Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
Many government workers find themselves working alone for most, if not the entirety, of their shift.
This includes employees of many different specialties—social workers, investigators, parking enforcement, city workers, election workers, home healthcare workers, and workers on the night shift. Depending on the job, working by yourself can present various safety and data security risks.
Lone workers can be exposed to a wide range of unique and dynamic health and safety risks. The government needs to be responsible for protecting its lone workers and offering proper workforce safety solutions. The goal should include a rigorous and well-thought-out lone worker data and safety monitoring program that includes hazard assessment, risk evaluation, location monitoring, and emergency escalation protocols.
But why is this important?
It’s important because the safety of workers matters. Employers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees – especially when they are alone or working in potentially dangerous environments.
Different Types of Government Lone Workers
The term “lone worker” is used to describe employees who work alone for a portion of their day.
Some workers are alone throughout their shift; however, others may be alone only for a few minutes until the next work shift starts or until they return to the workplace after working in a remote location.
As for government lone workers, this refers to individuals who work in various capacities for government agencies. However, unlike traditional office environments, they operate remotely or independently. The following are just a couple of examples of government jobs that often work remotely or alone.
- Field Investigators
One prominent type of lone government worker is the field investigator. These dedicated professionals are typically employed by agencies responsible for law enforcement, environmental protection, or social services. Armed with specific tasks and objectives, they venture into the field to gather information, conduct interviews, and document evidence.
Additionally, field investigators must possess strong problem-solving skills, the ability to adapt to unpredictable situations, and a keen sense of self-reliance, as they often work alone in diverse and sometimes challenging environments. They are often prone to being in tough situations where their safety might be compromised, entering strangers’ homes where they may not be welcome. Thus, they must be protected with proper safety measures.
- Park Rangers
Another type of lone government worker is a park ranger. While some park rangers do work in groups, most park rangers at national parks patrol alone due to limited staff or low visitor traffic.
Park rangers are government employees responsible for overseeing and managing the natural resources, wildlife, and visitors within national parks and protected areas. A typical day for a lone park ranger might be working on various tasks, such as maintaining trails, providing visitor information, enforcing park regulations, and ensuring the safety and conservation of the park’s resources—all while working in relative isolation.
Photo by Frances Gunn on Unsplash
History of Government Lone Worker Protection
In the past, government lone workers’ protection and safety measures were often not as comprehensive or sophisticated as they are today. Frankly, there were times in history when worker conditions were extremely dangerous.
Here are some key aspects of how workforce safety protection was different in the past:
- Communication
Without advanced communication devices, government lone workers were limited in how they could contact their superiors or colleagues. This lack of communication could delay reporting emergencies, seeking assistance, or receiving important updates, making them more isolated and exposed to potential dangers.
- Training and Equipment
Training and equipment for government lone workers might not have been as comprehensive or specialized as they are today. In some cases, workers were required to rely on their intuition and personal skills to handle unforeseen situations, which could increase their risk level.
- Emergency Response
In the past, there were not well-established protocols for responding to emergencies involving lone government workers. As a result, it could take longer for help to reach them in critical situations.
5 Steps to Keep Government Lone Workers Safe
In general, lone workers are at greater risk of injury and illness because no one can assist them in an emergency.
Therefore, you must examine the potential hazards and risks to create a successful safety program for lone government workers and implement effective safeguards. And remember, workforce safety and protection are essential; however, it doesn’t need to be complicated.
These are the top five steps to protect lone government workers.
- Identify The Lone Workers in Your Organization
First, know who your lone workers are. List the various roles that lone workers have in your organization, keeping in mind that not all of them are immediately obvious. For example, if an employee leaves the office regularly to perform a task—like a parking enforcement officer—you should classify them as a lone worker.
After you have identified the lone workers that your organization employs or subcontracts, you need to identify each of the inherent hazards in their workplace.
- Identify Workplace Hazards
A workplace hazard is properly identified as something that can cause injury or damage to workers, equipment, or property.
Every workplace has hazards, but the type of hazards and degree of risk varies widely. In general, there are six workplace hazards to be aware of – safety, physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, and ergonomic hazards. For example, an employee may slip, trip, or fall down the stairs in an office.
By identifying hazards regularly and proactively, you can reduce the likelihood of workplace accidents, emergencies, and other serious incidents.
Furthermore, you should also be aware that the lone worker environment can frequently change, such as an employee who visits multiple sites daily. It may not always be possible to identify all hazards, but by incorporating a digital, real-time, safety data solution into your lone worker program, you can protect lone workers from the unexpected.
- Manage Lone Worker Risks
It’s important to assess each hazard’s level of risk. Some scenarios that can affect the health and safety of lone workers include:
- Working in remote or unknown areas
- Experiencing physical violence
- Slipping, tripping, or falling
- Working in restricted spaces
- Working with hazardous substances, equipment, etc.
- Driving long distances
- Working after normal business hours
- Experiencing a sudden medical/health emergency
The most effective method to manage and reduce lone workers’ safety and health hazards is to conduct regular, detailed risk assessments.
Photo by Hunters Race on Unsplash
- Have a Detailed Lone Worker Policy in Place
A detailed safety policy will ensure the personal safety and well-being of your lone workers. A lone worker policy guide should generally include the following:
- Safety guidelines
- How to manage and identify risks
- Roles and responsibilities of lone workers and management teams
- Safety procedures/processes should be easy to understand and with clear steps
- Use of safety tools (such as the Becklar WorkerSafety Pro App)
- Reporting hazards
- Emergency procedures
- Training for lone workers and continuing education requirements
Remember, the work is not over once your organization has implemented a policy for lone workers. You should review your policy regularly to ensure it is current and accurate.
- Implement A Connected Safety Solution
A lone-worker solution is the most effective way to protect lone government employees.
Connected safety solutions for lone workers are available in many different forms, from smartphone workforce safety apps to safety devices and emergency call centers. It’s important to consider the unique needs of your lone workers when choosing a safety solution for your organization.
At the minimum, a lone worker-connected safety solution must allow lone workers to share their exact location, check in regularly to confirm their well-being and receive immediate assistance in an emergency. In general, the best solution is a digital real-time lone workers safety monitoring solution like the Becklar WorkerSafety Pro App.
This ensures your mobile and remote employees are connected and supported 24/7, even when nobody else is present. By doing this, you’re enhancing their safety, resulting in the best possible outcomes in any scenario.
Becklar Workforce Safety
Becklar is a leading provider of connected safety solutions for enterprises and individuals.
The Becklar Workforce Safety portfolio employs cutting-edge technology, including innovative mobile apps (like WorkerSafety Pro), powerful devices, a feature-rich safety portal, and award-winning, real-time safety monitoring services—to protect government lone workers.
And what makes the Becklar Workforce Safety solution stand out? It provides government agencies with one centralized location to manage employee safety. The Safety Portal can manage internal protocols, resolve emergencies, and send mass, geo-targeted safety notifications.
By utilizing Becklar Worker Safety solutions, government agencies can provide their employees who work alone or in hazardous environments with peace of mind as they perform their jobs without worrying about safety.