Lone workers are defined as employees who work without close contact or supervision from other colleagues. Since COVID-19, the number of lone workers has been rising globally. According to NSC estimates, around 15-20% of employees in the US currently work alone. Previous Verdantix research highlights that 44% of these workers feel unsafe and 20% have struggled to receive any help after an incident occurs. Many lone workers feel that their employers’ safety efforts are currently inadequate, or not as developed as those for on-site workforces. Improving their efforts will not only boost workplace safety but also reduce the costs associated with injuries. According to the Liberty Mutual State Index, every $1 invested in a safety programme yields a $4 return on investment.

There are many EHS technologies that can help support and monitor lone workers. For example, workers can wear livestream monitoring devices, which permit GPS location information and real-time footage. If an incident occurs, users can contact alarm receiving centres through their devices and provide video evidence. This helps organizations to create a full understanding of the incident and what next steps are required.