Safety fears could be stifling productivity, as half of lone workers avoid tasks due to risk

According to SoloProtect’s Lone Worker Survey, half of lone workers have avoided tasks or locations due to safety concerns.

A comparable segment of the 2,500 frontline workers surveyed – 56 per cent – had experienced verbal or physical abuse in the past year.

Half of lone workers have avoided tasks or locations due to safety concerns while working alone. Photograph: iStock

Workers represented in the report are from sectors including housing, healthcare, charities, and local government.

SoloProtect says that overlooking lone workers’ concerns could be harming organisations’ bottom line. 

“Lone workers provide vital services across many sectors, and this research shows that exposure to aggression and unpredictable environments remains a reality for many workers who operate alone,” commented Steve Hough, managing director at SoloProtect.

“When workers feel the need to change how they approach certain situations, this can provide valuable insight into the risks they encounter day-to-day. Understanding those experiences is essential if organisations want to strengthen how they support and protect their lone workers.”

Environmental risks remain a core challenge, with slips, uneven terrain, poor lighting and remote locations are among the most common lone working hazards reported in the survey. Most respondents, or 86 per cent, were exposed to at least one environmental hazard and 20 per cent reported being injured or experiencing a near-miss due to environmental risk.

More than half of respondents reported experiencing verbal or physical abuse at work in the past year. Yet over a third of incidents go unreported, said the report.

“Organisations are having to balance increasing operational pressures with the need to keep employees safe. Lone working is now a fundamental part of many roles, and having reliable, easy-to-use safety solutions in place is critical,” added Hough.

The survey was timed to coincide with the launch of the company’s new product, the SoloProtect Mini — a 4G-enabled personal safety device designed to support organisations managing lone and isolated workers.

Read the survey here