ to safeguard their workforce. This duty of care applies equally to the lone employee trudging up a saturated embankment as it does to an entire shift team based at headquarters. And if your organisation is found wanting, the penalties under the Act can be severe, ranging from fines that run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds to criminal charges for senior managers.
Compounding that, legal and moral risks sow
a reputational minefield that follows any serious workplace incident. In an age when environmental and social governance (ESG) metrics are increasingly under the spotlight, a lone-worker tragedy could tarnish your credentials in the eyes of investors, local authorities, and the broader community. One tragic accident can undo years, if not decades, of carefully nurtured goodwill, let alone damage investor relations and the balance sheet. The public does not soon forget an employer that places cost savings or expedience above the well-being of its people, particularly in sectors where safety is paramount.
28 | May 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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