Enhancing Safety for Lone Workers: The Power of In-Ear Wearables
Imagine for a moment that you spend your days working in high-risk environments – think long-distance drivers, rig engineers, maintenance staff, heavy machinery operatives, industrial installers, and national infrastructure repair workers. The working environment is often extremely hot or cold, tasks repetitive and tiring, shifts are long, and there’s the risk of abuse or assault. And you’re alone.
It can be a foreboding experience for many of the UK’s 8 million lone workers. While regulation and company policy ensure work-based risk is managed, lone workers are understandably concerned about their physical and mental health. A recent study found 81% are worried about violence and aggression.
Lone workers and risk
Several factors have driven the rise of lone workers. Covid-19 undoubtedly contributed to more home working. But technological innovation, increased labour costs and costs of doing business have been instrumental in driving lone-worker policies in higher–risk environments. While the autonomy of lone working can provide flexibility, efficiency and cost savings, it does come with greater risk.
Lone workers face the same risks as anyone operating in similar environments, but work-related illnesses such as stress, fatigue and injury are often heightened. As lone workers do not have close or direct supervision, or colleagues to help should complications arise.
EHS Today recently reported that almost one in five (19%) lone-worker professionals had an accident and struggled to get help, while nearly half (44%) said they felt unsafe at work. The most common risk factors for lone workers include fatigue, heat stress, injury, medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, and crime. Constant worry, stress and solitude take a psychological toll, too.
Could more be done to ensure lone workers’ safety and, importantly, that they feel safe and supported?
Technological evolution
Fortunately, advancements in wearable technology, specifically in-ear devices like Bodytrak, provide much-needed support and reassurance. Bodytrak accurately and in real-time measures key indicators of workplace stressors, injury, and threat allowing fast response and intervention should a lone worker be at risk.
For example, Bodytrak measures heart rate, heart rate variability and core body temperature – all indicators of fatigue and heat-related illnesses. When levels exceed ‘normal’, safe preset thresholds, the wearer and supervisors are alerted so that measures can be immediately taken.
Crime and falls are two of the most significant risks to lone workers. Bodytrak’s SOS and geolocation features are designed to protect employees and ensure a rapid incident response. Suppose a lone worker experiences an attempted hijacking. They can trigger the SOS feature, which immediately alerts management and provides the employee’s exact location so emergency services can respond. A built-in man-down alert would automate an alarm in the same way.
A new buddy system
Technological solutions like this are essential, not just for physical safety, but for mental safety too. The peace of mind of knowing that help is at hand when needed can help reduce stress and worry, even enhancing long-term psychological well-being and morale.
Intelligence to inform policy
Finally, using insights about lone workers can help ensure company policies are fit for purpose and that individuals are supported. Bodytrak’s precise monitoring platform provides companies with real-time data and insights that increase safety and productivity. For example, lone rail workers tend to be more fatigued on the first and last day of the working week. Understanding individual parameters helps organisations implement effective working schedules, rest periods and policies to keep teams safe while maximising productivity.
How are you supporting your lone workers, and what are they most worried about? Find out how Bodytrak can help your organisation’s lone workers.
Written by Leon Marsh, Founder & CEO of Bodytrak (01 June 2023)
