# OK Alone Blog — Sector Focus — Healthcare, Education and Public-Facing Roles Healthcare and social care; schools, colleges and universities; retail, hospitality, housing, charities and other public-facing roles. > **Source:** OK Alone public blog, extracted from the retired `Ok Alone Blog.md` scrape. Marketing and thought-leadership content, not product specification — where a claim here conflicts with the Help Center files or `product-reference.md`, those win. Spellings are left as published (much of this was written for North American readers). Statistics quoted in older posts may be out of date — check the post date before reusing a figure, and never quote a price from here. **26 posts.** Contents: **Healthcare and Social Care** - [The Different Terms Used for Lone Working Around the World](#the-different-terms-used-for-lone-working-around-the-world) — January 8, 2024 - [Enhancing Safety for Lone Working Health Workers](#enhancing-safety-for-lone-working-health-workers) — December 4, 2023 - [What are the Hazards of Lone Working?](#what-are-the-hazards-of-lone-working) — March 22, 2023 - [Home Care Lone Workers Need Safety Solution to Work Alone](#home-care-lone-workers-need-safety-solution-to-work-alone) — March 8, 2023 - [Keeping Home Care Nurses Safe with a Lone Worker Safety App](#keeping-home-care-nurses-safe-with-a-lone-worker-safety-app) — March 8, 2023 - [Healthcare Industry Prioritize Lone Worker Protection Systems](#healthcare-industry-prioritize-lone-worker-protection-systems) — March 8, 2023 - [Hands Free Lone Worker Solutions Help Nurses and Health Workers](#hands-free-lone-worker-solutions-help-nurses-and-health-workers) — February 28, 2023 - [Is your Business Vulnerable to a Cyber Attack?](#is-your-business-vulnerable-to-a-cyber-attack) — February 28, 2023 - [How Municipalities use Ok Alone](#how-municipalities-use-ok-alone) — February 28, 2023 - [Lone Worker AppLone Working in Care Homes](#lone-worker-applone-working-in-care-homes) — February 28, 2023 - [Safety Devices and Equipment for Lone Working Zoo Staff](#safety-devices-and-equipment-for-lone-working-zoo-staff) — February 28, 2023 **Education — Schools, Colleges and Universities** - [Lone Worker Protection for Staff and Students in American Universities](#lone-worker-protection-for-staff-and-students-in-american-universities) — December 13, 2023 - [Best Practice for Protecting Lone Workers in British Universities](#best-practice-for-protecting-lone-workers-in-british-universities) — December 13, 2023 - [Chemicals in the Workplace Soup Theory for Laboratory Lone Working](#chemicals-in-the-workplace-soup-theory-for-laboratory-lone-working) — December 6, 2023 - [5 emergency response plan essentials for education Lone workers](#5-emergency-response-plan-essentials-for-education-lone-workers) — December 6, 2023 - [How Ok Alone is used by Schools, Tutors and Teachers for Lone Working](#how-ok-alone-is-used-by-schools-tutors-and-teachers-for-lone-working) — February 28, 2023 **Retail, Hospitality and Public-Facing Roles** - [Working Alone Safety Tip for Realtors and Estate Agents](#working-alone-safety-tip-for-realtors-and-estate-agents) — December 6, 2023 - [Volunteers Need Safety Monitoring Too](#volunteers-need-safety-monitoring-too) — December 6, 2023 - [Are You Getting Your Municipality Value For Money?](#are-you-getting-your-municipality-value-for-money) — October 16, 2023 - [Can a task bar help button on your computer help in emergencies?](#can-a-task-bar-help-button-on-your-computer-help-in-emergencies) — July 26, 2023 - [How can a software based panic button help lone retail workers?](#how-can-a-software-based-panic-button-help-lone-retail-workers) — July 19, 2023 - [Which industries would benefit from using a computer based panic button?](#which-industries-would-benefit-from-using-a-computer-based-panic-button) — July 6, 2023 - [Essential Tips for your Retail Employees Lone Worker Safety](#essential-tips-for-your-retail-employees-lone-worker-safety) — March 8, 2023 - [Ok Alones gift to you FREE access for fund raisers](#ok-alones-gift-to-you-free-access-for-fund-raisers) — March 8, 2023 - [Volunteers Need Safety Monitoring Lone worker safety systems](#volunteers-need-safety-monitoring-lone-worker-safety-systems) — March 8, 2023 - [Illinois and Chicago Lone Worker Legislation](#illinois-and-chicago-lone-worker-legislation) — February 28, 2023 --- # Healthcare and Social Care ## The Different Terms Used for Lone Working Around the World *January 8, 2024 · Stacey Manclark* Lone working, the practice of employees working alone or without direct supervision, is a common occurrence across various industries and regions around the world. Whether its a night-shift security guard, a remote field researcher, or a healthcare professional visiting patients homes, lone working represents a significant aspect of the way people work today. The terminology used to describe this practice can vary widely, reflecting the diverse nature of jobs, cultures, regulations, and business environments. Understanding these terms is not just a passing interest; its a crucial part of recognizing the unique challenges and safety considerations associated with lone working. This article aims to explore the myriad terms and phrases used to describe lone working, delving into sector-specific language and regional variations, technological advances and legal perspectives to provide a comprehensive guide to this subject. Lone working in retail. ### General Terms and Phrases for Lone Working The term Lone Working itself is likely the most common and universally understood term used to describe the practice of employees working without direct supervision. Its a straightforward expression that clearly conveys the concept, and is used across many industries and regions. Other terms like Working Alone or Solo Work might also be commonly understood as well as Unsupervised Work, Single-Person Work, Independent Technician, Unaccompanied Work, Isolated Worker, Self-managed Work, Independent Work, Individual Work, Autonomous Work and Solitary Work. The terms all give a clear idea that a person is either alone on location or completing a task without the assistance of others. There is one term that has evolved over the last few years changing its meaning. Before the pandemic the term Remote Worker meant someone that tended to work on sites or locations that were hard to get to and where no other people were in the vicinity. For example, someone collecting data from a weather station or taking samples from a riverside ecosystem. However, since the pandemic and the meteoric rise of working from home, these terms Working Remotely and Remote Worker have been applied to someone who works from their own home. They are remote from the workplace, keeping in contact with colleagues and management online. This person is still a lone worker however, as they do not have co-workers in the same location. Technically these people are Teleworking which is in the same vein as Remote Working as it allows employees to carry out their duties and responsibilities from an offsite location other than their official workplace. It could involve working from home, another branch office, caf, bookstore, or even a co-working space. Though often away from the office, a teleworker is different from a remote employee because there is occasionally some in-person office attendance required ” though this is not always the case. Another key difference is that a teleworker is often geographically closer to the main office location than a remote worker. Teleworking is an ideal option for tasks or jobs that require writing, research, reading, data analysis, computer work, telemarketing, etc. Lone working on site. Sector-Specific Terms for Lone Working Within different industries there are specific terms used to describe the role or act of lone working. Within the Healthcare industry the terms Community Nurse, Home Health Visitor and On-Call Doctor are all roles carried out by solo staff. Construction or Maintenance tasks carried out by an individual, especially during off-hours or in remote locations are done on a Single Worker Site or by a Solo Operative. For people working alone in scientific fields they are referred to as doing Field Research or Solo Exploration. On offshore platforms used by the Gas and Oil industry an individual responsible for monitoring equipment or processes is Solo Watchkeeping. Security personnel working alone, especially during night shifts or in isolated locations are Lone Guarding or on Solo Patrol. Single-Handed Farming and Lone Farming are terms used for Farmers or Agricultural workers who manage tasks alone, particularly on small or family-run farms. The retail industry frequently has instances of single staffing or lone retail workers when staff are the only employee on site, especially during unsociable hours. Solo Logging is a term that refers to individuals working alone in the Forestry industry. Those who drive for a living in the Transportation industry are known to be either Solo Driving or Independent Driving. Solo Maintenance and Independent Technician are terms used to describe HVAC or Utilities workers when they do a job on their own. Real Estate agents are almost always alone during their work day, frequently going to meet clients alone in empty properties. Within their industry they are known as carrying out an Individual Property Inspection or being Lone Property Management. Emergency Services personnel, like paramedics, who might respond to calls alone, particularly in remote or sparsely populated areas are Solo Response or an Independent Responder. The concept of people working alone in Offices, whether after hours or at isolated sites, is recognized within various professional environments. Though there might not be a universally used single term for this practice, several phrases and descriptions are used to convey the idea: After-Hours Work, Isolated Office Work, Lone Office Worker, Solo Office Shift and Unsupervised Office Work. While commonly associated with working from home, Remote Office Work could also describe working in a physically remote or isolated office location. Lone field worker. ### Country and Regionally Specific Terms Around the world there are also different terms and phrases used to identify someone who completes work by themselves. The terms and practices associated with lone working can vary widely reflecting local labour laws, industrial practices, cultural nuances, and language differences. Many of the terms are the same as used across the various industries above, however, here are some of the more unusual terms used in different locations: ### Technological Advances and Lone Working The increasing popularity of lone working across various industries has led to the development and adoption of specialized technologies that ensure the safety and well-being of lone workers. These technologies range from simple alerting mechanisms to complex, integrated systems that provide real-time monitoring and assistance. The monitoring mechanisms might include regular check-ins, wearable safety devices, GPS tracking, panic buttons and other technologies or procedures tailored to the unique risks and needs of lone workers. Lone working saftey monitoring app. A large number of lone workers use Smartphones Apps to enhance their safety. The apps offer features like regular check-ins, panic buttons, GPS tracking, high-risk settings, voice commands and man down. They are widely used across many industries such as retail, healthcare, construction and more due to their convenience and accessibility. Wearables can include smartwatches, badges or lanyards with built-in alarms, location tracking, and biometric monitoring. This form of monitoring is particularly popular in industrial settings like manufacturing, mining and oil & gas where rapid response to accidents and awareness of a workers health status is crucial. Trucking, delivery services and field technicians often use Vehicle-mounted systems that show the position of their vehicle and provide tracking and communication. They can also have features like route monitoring and emergency alerts. Call Centres often work in tandem with apps or devices to provide 24/7 human monitoring and support. Used across a wide range of industries, for an additional layer of safety and immediate response, they access worker or companywide escalation procedures to direct their responses to the right person. Another aspect of technology that is used to support lone workers is the development of Data Analytics. Predictive analytics and AI algorithms can analyse worker behaviour and environmental conditions to predict and prevent potential risks. This form of proactive safety measures builds on reports and data from past events or near misses to avoid future incidents. The wide variety of technologies available for lone worker safety reflects the diverse needs and challenges faced by different industries. These tools provide not only immediate response capabilities but also long-term data and insights that can help organisations develop safer working practices. Lone working in healthcare. ### New Language Developed Through Technological Advancements Technology is not only providing new tools and systems to support lone working but is also shaping the very language and practice of how we approach work without direct supervision. Old PracticeNew LanguageImpactRedefining Safety ProtocolsBasic check-ins or manual reporting.real-time monitoring, automatic alerts, fall detection and geo-fencingShift from mere compliance to proactive safety management. Enhancing CommunicationIsolated with limited means of communication. Two-way communication, video check-ins and instant messagingConstant connectivity, reducing isolation, allowing immediate response to concerns or incidents. Data-Driven DecisionsLimited information or anecdotal evidence. Predictive analytics, behavioural monitoring and risk assessment algorithmsPrecise understanding of risks allowing for targeted interventions and training. Remote Training and SupportNot specific to unique working conditionsVirtual Reality training, Augmented Reality support and personalized digital guidanceEnables tailored training experiences for their specific roles. Integrating with Broader EcosystemsA separate concern, disconnected from othersIntegrated safety platforms, ecosystem connectivity and IoT-enabled devicesMore cohesive and efficient approach to overall safety. Technology is not just adding new tools to the toolkit of lone working; its fundamentally reshaping how we think about, talk about, and practice working alone. The language has evolved to reflect a more complex, nuanced, and proactive approach, recognising the diverse needs and potentials of lone working across various industries. By transforming the vocabulary and practices, technology is helping to create a safer, more connected, and more responsive environment for lone workers, recognizing their unique contributions and challenges within the modern workplace. Lone delivery driver. ### Legal and Regulatory Perspectives Much like the terms differing from place to place or industry to industry, the legislation and legalities of an employers responsibility to their lone workers also differ depending on where they are located. The approach to lone worker legislation varies widely, from detailed and specific laws to more general requirements within broader occupational health and safety frameworks. The common theme is a recognition of the unique risks faced by lone workers and a legal expectation that employers will comply with their duty of care and take appropriate steps to mitigate those risks. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1970 requires employers in the United States to provide a safe working environment for all their employees, including lone workers, but there is no specific federal law for lone workers. Within Canada several provinces, such as British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have detailed lone worker regulations requiring risk assessment, check ins and having a suitable means of communication that must be adhered to. Other provinces and territories might not have specific lone worker legislation but will include general provisions within their occupational health and safety regulations that cover the safety and well-being of lone workers. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 include provisions related to lone worker safety in the United Kingdom. Employers are required to conduct risk assessments and implement appropriate safety measures for lone workers. Within the European Union (EU), lone worker safety is generally encompassed within broader occupational health and safety regulations, guided by the Framework Directive on Safety and Health at Work (Directive 89/391/EEC). However, a few countries such as Germany and France have implemented guidelines, codes of practice or specific provisions within their occupational health and safety laws that address the unique risks and requirements associated with lone working. While specific legislation on lone working might not be widespread across Europe, the general principles of risk assessment, prevention, and worker well-being are enshrined in the broader legal framework and apply to lone workers as well. The Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in Australia includes requirements for managing risks to lone workers. Other states within Australia including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia all have their own local lone worker legislation, that include conducting risk assessments, maintaining communication and responding to emergencies. It is interesting to note that regardless of terms used in different industries all of the countries referred to the employees as lone workers within their legislation, but then qualified that by referring to locations (remote or isolated) and proximity to other workers (cannot be seen or heard).Lone working landscaper. Compliance As an employer there is a duty of care towards all employees and a responsibility to ensure staff have adequate training and equipment to minimise risks at work. Company directors must provide a safe working environment, including any necessary protective equipment, and a safe workplace. Companies need to make sure they are compliant with guidance set out by their governments and duty of care responsibilities to keep their workers safe. Conclusion This article has provided a comprehensive look at the diverse terminology of lone working. With a detailed focus on sector-specific language and regional variations, we have highlighted the broader social, technological, and legal contexts that shape the language and practice of lone working. It is important that the terms used to describe those who work alone are universally understood in order to provide additional support to those lone working, and ensure companies comply with any local legislation.* https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/dynamic-translation/85622483dcfb87576f544fa4dacad3107bab9901.html **https://dictzone.com/swedish-english-dictionary/enskilt%20arbete 1. https://www.okaloneworker.com/category/us/ 2. https://www.okaloneworker.com/category/canada/ 3. https://www.okaloneworker.com/category/uk/ 4. https://www.okaloneworker.com/category/australia/ www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ The Rise of Lone Working in the Digital AgeOk Alone Announces Sale to Personal Safety Technology Leader Peoplesafe Group Recent Posts about Ok AloneSetting up an Escalation Procedure with Ok Alone Are your Lone Workers Stressed? How one of our employees used Ok Alone to stay safe while driving in Morocco How to choose a Lone Worker App: Pricing and Features What are the Hazards of Lone Working? New U.S legislation for Lone Workers in Hotels and Casinos Ofsted Guidelines for Lone Working in Schools How workplace culture shapes your working alone safety policy --- ## Enhancing Safety for Lone Working Health Workers *December 4, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* Lone worker safety is a considerably more complex issue in a home visit environment, compared with providing health care services in a dedicated health care setting. Managing patient care on your own, without the opportunity to call on a co-worker for help, is obviously a risk, one faced by health professionals every time they step into a patients home. Patients may live in areas of high crime, in buildings or homes that aren't safe, with other people who present a risk to your valued staff member or be a threat themselves. Ok Alone has been working with lone working health professionals for the last ten years, providing them with a vital lifeline, ensuring their safety and security by enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response in emergencies through their safety app. ### How Ok Alone Supports Lone Health Workers Lone worker devices are vital for health workers, especially during home visits or in high-risk environments. Traditional safety tools like standard panic alarms may be inadequate for nurses working alone. Ok Alones app addresses this by offering automated reminders for regular check-ins, with a high-risk check-in option that allows nurses to adjust the check-in frequency themselves. This feature gives control to health workers to determine the level of danger they feel, especially if dealing with unpredictable or aggressive patients. A key feature of Ok Alone is its real-time GPS locations. This allows supervisors to know exactly where a visiting nurse is if they send a help alert or miss a check-in. The position is shown on a detailed map within the Ok Alone dashboard and gives a precise location of where to send help. Ok Alones app also has the option for workers to discreetly request help by tapping or shaking their phone, perhaps while in a pocket or behind their back, so as not to escalate a situation or alert the resident that they are requesting assistance. If discretion is not a problem, but accessing the phone is, nursing staff who find themselves in danger can say Siri/Ok Google, get help using the apps hands-free function. This will immediately send an alert to their monitor and inform them that a lone working nurse is in trouble. The monitor will be able to see the workers location in real-time and can then send help. ### Best Practices for Lone Working Health Workers Lone working can be safer for health workers with the right combination of employer-initiated safety protocols and practical steps by the nursing staff. Implementing lone working technologies, such as regular check-in systems, significantly enhances worker safety. This not only ensures real-time monitoring and quick response in emergencies but also promotes a sense of security and support among nursing staff. To further minimize risks, its essential for nursing staff and supervisors to work together to conduct detailed hazard assessments for each patient visit. This assessment should encompass a variety of factors:Understanding the Patients Mental Status: Gaining insight into the patients mental health and potential behavioural challenges, which could include aggression or confusion. Hazards of Providing the Necessary Care: Considering risks directly associated with patient care, such as exposure to communicable diseases or the potential for musculoskeletal injuries during physical assistance or movement of the patient. Risks from Interactions with Others in the Household: Assessing the dynamics and potential risks posed by other individuals present in the patients home, including family members, cohabitants or animals. Home, Building, or Neighbourhood Dangers: Identifying potential hazards in the patients living environment, such as poor lighting, unsafe neighbourhoods, or hazardous conditions within the home. Travel Risks: Evaluating the safety of the route and mode of transportation, considering factors like weather conditions and time of day. By addressing each of these areas, health visitors can better prepare for and navigate the complexities of lone working, ensuring their safety. ### Relevant Legislation and Compliance Unfortunately in our current society it is becoming more common to hear of health workers attacked or even killed at work. During the years 2018-2021 inclusive, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 124 workplace fatalities in the nursing and residential care facilities sector. Under health and safety laws, employers have a range of legal duties including keeping employees safe at work; providing a safe working environment; assessing any risks to employee health and safety and taking reasonable steps to eliminate or reduce those risks. Employers must implement safe systems of work and control measures that prevent or reduce the risks identified as part of the risk assessment . Within the United States OSHA does not have a specific requirement to develop and implement a work alone policy, but failure to have a policy could be considered a General Duty OSHA requirement and has been cited by OSHA in the past under the General Duty statute. There are currently no specific OSHA standards for occupational health professionals, however General duty of care is expected to be followed. Although there is not legislation directly linked to home visiting nurses, OSHA is aware of the problems and dangers workers face and have created helpful documentation for those in the profession, two of which are:Occupational Hazards in Home HealthcareGuidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers The Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers has very strong recommendations on what employers should be doing to keep their Community Care Field Workers safe while out on visits. Community Care Field Workers (Home Healthcare, Social Service)Working alone or in secure areasEnsure workers have means of communication;either cell phones or panic buttonsTracking workersWorkers should: have specific log-in and log-out procedures be required to contact the office after each visit and managers should have procedures to follow up if workers fail to do soSecurity/ silenced alarm systems Paging system GPS tracking Cell phones(Employers and workers should determine the most effective method for ensuring the safety of workers without negatively impacting working conditions.) *The Workplace Violence Prevention for Healthcare and Social Workers Act has passed the House of representatives twice and is waiting for OSHA to develop a standard for Workplace Violence. In Connecticut lawmakers recently passed a law to protect healthcare workers in hospitals after they saw an uptick in violence. Now, Senator Saud Anwar said he is looking into what can be done to protect visiting nurses. In the most recent session the Legislator unanimously voted to develop a marketing campaign spearheaded by Senator Martin, which discourages aggressive and violent behaviour towards any healthcare worker in the healthcare setting to begin in January. Using Ok Alone helps employers comply with their legal responsibilities and duty of care to their employees. The app provides a way for workers to regularly check in and communicate with supervisors, and alert them if there is a problem or they need immediate assistance. The use of a lone worker safety app reflects a commitment to safeguarding the well-being of health professionals, acknowledging the challenging environments they frequently encounter and reinforcing the importance of their safety as they dedicate themselves to caring for others. 1 https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag623.htm 2 Personal safety when working alone: guidance for members working in health and social care, Royal College of Nursing, September 2016 3 Pg 19, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3148.pdf 4 Pg 18, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3148.pdf 5 Pg 14, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3148.pdf 6 https://www.wfsb.com/2023/11/01/nurses-lawmakers-push-more-protections-wake-traveling-nurses-death/ 7 https://www.wfsb.com/2023/11/01/nurses-lawmakers-push-more-protections-wake-traveling-nurses-death/ www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Ok Alone Announces Sale to Personal Safety Technology Leader Peoplesafe Group7 Reasons to Choose Ok Alone Leave a Comment Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Recent Posts about Ok AloneSocial Distancing for Lone Workers Using Focus Groups to Gather Risk Information for a Lone Worker Policy Use Siri and your voice to check in whilst Lone Working Lone Worker Protection for Staff and Students in American Universities How to use Man Down on iPhones Are your Lone Workers Stressed? A Day in a Life with Ok Alone Security Guards --- ## What are the Hazards of Lone Working? *March 22, 2023 · Stacey Manclark Lone workers, by the nature of their job, often face unique challenges and hazards in their day-to-day work environment. They navigate these risks without the immediate support of colleagues or supervisors which makes their safety an even more pressing concern.This article aims to shed light on the various hazards that lone workers encounter, including physical, environmental, and psychosocial dangers. By understanding these potential threats and implementing effective strategies to mitigate them, employers can create a safer working environment for their staff. Understanding why lone workers are more at risk Lone workers are anyone who completes tasks for their job where they cannot be seen or heard by another member of staff. This doesnt mean they are more likely to have an accident or are more accident prone than those who are around other people. But this scenario of being alone puts them at a significantly higher likelihood of any incident that does happen, escalating to something more serious. Common Industries with Lone Workers Although most industries can have members of staff who work alone, there are a few industries that have higher numbers of staff who consistently work on their own: HVACHealthcareRetailAgricultureConstruction ForestryLogisticsSecurityAnyone working from home The Top Hazards for Lone Workers There are many different situations that can affect lone workers more seriously than people who work as part of a team. The simple fact that the worker doesnt have immediate assistance means that physical hazards, environmental hazards and psychosocial hazards can quickly escalate into a critical situation. Below are some examples of the different types of hazard and how they could impact a lone worker. Physical Hazards for Lone Workers* Slips, trips, and falls Slips, trips and falls are one of the most frequent causes of workplace injury. The dangers of climbing a ladder or working at heights while alone are obvious. However, even slips and falls on the same level can result in serious injuries. Broken bones, internal bleeding, being knocked unconscious are all injuries that are commonly caused by a sudden impact. Chemicals and electricity Lone workers also face invisible hazards like chemical fumes and electricity. A lone worker in a laboratory, for example, can quickly be overcome by fumes and unable to call for help. Equally, a lone HVAC technician could be electrocuted whilst in a crawl space without anyone knowing. Lifting Handling heavy objects without assistance can significantly increase the risk of injury for lone workers. This can be particularly problematic in situations where a lone healthcare worker needs to lift a patient, or a delivery person has to move an oversized package. ### Vehicular Accidents Lone workers are frequently required to drive as part of their job responsibilities, making the use of vehicles a common aspect of their daily routine. Similar to ensuring employee safety at a worksite, employers bear the responsibility of safeguarding their workers during work-related travel as well. Heavy machinery Accidents involving heavy machinery can happen in many ways, with injuries such as machine entanglement ranking high among the most prevalent workplace injuries. Lone workers operating in settings like oil rigs or refineries may handle heavy machinery without anyone else on site. Therefore, in the event of an accident where they are caught or crushed between equipment no one is present to intervene or shut down the machinery. In the aftermath of such an incident, a lone worker could be unable to move or request assistance. Medical emergencies In addition to on-the-job injuries, a lone worker could suffer a heart attack, stroke, or severe allergic reaction. This situation is extremely dangerous without a way to contact the emergency services. ### Hazardous Objects In various industries, such as construction, warehousing, or retail, workers may face potential risks due to their proximity to objects in their work environment. Injuries resulting from being struck by or coming into contact with objects can lead to severe consequences, including cuts, lacerations, and concussions. Psychosocial Hazards ### Assault / Violence in the Workplace Employees working alone and interacting with the public in isolated settings face an increased risk of violent attacks. Many lone workers, such as convenience store employees or truck drivers, can become targets for criminals due to their vulnerability. Similarly, Taxi or rideshare drivers can encounter aggressive or intoxicated passengers. ### Stress or Burnout Working in isolation can take a significant toll on employees. Lone workers may experience heightened stress due to the lack of social interaction, collaboration, and support from colleagues, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and loneliness. Additionally, they may struggle to establish a healthy work-life balance, as boundaries between personal and professional life may become blurred when working independently. This can contribute to longer working hours, excessive workload, and a constant pressure to perform without reprieve. Over time, these factors can culminate in burnout, manifesting as physical and mental exhaustion, reduced motivation, and diminished productivity. The Role of Employers in Lone Worker Safety According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), employers are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of their employees while on the job. This responsibility includes conducting risk assessments when necessary. For lone workers, employers should have completed a risk assessment of their specific working conditions before they began their tasks. Employees have the right to request access to this assessment at any time and can offer suggestions for updates whenever they believe it is necessary. By actively engaging in the risk assessment process, both employers and employees can contribute to creating a safer work environment. Creating a Lone Worker Policy Having a well-designed policy for your lone workers is a crucial component of ensuring workplace safety. It is essential to combine your policy with the most up-to-date lone worker technology available. Situation based policies and proceduresA comprehensive lone worker risk assessment should identify all employees who may be considered lone workers, either for the entire duration or a portion of their workday, and outline the specific risks each of these workers encounters. An organization might have various types of lone workers, such as those conducting site visits or those staying late in the office by themselves. As the associated risks can differ significantly, it may be necessary to establish separate policies and procedures tailored to each unique situation based on the findings of the risk assessment. This approach ensures that all lone workers receive adequate protection and support in their respective work environments. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must manage the risk to lone workers. When a lone worker will be at someone elses workplace it is the responsibility of their employer to ask about any risks and control measures in place to make sure they are protected. Risks to consider Risks that particularly affect lone workers include:violence in the workplacestress and mental health or wellbeinga persons medical suitability to work alone the workplace itself, for example if its in a rural or isolated area. Download our Free Lone Working Policy TemplateThe Importance of Lone Worker Monitoring Lone worker monitoring is a critical aspect of ensuring the safety and well-being of employees who work in isolation or without direct supervision. In industries where workers operate in remote locations or undertake hazardous tasks, the importance of a complete monitoring system cannot be overstated. Not only does it offer an additional layer of protection by enabling real-time communication and location tracking, but it also fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability in the workplace. Implementing a comprehensive lone worker monitoring system not only complies with legal and ethical obligations, but it also demonstrates a commitment to employee welfare. Benefits of Monitoring Technologies There are many reasons a company should start using a lone worker monitoring. Here are 10 benefits to the worker and company: Improved SafetyEmployee safety monitoring apps provide a range of features, including real-time GPS tracking and panic buttons, that help keep employees safe and secure when working alone. Peace of MindEmployees who work alone can feel vulnerable and isolated. Using a lone worker app can provide peace of mind, knowing that help is always available if needed. Incident ReportingLone workering apps allow employees to report incidents easily and quickly. This can help businesses identify potential risks and improve safety procedures. Reduced CostsBy reducing the likelihood of accidents, injuries, and incidents, businesses can save money on insurance and compensation claims. Customizable SettingsLone worker protection apps can be customized to meet the specific needs of each business and employee, providing a tailored solution to lone worker safety. Quick Access to Emergency AssistanceIn the event of an incident or emergency, lone worker protection apps provide quick and easy access to emergency assistance. Increased ProductivityWhen employees feel safe and secure, they are more productive. Lone worker monitoring systems help reduce stress and anxiety, allowing employees to focus on their work. Legal ComplianceEmployers have a duty of care to protect their employees, and failure to do so can result in legal action. By using an employee monitoring system, businesses can ensure they are meeting their legal obligations. Improved CommunicationLone worker apps provide two-way communication between employees and their supervisors, ensuring that any issues or concerns can be addressed quickly and efficiently. Enhanced ReputationBy prioritizing the safety and well-being of their employees, businesses can enhance their reputation as a responsible and caring employer. Selecting the Right Monitoring System When choosing an employee monitoring system you need to ensure it has all the features your workers need. Automated check in A vital aspect of any solution is a flexible count down timer on a mobile device. This needs to be set as scheduled check ins ranging from 15 minutes to 24 hours or changed depending on the situation. There should also be automated missed check in alerts if there is no response from the worker. GPS locations GPS monitoring needs to give a workers real time positioning in an emergency, no matter how remote locations are. There should be a number of settings available to workers depending on the accuracy required. Panic button If a worker requires immediate help they should be able to tap the HELP button on the app, send an SMS, use voice commands, tap the back of their phone or shake it to trigger an alarm. This should go directly to their monitor/supervisor with location details. Man Down/Worker Down If no movement is detected the app should sound audible alerts first informing the worker that there has been no movement to avoid false alarms. If there is no response from the lone worker, then a man down alert should be escalated to an allocated supervisor. High-risk check in There are times when a worker is entering a high risk situation and they want the ability to shorten their next check-in time themselves. This should be something they have complete control of through the app. Cloud Based Dashboard The cloud-based dashboard, available on a range of devices should give a clear, detailed map of the area each worker is in. This will allow supervisors to have precise co-ordinates to send help to if a worker misses a check in or requires emergency services. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ The Role of a Lone Worker System in Protecting Your Employees and Creating a Safer WorkplaceHow one of our employees used Ok Alone to stay safe while driving in Morocco --- ## Home Care Lone Workers Need Safety Solution to Work Alone *March 8, 2023 · Ok Alone* Home care lone workers need time. A Guardian/Insight survey asked two years ago what are the key challenges facing individual care workers, and the key challenges facing their employers. The challenges faced by employees and employers are linked. Forced by councils to bid at the lowest cost, home care providers struggle to pay and train their staff sufficiently to overcome skills and staffing shortages. For individuals the key challenges are time limitations (73%), pay (67%) and training (56%). For home care providers the three key challenges are skills shortage (63%), council commissioning (58%) and recruitment (55%). ### Managing Time Spent on Visits To win bids employers have to keep pay within budgets and the number of visits a worker makes per day within target. These feed through to employee dissatisfaction and difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff. Unfortunately there are constraints within a system where bids are won on the lowest cost. ### The Biggest Employee Complaint is the Lack of Time Every home care client is an individual with different needs. They are not always good at organising themselves and some visits will inevitably overrun. Having information on how long each visit lasts reduces stress on staff, while allowing companies to optimise the number of visits per day. Ok Alone keeps a check on staff, volunteers and clients when they are on their own. With Ok Alone you can map where home care lone workers are and where they have been, ensure they are safe and easily communicate incidents should they occur. Lone worker monitoring doesn't have to be expensive. You can see for yourself by entering your requirements into our pricing estimator. Get your estimate now. www.okaloneworker.com I have GPS, What else do I need? An app for my lone workers?3 Safety Considerations for Land Surveyors Who Work Alone Recent Posts about Ok AloneLone Working with Google Assistant from Ok Alone Does your Workplace Emergency Response Plan have those who Work Alone Covered? Legislation & Policy for Lone Workers in Alberta City of Santa Monica: Chapter 4.67 Hotel Worker Protection Lone Worker Policy Sacramentos Hotel Worker Panic Button Legislation Lone Worker Protection Uncover Hidden Hazards in the Workplace OK Alone Lone Worker App: economical alternative to Blackline Safety --- ## Keeping Home Care Nurses Safe with a Lone Worker Safety App *March 8, 2023 · Ok Alone* In August 2016, a home health service provider in the US was fined because of an incident in which a nurse lone worker was sexually assaulted by a client while providing health care services in the clients home. The fine was levied because an investigation by the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration concluded that the employer had no system for reporting threats or incidents of violence in the workplace. Every day that you send your nurses, health care aides, therapy specialists and home support workers out into the community to do their job, they are at risk. They deserve a lone worker protection system, don't they? What are the Hazards to Lone Working Nurses? Lone worker safety is a complex issue in the home care environment, compared with providing health care services in a dedicated health care setting. Managing patient care on their own, without the opportunity to call on a co-worker for help, is obviously a risk, but there is much more for your employee to watch out for, including environmental dangers. Patients may live in areas of high crime, in buildings that aren't safe, or with other people who present a risk to your valued staff member. Its critical that lone working nurses are trained to assess all of the risks associated with providing care to individual patients. For each patient, perform a hazard assessment that includes:Travel risks Home, building or neighbourhood dangers Risks from interactions with others in the household Understanding the patients mental status, and Hazards of providing the necessary care (communicable disease prevention and musculoskeletal injury prevention)Use this assessment to develop a plan that addresses risk and includes mitigating strategies to meet both the clients care needs and your lone workers safety. Dedicated lone worker protection systems can play an important role in the mitigation of risk. ### Integrated, Automated Lone Worker Safety Systems Keeping in contact, as often as you deem necessary, is key to keeping lone working home health care practitioners safe. That's why our lone worker safety app works so well. Its available for iPhone and Android devices and its simple to use. Ok Alones lone worker protection system is affordable and flexible it can be adjusted for individual workers; you can have your lone working nurse check in as frequently as every 10 minutes in a particularly high risk situation. Want to find out how easy it is? Try it for free. www.okaloneworker.com Essential Tips for your Retail Employees Lone Worker Safety5 tips for Managing Workplace Stress Lone worker Safety System Recent Posts about Ok AloneUnderstanding Canadian Work Alone Monitoring Legislation Work Alone Devices Available for your Lone Workers Live Monitoring with our Work Alone Call Centre Ok Alone App Settings for Android 9 Returning to work after Covid-19 for Lone Workers Lone Worker Legislation & Policy for Western Australia Dos and Donts for Lone Workers Iridium GO! works with Ok Alone --- ## Healthcare Industry Prioritize Lone Worker Protection Systems *March 8, 2023 · Ok Alone* Staff Health and Safety is a Priority at the 2016 Healthcare Conference in London Health and social care professionals met in London June 29-30 at the 2016 Health + Care Conference to learn about new ways to deliver healthcare and improve productivity in the delivery of health services. Advances in technology provide a multitude of new tools and integrated systems that can improve not only patient care, but also support the well-being and safety of health care lone workers. There has been an increase in people seeking out home care to their private residence over moving into care homes. While life expectancies have increased and people are living more actively and for longer, there is already a rise in demand for health services delivered outside of the hospital or clinic environment. This does increase the hazards, issues and potential injury or violence faced by medical professionals whilst making the visits. As more seniors choose to live as independently as possible, the need for trained health professionals delivering at-home care has skyrocketed, making those in-demand workers very busy as they go about their daily calls. Caring for the elderly can be risky, as infirmity and dementia affect patients, so an easy to use, reliable and economical lone worker protection system is a necessity healthcare focussed lone workers and for the businesses providing these health services. ### How Technology can Improve Healthcare Lone Worker Safety Keep your healthcare lone workers safe with our customizable lone worker safety app. You decide how often your workers check in and how they do so. You aren't tied to your desk to monitor your staff, because you (or your designated monitor) will have access to a webpage that will keep you updated. If an incident occurs, you will be alerted promptly by email, text message or phone call. Contact us for more information about our lone worker protection system. Ok AloneThe Ok Alone team writes informative articles about lone working. Through our articles, we aim to educate readers on the benefits and best practices of using our lone worker app, and how Ok Alone can help mitigate risks and enhance communication between workers and monitors. Learn about other areas including legislation, risk management, and legal compliance plus lone worker features such as man down, high-risk check ins and location monitoring. www.okaloneworker.com Lone Worker Monitoring SystemWhy GPS technology Isn't Enough for Lone Worker Safety Recent Posts about Ok AloneHow to use Man Down on Android Smartphones Work Alone Safety: Creating a Safe Space for Fixed-Site Lone Workers Dos and Donts for Lone Workers Safety Zone from Ok Alone How to Manage Lone Worker Safety SMS and phone call reminder settings for Workers Legislation & Policy for Lone Workers in Yukon Applying GDPR to Lone Worker Solutions --- ## Hands Free Lone Worker Solutions Help Nurses and Health Workers *February 28, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* What is a Hands Free Lone Worker Solution? The latest version of our Ok Alone lone worker app provides Siri or Google Assistant shortcuts so you can use your voice to update your Ok Alone status wherever you are and whatever you're doing. Any user with iOS12/13 or an Android phone and Ok Alone can now easily use their voice to start a shift, check in or get help all by using their voice, completely hands free. Why is this an important development for a lone working nurse? ### Hands Free for Health Care Professionals 1.4 million people in the U.K are registered as Health Professionals, this does not include the 656,600 registered nurses, 102,200 social workers or 330,100 Welfare and Housing Associate Professionals who frequently work on their own (July 2018-June 2019) . Compared to other sectors, health and social care staff are at increased risk of violence wherever they work. However, analysis of incident data carried out by NHS Protect (2015) found that the risk is even greater for lone working health care staff with the proportion of lone workers sustaining injury from a physical assault being around 9% higher than for non-lone workers .The above graph (figure 1) , shows that 60.7% of lone working nursing staff did not feel safe whilst at work during a 12 month period. Research carried out by the Royal College of Nurses involving 8,307 staff found that 29% of all respondents had experienced physical abuse from patients/service users or relatives over the previous 12 months . Under health and safety laws, employers have a range of legal duties including keeping employees safe at work; providing a safe working environment; assessing any risks to employee health and safety and taking reasonable steps to eliminate or reduce those risks. Employers must implement safe systems of work and control measures that prevent or reduce the risks identified as part of the risk assessment . Part of keeping lone working employees safe, is knowing where they are during their shifts, but workers reported that 80.9% of the time their supervisors were unaware of their location (figure 2) and 66.6% reported they were not given adequate information about patients before being sent to treat them (figure 3) . ### Keeping Lone Workers Safe Using Hands Free Lone working is a reality for many nursing staff but with appropriate measures taken by employers, alongside practical steps taken by nursing staff, the risks can be reduced. Having a standard panic alarm or ID lanyard may not be enough to protect a lone working nurse. Using a standard lone worker app may not be enough, as the workers mobile phone may not be easily accessible. Or it may not be possible to dial or text in a situation which is escalating and could inflame an already difficult situation. However, using a lone worker solution with hands-free capability would allow the worker to get help simply by asking for it. By having shortcuts already set up on their phone with the Ok Alone app, lone working nursing staff who find themselves in danger can say Siri/Ok Google, get help using the hands-free function. This will immediately send an alert to their monitor and inform them that a lone worker nurse is in trouble. The monitor will be able to see the workers location in real-time and can then send help. To find out more about this amazing technology visit the Ok Alone website www.okaloneworker.com 1 https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/aps168/reports/employment-by-occupation?compare=K02000001 2 Personal safety when working alone: guidance for members working in health and social care, Royal College of Nursing, September 2016 3 RCN lone working survey 2011, Royal College of Nursing, January 2012 4 Employment Survey 2019, Royal College of Nursing, November 2019 5 Personal safety when working alone: guidance for members working in health and social care, Royal College of Nursing, September 2016 6 RCN lone working survey 2011, Royal College of Nursing, January 2012 7 RCN lone working survey 2011, Royal College of Nursing, January 2012Stacey ManclarkAs an expert in lone worker content management, I possess an extensive knowledge base and experience in the area of lone working and safety monitoring. My expertise in this field encompasses a wide range of areas, including risk assessment, training, communication, and technology. I have a deep understanding of the unique risks associated with lone workers and have researched and written many projects and articles to educate people in how to mitigate these risks. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Lone Working with Google Home from Ok AloneLone Working with Amazon Alexa & Echo Devices from Ok Alone --- ## Is your Business Vulnerable to a Cyber Attack? *February 28, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* ### Wannacry Cyber Attack On the morning of May 12th 2017 a cyber attack, named Wannacry, was launched. This reportedly affected over 230,000 computers in at least 150 countries around the world. The ransomware locked people out of their computers and demanded payment in Bitcoin to unlock them. Most of the attacks targeted Russia, Ukraine and Taiwan. Some Chinese universities, Spanish Telefonica, Russias Interior Ministry and FedEx also reported that they had received the ransomware. Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK and Renault stopped production at several sites. Nowhere in the UK was as hard hit by the cyber attack as the NHS. ### Impact on the National Health System A document released by the NHS in February of 2018 titled Lessons Learned Review of the Wannacry Ransomware Cyber Attack shared the following information about the impact of the attack, In total, 1% of NHS activity was directly affected by the WannaCry attack. 80 out of 236 hospital trusts across England were affected, which means that services were impacted even if the organisation was not infected by the virus (for instance they took their email offline to reduce the risk of infection). 595 out of 7,4545 GP practices (8%) and eight other NHS and related organisations were infected. The Department of Health and Social Cares (DHSC) report on the matter estimated that the attack cost the NHS 92m in total. It led to 19,000 appointments being cancelled over the following week. ### Preparing your Business In a cyber attack, or similar situation, it is vital management are able to contact staff through channels that avoid the infected systems. Businesses need to have a way of passing crucial information to staff. A method without using their company intranet or any at risk software. HRnews.co.uk suggests that companies prepare in advance, Mass notification must be ready to go at a moments notice during an emergency, messages may need to be sent to individual groups, They stress the importance of having an app that is independent from company software. One that can be used by management to contact workers or vice versa, All staff should have the ability to trigger an alert from the App on their phone that notifies a response team at their company. ### Utilising External Systems One company that has these features is Ok Alone, the lone worker App. Ok Alone is an app that runs independently from company intranets or software. Having a system that can be run entirely through phone lines allows management to send alerts to workers when email has been compromised. Ok Alone has the ability to send out mass notifications to all staff simultaneously or allow those monitoring the situation to choose specific groups to contact. This would be the fastest method of informing staff that there was a situation that required their attention. Ok Alone also has features that allow workers to contact management directly. The Help Button sends an alert to their supervisor that they need immediate assistance and to be contacted. Workers also have the option of sending a written or voice message directly to the person monitoring a situation. Companies should be using a lone worker app that runs independently from corporate systems. By cutting out software that is vulnerable to ransomware or corruption companies are giving themselves a way to contact staff in the event of a cyber attack. 1, 2, 3 https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/lessons-learned-review-wannacry-ransomware-cyber-attack-cio-review.pdf 4 http://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/Health-Care-News/wannacry-cyber-attack-cost-the-nhs-92m-after-19000-appointments-were-cancelled 5, 6 http://hrnews.co.uk/the-pandemic-is-forcing-change-on-the-world-of-work/ www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Start & End Shift Alerts for Lone WorkersHow to Recognise and Avoid Aggressive Driving Recent Posts about Ok AloneLone Working with Siri on your iPhone Who is a Lone Worker? Safety Devices and Equipment for Lone Working Zoo Staff Panic Buttons for Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Lone Workers Legislation for Lone Working in New Brunswick Introducing Safety Award Certificates and Report Cards Lone Worker App for Android from Ok Alone Keep Moving with Man Down on our Lone Worker App Choose a Lone Worker App with Wide Device Capability --- ## How Municipalities use Ok Alone *February 28, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* Within a municipality, city or town there are many, many jobs that need to be taken care of. These jobs are done by civil servants who work directly for their local government. The roles can vary from librarian to health visitor, from grounds keeper to social worker, but one thing these jobs have in common is that people will be alone for part of their day. Many people who work for their local authority fall under the banner of being a lone worker. This means although there may be other people around, e.g. in another lab, or different area of a care home, employees cannot be seen or heard by another member of staff during their shift. Staff are also considered alone if there are only members of the public around or if they are with an inexperienced member of staff who is not trained to handle specific situations that may arise. The easy solution to this common situation is to give staff a lone worker system that can be carried on their person at all times. The best way to do this is have staff use a lone worker app that can be downloaded on to their smartphone. One such app is Ok Alone, a simple app that is intuitive to use and monitors lone workers to keep them safe. Ok Alone is used by many municipalities throughout Canada, the UK, the US and Australia. ### Parks and Facilities Lone Workers One city that uses Ok Alone does so for its Parks and Facilities staff. The town is fairly rural with large expanses of forest surrounding it. Staff use the lone worker system while off site to keep in touch with management. The GPS setting on Ok Alone can be adjusted by workers so their location can be updated either every 1-2 minutes, or every 10 seconds and is precise to the square metre. ### Water Management Lone Workers Ok Alone allows local governments to keep their departments in compliance with provincial and federal guidelines related to health and safety. In one town water technicians are required to check in every two hours, or more frequently for riskier environments. The high risk feature of Ok Alone allows workers to adjust the frequency of their check in depending on the environment and situation they are entering. Ok Alone allows local authorities to meet their working alone policy requirements. ### Enforcement, Community Liaison and Compliance Officers Some local community workers are required to go into peoples residences during their shifts, this is especially dangerous when they are alone. One town has equipped its Bylaw Enforcement, Community Liaison and Compliance Officers with Ok Alone. These workers can use the built in Help button to alert their management that they need immediate assistance. If it is not possible to use the Help button, as it could potentially escalate a situation, workers are also able to use the discreet multi tap feature on an iPhone to summon help. As municipalities and local governments employ people across many different departments they need a lone worker solution that is flexible, adaptable and easy enough for all their workers to use. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Are You Getting Your Municipality Value For Money?Do you really need BS8484 and a Lone Worker Call Centre? Leave a Comment Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Recent Posts about Ok AloneLone Worker App & Safety Monitoring available in French High-Risk Situations Californias heat-related illness regulations OSHA + Legislation & Policy for Lone Workers in the USA Thuraya SatSleeve+ Satellite Phone 7 Reasons to Choose Ok Alone Simple safety advice for women driving alone --- ## Lone Worker AppLone Working in Care Homes *February 28, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* Within the United States there are 3,211,590 people employed as Home health and personal care aides, either in Home Health Care Centres or Continued Care Retirement Communities and Assisted living facilities for the elderly .The two states with the highest employment levels in this field are California and New York. Care is an enormous industry that is growing every year, however, these employment numbers are not nearly high enough, as many facilities are found to be significantly understaffed. This means staff become lone workers, working where they cannot be seen or heard by another member of staff. What are the Risks of Lone Working In a Care Facility? In 2019 the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union, now referred to as GMB compiled statistics on the number of assaults on care workers in Britain. They found that between the financial years 2013-14 and 2017-18, 6,034 violent attacks on carers resulting in serious injury were reported to the Health and Safety Executive. Of those, 5,008 workers were so seriously injured that they had to take at least seven days off work. A further 1,026 carers suffered a specified injury a category that includes fractures, loss of sight, brain damage, loss of consciousness, asphyxia, or amputation. Another study of 2,803 staff carried out in the same year by carehome.co.uk, found that 48 per cent of care workers in care homes have been on the receiving end of both physical and verbal abuse from residents. Concluding that this is not a safe working environment. Why is the number of incidents so high? Violent attacks account for a third of reports involving residential care workers compared with just 7% of reports for all workers in other industries. Lone working in care homes means you are frequently interacting with residents with mental illness, whether its dementia, Alzheimers, bipolar or schizophrenia and unfortunately these people can become violent putting staff in dangerous situations. Workers in a study carried out in 2019 by Stirling University reported that immediate violence against staff is typically caused by resident fear, confusion and agitation. They also cited a number of underlying causes, such as understaffing, the impersonal task-driven organisation of work, inappropriate resident placement, and inadequate time for emotional and social care. The study which was based around group interviews with 56 staff at seven long-term care communities in Ontario, Canada, between 2016 and 2018 found that violence against long term care staff had become normalised and even seen by management as part of the job. During the years 2017-2020 inclusive, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 125 workplace fatalities in the nursing and residential care facilities sector. How Can Care Homes Keep Their Staff Safe? There are many things companies can do to keep their care workers safe and reduce the risk of workplace injuries. The first thing to do is proper risk assessments of the environments and residents being cared for; is there a history of violence? What are the safety risks? Is there a danger to personal safety? Are there potential hazards? Are there biological hazards? Is there an emergency plan or emergency procedures that need to be followed? Once these issues have been addressed there needs to be a company policy created that includes regular contact with carers and a panic button or lone worker solution. A great way for care workers to combine regular check ins, a panic button and a lone worker solution is with a lone worker safety app. These can be downloaded directly to a Smartphone, so there is no need for additional devices. There are many great features that will help keep lone working care home staff safe, like the high risk check in. Lone worker apps have automated countdown timers that remind workers to regularly check in throughout their day. The high risk check in however, can be adjusted by workers themselves. This can be done when they are going into a situation they deem potentially more dangerous than normal, like working with a resident known to have aggressive outbursts or who has been violent in the past. Some lone worker apps also have the option for workers to discreetly request help by tapping their phone while in a pocket, so as not to escalate the situation or alert the resident that they are requesting assistance. 1 https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2021/healthcare-support-occupations-had-employment-of-6-4-million-in-may-2020.htm 2 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes311120.htm#st 3 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/09/6000-residential-care-workers-suffer-violent-attacks 4 https://www.carehome.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1609619/one-in-two-care-workers-verbally-physically-abused 5 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/09/6000-residential-care-workers-suffer-violent-attacks 6, 7 University of Stirling. Violence against long-term care staff normalized. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 March 2019. 8 https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag623.htm www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Health Care Planned Inspectional Initiatives from WorksafeBCActivating the Discreet Lone Worker Alarm on an iPhone Recent Posts about Ok AloneLegislation for Lone Working in British Columbia Lone Working with Siri on your iPhone February Newsletter from Ok Alone Lone Worker Legislation & Policy for Queensland Setting up an Escalation Procedure with Ok Alone 5 tips for Managing Workplace Stress Lone worker Safety System How to use Man Down on Android Smartphones --- ## Safety Devices and Equipment for Lone Working Zoo Staff *February 28, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* The main aim of safeguarding against danger is always to prevent it, not wait until something happens and then take action. In every industry and in daily life people have to take standard precautions to keep themselves safe. However, you might need to factor in higher occupational risks depending on your job, especially if you are a lone worker. If you come into direct contact with animals (wild animals or domestic animals), you will be at a higher risk of injury than someone who works in an office. One occupation that exposes its staff to higher levels of risk is zoo keeping. The risks can be managed and mitigated though by introducing appropriate safety systems, especially where zoo keepers are working alone. Elephant Attacks on Lone Working Zoo StaffLone working zoo keeper interacting with elephant. Lone worker crushed by elephant In October 2001 zoo keeper, Jim Robson 44, was crushed to death after an elephant rolled on him at Londons Regents Park Zoo. Jim was in charge of female Asian elephants at the park and it is understood that he tripped, fell and was crushed by one of the three female Asian elephants. Zoo Keeper seriously hurt when alone In July 2010 Ohio zoo keeper Don RedFox suffered two punctured lungs, several fractured ribs and spent a month in the hospital after breaking zoo rules by going into the elephant enclosure alone. RedFox and the elephant apparently surprised each other when the keeper walked around a corner carrying a bag of carrots. Neither Louie (the elephant), nor Don should have been in the enclosure, as Toledo Zoo rules state there should always be two keepers present in an enclosure. No CCTV when lone zoo keeper killed In February of 2013 Darren Cockrill entered an elephant enclosure on his own. Half an hour later he was found dead on the floor by another zoo keeper. The elephant Cockrill was alone with had blood on its trunk and as there was no CCTV footage, it is assumed La Petite, the elephant, killed him. Lone working zoo keeper died from crush injuries In September 2014 James Laurita was found dead in the corral of his elephant sanctuary, Hope Elephants, after being crushed by one of the two elephants kept there. The official cause of death was asphyxia and multiple fractures due to compression of the chest. As James was alone at the time, no one can know what happened in those last moments. The Dangers of working alone in a Zoo Elephants are the most dangerous animal in the zoo for keepers, said Dr. Keith Hinshaw, vice-president for animal health and the senior veterinarian at the Philadelphia Zoo, while speaking to David Helvarg at HealthDay. Hes the number one offender. More animal handlers have been killed by elephants than any other animal. Its true that an elephant never forgets, he said. And if they don't like you, they'll wait for months if necessary, until no one is around. Then they'll do a headstand on you. Or hold you down and step on your head. This situation continues to occur as zoo keepers are not as vigilant with their own safety around elephants as they are with big cats or apes, and frequently enter enclosures alone. Tigers Attack Zoo Keepers While Working Alone A Tiger in an enclosure watching a lone zoo keeper. In May 2013 zookeeper Sarah McClay was killed while working at the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Ulverston. One of the tigers managed to enter through a panel door from outside and gain access into a corridor Sarah was working in alone. Working alone zoo keeper killed by tiger In September of 2013 Martin. H, an experienced 56-year-old keeper, was killed while laying out food in the outside area of the tiger compound in a Munster zoo. Whilst working alone Martin had not locked the inside enclosure door properly, which allowed the Siberian tiger, Rasputin, to attack him. Zoo keeper killed when alone in enclosure In May 2017 Rosa King died at Hamerton Zoo Park after having suffered traumatic injuries from an attack by a Malayan tiger named Cicip. Rosa had gone into the enclosure alone to clean its viewing windows before the zoo opened for the day at 10am. The alarm was raised half an hour later by a member of the public who saw Rosa through the window. There was no CCTV footage or witnesses to the attack. Lone worker survives tiger attack In November 2017 Nadezhda Srivastava was savaged by 16-year-old male tiger Typhoon when she brought food into the enclosure. Nadezhda suffered lung damage, chest, abdominal and limb injuries described as serious but luckily survived after zoo visitors threw items to distract the tiger. Ms Srivastava was alone whilst trying to feed the tiger and clean the compound. ### Common Dangers to Lone Working Zoo Staff Even when the animals are not the major threat, keepers can be at risk from work-related injuries, much the same as an agricultural worker is. They interact directly with tools similar to a farm worker and encounter heavy lifting when it comes to bags of feed, manure or hay. They can also be at risk from slippery floors caused by rain or recently washed surfaces. Not all lone worker injuries in zoos are related to animals It is more run of the mill injuries that are most common at a zoo. Repetitive strain, slips and falls, back and other musculoskeletal injuries from lifting items and moving sedated animals or other heavy loads are most likely to injure workers. These injuries could also lead to a keeper being injured and alone within the zoo environment. There is one other danger that can effect lone zoo keepers. On Easter Monday 2014 there was a shooting at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Woodley Park, Washington D.C. This was the second shooting and third attack on the zoos property since 2000. As the instances of mass shootings escalate across the United States, it is vital that lone working zoo keepers have a way of accessing help in an emergency. ### Employers are Legally Responsible for Lone Worker Safety In response to a mauling in 2006, where veteran San Francisco Zoo zookeeper Lori Komejan had her right arm pulled through a grill and bitten by a tiger, San Francisco zoo spent more than $27,000 on a code red alert system with personal panic buttons for keepers working with the most dangerous animals. Lone worker devices preferred instead of mounted wall alarms After instances of keepers triggering the alarm by accident and some of the buttons suffering water damage, the zoo, without consulting the worker safety committee, decided to mount all the alarm buttons on the wall. If you are being mauled by a tiger, you can't say, Excuse me one second, I need to run over and press this button,' Tim Jenkins said talking to abc7news. Under local legislation zoo keepers, particularly vulnerable employees or those working alone, need to carry a device that allows them to communicate with others in an emergency. Lone working staff member injured when working in London Zoo Angelina Lawson suffered neck injuries in an accident in 2018, at London Zoo, while removing droppings from a shelf under birds perches. Whilst cleaning the enclosures alone, the ladder Angelina was stood on collapsed beneath her. Ms Lawson had completed four aviaries using the ladder and was on the last one when the fall occurred. According to reports, the step ladder had been consigned to a skip because it was defective, but was accidentally brought back into use as it had not been labelled as faulty. The Zoological Society was fined a total of 40,000 (reduced from 150,000), with costs of 8,000. ### Lone Worker Systems for Zoo Keepers The overwhelmingly common factor in the above incidents is all the zoo keepers were alone when they were injured, whether they were meant to be or not. If people who work in higher risk occupations have to be alone for periods of time then it is imperative they have the correct equipment to keep them safe. As Tim Jenkins said above, you cannot politely ask the animal (or person) attacking you to pause while you walk to the nearest wall mounted alarm to call for help. So, what is the correct equipment? San Francisco zoo had it right when they issued their staff personal panic buttons, but technology has advanced since 2006 and there are better options available to keep lone workers safe. Personal lone worker alarms are the correct equipment A lone worker monitoring smartphone app allows companies to keep their staff safe without having to buy expensive additional safety equipment. Smartphone apps can be low cost and still offer a high quality system. An automated countdown timer, as required by some areas work alone legislation and the duty of care, will remind an employee to check in at set intervals. Many features are available to keep zoo employees safe The system should have other features that complement the check in and add additional layers of security for the workers. Man (Worker) down to detect a lack of movement, high risk if undertaking a task they know will be more dangerous, a help button to summon help immediately and voice commands to get help when they can't physically touch their phone. ### App Features Needed to Keep Zoo Keepers Safe The Man (Worker) down feature activates to send a help alert if there is a loss of consciousness or no movement from staff. This would be especially helpful if a zoo keeper was knocked down or pinned by an animal. The high risk check in allows a worker themselves to reduce the time between check ins to as little as ten minutes, giving the keeper control over their own safety. If the worker then doesn't respond, an alert will be sent to their monitor prompting them to contact the worker immediately. Having a help button, physically on their person, lets lone zoo keepers access support with the tap of a screen. The supervisor monitoring them will be given their exact GPS location and know where to send help. A unique feature of some apps is the ability to use their device completely hands-free with voice commands. Verbal short cuts can be programmed into Android or iPhones so keepers can contact their supervisors even when they can't reach their phone. Smartphone apps are linked to the cloud-based dashboard Smartphone apps also work in conjunction with websites and link to cloud-based dashboards that can be used on a pc, laptop, tablet or any smartphone. The online dashboard will display a detailed map of the area with the zoo keepers last known GPS location (which updates every three seconds) if an alert is triggered. ### Keeping Lone Workers Safe Nothing is more important than ensuring staff go home safely at the end of each shift. It is ultimately the responsibility of employers to manage the safety of their workers and the environments they are working in. It is not practical to say that no one should ever be alone during their work day or that people cannot be lone workers, but these instances should be properly managed by equipping staff with a way to summon help in an emergency. The difference between working alone and working alone with a lone worker device, is literally life and death. References 1 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/KEEPER+KILLED+BY+ELEPHANT.-a079342697 2 https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/08/review-of-toledo-zoo-incident-in-which-elephant-attacked-keeper-finds-that-keeper-broke-rules.html 3 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/aspinall-s-firm-fined-over-death-of-keeper-crushed-by-indian-elephant-9142997.html 4 https://www.pressherald.com/2014/09/09/founder-of-hope-elephants-found-dead/ 5 https://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/work-and-health-41/occupational-health-news-507/zookeepers-648116.html 6 https://www.scottrees.com/safety-breach-causes-fatal-injury-zoo/ 7 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2426576/Zookeeper-mauled-death-tiger-forgetting-lock-cage-door.html 8 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/10/death-zoo-keeper-rosa-king-mauled-tiger-ruled-accidental 9 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/woman-keeper-fought-male-tiger-11490808 10 https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/teen-suspect-in-zoo-shooting-has-difficult-past/61704/ 11 https://abc7news.com/archive/9516010/ 12 https://www.shponline.co.uk/working-at-height-3/london-zoo-fined-after-keeper-fell-from-faulty-stepladder/Stacey ManclarkAs an expert in lone worker content management, I possess an extensive knowledge base and experience in the area of lone working and safety monitoring. My expertise in this field encompasses a wide range of areas, including risk assessment, training, communication, and technology. I have a deep understanding of the unique risks associated with lone workers and have researched and written many projects and articles to educate people in how to mitigate these risks. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ OSHA + Legislation & Policy for Lone Workers in the USAProtect your Lone Workers with a Spot Device and Ok Alone Leave a Comment Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Recent Posts about Ok AloneGPS Monitoring for your Lone Workers with the Ok Alone App Improving the Safety of Employees who Drive for Work Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain 2023 Volunteers Need Safety Monitoring Too Panic Buttons for Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Lone Workers Thuraya SatSleeve+ Satellite Phone Single point of contact made easy HR Strategies to Promote Lone Worker Safety Ok Alone Worker I Think I Checked-In Maybe not. Know your Status with Ok Alone --- # Education — Schools, Colleges and Universities ## Lone Worker Protection for Staff and Students in American Universities *December 13, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* Learn about UCLAs study that influenced policies and guidelines for lone worker protection at American universities now used to protect lone worker staff and students when working alone. How a horrific death lead to the commissioning of lab worker study In March 2011 the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) opened a Centre for Laboratory Safety. The centre commissioned a study to measure the effectiveness of safety policies and develop ways to improve scientists approach to safety in labs as a result of the horrific death of Sheharbano Sangji a research assistant at their own UCLA labs in 2008. Less than three weeks after the centres opening, the tragic death of Michele Dufault, a talented physics and astronomy major, occurred whilst working alone in a machine lab at Yale University in Connecticut. The survey on safety was sent out to universities all over the world. There were roughly 2,400 scientists who responded, mostly from the United States and United Kingdom, with some from Europe, China and Japan. Results showed a large number of lone workers Results showed that around 40% of junior scientists said that people worked alone in their lab every day, compared with just 26% of senior respondents, raising the possibility that supervisors are not always aware of the safety culture in their own group. The feedback found that, about two-thirds of researchers said that people worked alone in their lab at least several times a week. And only 12% of younger scientists said that safety was paramount, and takes precedence over all other lab priorities, compared with 36% of senior scientists. Universities approach to lone working An article from April 2011 on Nature.com points out that it is easier for industry labs to have higher safety standards than academic labs, because of their approach to lone working, surveys by the American Chemical Society last year suggest that 70.5% of faculty and 52.1% of graduate students often or occasionally work alone in laboratories, something that is forbidden in industry. Harvards approach to lone working Some universities, such as Harvard, have policies that need to be followed when working alone in workshops, The practice of working alone in a machine shop can, in many situations, present significant risks and should be avoided and/or prohibited, whenever possible. The practice should only be allowed after a careful risk-based determination by each school/department along with shop supervisors. Factors to consider include the experience of personnel accessing the shop to work alone, the type of work/operations to be performed and equipment utilized along with other shop specific circumstances. Massachusetts Institute of Technologys approach to lone working Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have taken their Working Alone Policy one step further, identifying who is responsible for safety and what steps are required if people are to work alone, The [risk] assessment will determine whether the risk of working alone is controllable under specific conditions established by the PI (Principal Investigator) or supervisor. If the risk cannot be minimized to a controllable level, as determined by the PI or supervisor, then the individual should perform the work only when others are present or a suitable alarm device is available that will summon help immediately. Devices that can be worn to sound an immediate alert to a central, continuously manned location (e.g., Police, Facilities) may be substituted for people in some situations. The use of a cell phone as an emergency contact device may also be adequate in certain situations. How to follow University lone worker policy Dorothy Zolandz, director of the US National Academies Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology stated in 2013 they were teaming up with behavioural scientists to develop practical guidance for researchers on how to establish a better safety culture. But when speaking about the UCLA survey, she asked How do you get people to buy into safety? The simplest way to follow the policy from MIT on using Devices that can be worn to sound an immediate alert to a central, continuously manned location is a simple and convenient lone worker Smartphone app. The purpose of a Lone Worker Solution is to ensure college students and staff go home safely at the end of each day. Solutions are simple systems that connect lone workers with a supervisor who monitors their well-being. The supervisor could be another member of the same faculty or staff in a continuously manned call centre. How can Ok Alone help Universities protect Lone Worker Staff and Students? Ok Alones lone worker solution has a wide range of features designed to make people working in isolation feel safer. The system has an automated countdown timer which reminds lone workers to make contact by checking in using either a smartphone app, SMS or phone call. Lone workers are able to change the frequency of their check ins with the high-risk feature. If a lone worker is carrying out an experiment or enters an area where they feel vulnerable, they can reduce the check in time to as little as 10 minutes. After the time has passed with no alerts, the check in frequency will revert to the original count down duration. What features does Ok Alone have to protect staff and students? One of the features, the Man Down (Worker Down) function, alerts those monitoring workers if there has been no movement from a worker within a set amount of time. This could help indicate if students or staff have been involved in an accident in the workshop or lab or an assault whilst working off campus and require immediate assistance. One aspect of the Ok Alone solution that does not exist within other lone worker solutions is their Safety Awards program. This program answers Dorothy Zolandzs question on how to get people involved in safety. How our Safety Awards engage your lone workers The Safety Awards offer an engaging way to help students and staff stay safe, while using the lone worker system. It allows users to log their own safe practises and compete with colleagues and companies across the world. The program recognises Ok Alone feature usage or when a worker completes a safe shift and rewards them with badges, points and rankings. Each month users are ranked individually, in teams, by institution or country against the rest of the global community using the OK Alone lone worker system. Faculties that recognise, encourage and celebrate those who have shown a positive attitude towards safety, will increase the likelihood of those positive attitudes and beliefs becoming shared values across the board.https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110418/full/472270a.htmlhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/safety-survey-reveals-lab-risks/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/safety-survey-reveals-lab-risks/https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110418/full/472270a.html April 2011https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/machine_shop_safe_work_practices_standard_policy_fact_sheet.pdfhttp://web.mit.edu/fnl/volume/255/edwards_stahl.htmlhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/safety-survey-reveals-lab-risks/ www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ How to Recognise and Avoid Aggressive DrivingPanic Buttons for New York City Hotel Employees Lone Worker Legislation --- ## Best Practice for Protecting Lone Workers in British Universities *December 13, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* Within British universities it is not unusual to find people working on their own. People working by themselves without close or direct supervision, where they cannot be seen or heard by others. Who at University are lone workers? Bath University have created a list of those they consider to be lone workers:People working alone in premises e.g. workshops, labs, kiosks, shops People who work from home other than in low risk, office type work (risks to these people are likely to be covered under other safety guidance such as safe use of display screen equipment) People working separately from others in isolation e.g. carrying out research, sports People working outside normal hours, e.g. cleaners and security or employees working late in offices or other facilities where there are few or no other employees about Maintenance or repair staff Mobile workers working away from their fixed base Workers involved in construction, plant installation, maintenance Horticultural and forestry workers Postal staff Those carrying out home visits ### DriversLone worker guidelines from Bath University As a result of the large number of lone workers within the university domain, Bath have established clear rules and regulations regarding communication and monitoring within their Lone Worker Safety Guidance: Communication: This is vital for lone working especially if such work takes place remotely. Those working in remote offices will probably need little more than access by email or landline. For those identified as being at more risk such as fieldworkers and drivers, the introduction of a telephone monitoring system may be suitable Monitoring: Adequate procedures and processes must be put in place to monitor lone workers to help keep them safe and healthy, regardless of where they work. This might include the use of lone worker protection devices, buddy systems or agreed contact with lone workers. Signing in/out books can also be a way of recording who is working out of hours in specific buildings. How Bath University protects its lone workers Bath University are very proactive in their approach to lone workers, requiring students and staff to have a means of summoning assistance in an emergency, Lone workers, especially those who work at remote locations or outlying parts of the University estate (including campus grounds), should be able to quickly summon assistance in an emergency. If an internal telephone is not readily available to the lone worker, lone worker alarms should be used if possible. Where these are not available an alternative system of control must be used. This could include, for example two-way radios, telephone checking systems requiring users to report at agreed intervals to Security, or having Security regularly patrol the area where work is being undertaken. What are other British universities doing to protect lone workers? Other British universities also have clear guidelines and regulations lone workers need to adhere to. Many institutions set out guidance on performing risk assessments before tasks are undertaken and establish who within the university is responsible for checking this is done. Who is responsible for university lone worker safety? Manchester University includes the following statement in their Lone Worker Guidance,Line managers and staff who supervise students have a duty of care and responsibility to ensure that risk assessments and local procedures are developed, implemented, monitored and adhered to. Lone workers also have a responsibility to follow the procedures for their own safety. Glasgow University put the onus on Line Managers and Academic Supervisors,Monitoring lone activities in their area of responsibility to ensure that they are risk assessed and conducted safely. Whilst Bristol University deems it the responsibility of the Heads of School/Service,The Head of School/Service is responsible for ensuring that arrangements are in place to eliminate the risk from lone working where possible and effectively manage lone working in their areas of responsibility and that these arrangements are communicated to all staff, students and visitors via a local rules document. What systems are universites using to protect lone workers? Manchester University suggests lone workers use panic buttons in isolated offices or consultation rooms. Mobile phone solutions with text, panic, GPS, man down and smartphone solutions. Nottingham University has similar guidance recommending that for lone workers It may be necessary to provide personal alarms or workplace alarms Panic buttons and lone worker solutions run through smartphones are simple and convenient ways to help students and staff stay safe. Using an app on their smartphone means no additional devices need to be purchased and the system can be used straight away. How Ok Alone can be used to protect lone working staff and students The Ok Alone lone worker solution has a wide range of features designed to make people working in isolation feel safer. The system has an automated countdown timer which reminds lone workers to make contact by checking in using either a smartphone app, SMS or phone call. Workers are able to change the frequency of their check ins with the high-risk feature. If a lone worker is carrying out an experiment or enters an area where they feel vulnerable, they can reduce the check in time to as little as 10 minutes. After the time has passed with no alerts, the check in frequency will revert to the original count down duration. What features does Ok Alone have to protect university lone workers One of the features, the Man Down (Worker Down) function, alerts those monitoring workers if there has been no movement from a worker within a set amount of time. This could help indicate if the worker has been involved in an accident in a workshop or lab or an assault whilst working off campus and requires immediate assistance. Ok Alones lone worker smartphone app works in conjunction with a website and cloud-based dashboard that can be used on a pc, laptop, tablet or another smartphone. The online dashboard will display a map supplying the workers last known location if an alert is triggered. This will help locate a worker who is trouble. Using a lone worker device allows students and staff to continue working in isolation whilst knowing help can be there when they need it.1, 2, 3 2019 SHEW Lone Worker Safety Guidance University of Bath 4 https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/working-alone/ 5 http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13644 6 https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_849019_smxx.pdf 7 https://www.bristol.ac.uk/safety/media/gn/lone-working-gn.pdf 8 http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13644 9 https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/safety/documents/lone-working.pdf www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Keep Workers Safe using Microsoft Teams with a Lone Worker SolutionSituation Not Normal Is Your Mind on Your Driving? Lone Worker Legislation --- ## Chemicals in the Workplace Soup Theory for Laboratory Lone Working *December 6, 2023 · Ok Alone* Chemicals used in the workplace and the soup we enjoy at home share in a common problem. It comes down to what I call the soup theory for laboratory lone working. Nearly everyone loves soup, as a child of the 70s, canned soup was the ideal comfort food on a cold winter day. Occasionally when reaching into the back of the cupboard to grab the last can, we were surprised that it had separated into layers or simply had gone rancid. Ok, its grilled cheese instead of soup today! It wasn't until a high school food drive that I discovered my moms deviant behaviour. Several cans of soup located in the back of the cupboard had distinctly out of date labels. In fact, one of the products in the cabinet hadn't been available for several years. I then sorted through all the canned food goods, finding that the best before date aged the deeper I went into the cupboard for almost every product. When I confronted my mother on her inventory habits, she stated, that she would just place the new cans to the front of the designated storage location and push the existing cans back. It made sense, yet smacked of complacency and a lack of understanding in regards to food safety. As an EHS professional, I routinely identify this same behaviour as part of audits or other programs, where the presence of aged chemical reagents is found hidden in the back of the chemical storage cabinets never to be used again or used past their expiration date. In fact, I have on multiple occasions discovered chemicals dating back as much as 20+ years. In some cases, the chemicals have become unstable and present dangers. In other instances, the chemical bottle has been used, and the contents have lost either potency, degraded such that their use in a process may not ensure a high-quality standard, or have merely evaporated, and all that remains is an empty bottle. Good luck getting a current MSDS from the chemical supplier who went out of business in the 90s, not to mention reading the faded label, or dealing with those crystal structures in that bottle of picric acid. In truth quality control experts, and chemical manufacturers do not stipulate an expiry date for a chemical unless its chemical and physical properties dictate a limited shelf life. Some chemicals form salts or other precipitates over time, like diethyl ether. Diethyl ether and similar chemicals can form dangerous peroxides over the course of years that can explode on contact if disturbed. These chemicals should be safely disposed of before they cause an explosion or other accident. For most chemicals, there is no defined shelf life or disposal date. The longer the bottle has been sitting around, and how often it is opened may, at the very least, present a quality control issue, if not a health and safety one. Chemicals identified as being older than five years should be analyzed by a lab to validate their ability to perform to your specifications. ISO standards would dictate that a new certificate of analysis be provided. If there's no expiration or retest date anywhere on the bottle, then things get more complicated, and the line between safe and dangerously old becomes less clear-cut. Solid chemicals generally have a pass until they have been in inventory for five years under recommended and ideal storage conditions. Under less than ideal conditions, such as a bottles seal having been broken, or if the chemical has been transferred to a different container, the chemical shelf life will be affected negatively. Refrigerated liquid chemicals may last quite a bit less time than solids, with recommended expiration dates of as little as 12 to 18 months. A better approach to managing the age of chemicals in the workplace is to start by only procuring what you need within a shorter time, and limiting the volumes. Here are some tips to best manage your soup cupboard: Always rotate your inventory of each chemical such that the oldest container is at the front of the cabinet and will, therefore, be used first. Use the open container first, and avoid having multiple open containers. Only purchase what you need and will use in a pre-determined period. If you use a material every day, you will replenish your supply frequently. However, if you only use a product infrequently in small volumes, look into purchasing smaller containers at regular intervals to prevent a chemical from becoming unstable or unusable. Annually audit your storage areas, cabinets and under the sink to ensure older chemicals, and particularly those that can become dangerous over time are identified for disposal. Track your chemical usage, have you stopped using a specific chemical or has the volume required changed that would allow you to change either your purchasing quantities and or the size of bottle/container. If you find old chemicals, damaged containers, or materials you do not use anymore, look internally to see if any other laboratories can or would use the remaining volumes. Where the chemical cannot be used, have it disposed of following hazardous waste requirements (TDG). Be prepared for surprises, such as finding incompatible materials stored together, it happens. In these situations, immediate action correct should be taken to eliminate the hazards. When in doubt have a qualified chemical storage specialist assist you in setting up your chemical handling and storage program to ensure worker safety, minimize waste, classify and dispose of hazardous wastes, and streamline your chemical inventory process. Don't allow your mothers past mistakes to haunt you in the workplace. Make sure that your chemicals don't fall victim to the Soup Theory. Regularly rotate chemicals and monitor expiry dates for safety and effectiveness. There is nothing wrong with grilled cheese, but when you are anticipating soupdo not allow yourself to be disappointed. This blog was written by EK Gillin & Associates Inc in Stratford Ontaria which Ok Alone is pleased to share with permission. (EKG) has been an industry leader for Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) consulting and training since 1990. We have an extensive and proven record for delivering comprehensive, sustainable, timely and cost effective solutions for our clients. Ultimately, our clients improve health and safety practices, legal compliance and the bottom line by contributing to greater job satisfaction, quality and productivity. www.okaloneworker.com Applying GDPR to Lone Worker SolutionsHow to Create a Formal Hazard Assessment Recent Posts about Ok AloneSocial Distancing for Lone Workers Trusty Ox Systems announces the availability of its safety monitoring solution on the Geotab Marketplace Video Demo Lone Worker App and Cloud-based Dashboard City of Santa Monica: Chapter 4.67 Hotel Worker Protection I Think I Checked-In Maybe not. Know your Status with Ok Alone Desktop/Web App for Lone Workers Delivery Logistics Company Case Study Lone Worker Legislation & Policy for New South Wales Choose a Lone Worker App with Wide Device Capability - Ok Alone Choose a Lone Worker App with Wide Device Capability ### April 20, 2023 by Stacey Manclark When it comes to choosing a lone worker app, compatibility with various devices and operating systems is very important. Device compatibility is vital because it ensures that all employees can access the lone worker app on their preferred devices, whether it be a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. With the ever-increasing variety of devices and operating systems available, organizations must select an app that accommodates the full range. This compatibility not only increases the apps adoption rate among employees but also contributes to a more inclusive and effective approach to worker safety. Lone worker app being used over multiple devices. Several factors should be considered when selecting a lone worker app with wide device capability. These include ease of use, customization options, scalability, support, and the apps ability to function on both iOS and Android platforms, as well as any other operating systems (such as Windows) your employees may use. To choose the right lone worker app for your organization, start by assessing your organizations specific safety requirements and device preferences. Research different apps, evaluate their compatibility with various devices and operating systems. By taking these factors into account, you can make an informed decision and select a lone worker app that not only provides wide device capability but also aligns with your organizations unique safety goals. Understanding Lone Worker Apps What Are Lone Worker Apps? Lone worker apps are smartphone applications designed to monitor and ensure the safety of employees who work alone or in remote locations. These apps provide real-time location tracking, emergency alerts, and other safety features to keep lone workers connected and protected. The Benefits of Lone Worker Apps Lone worker apps offer numerous benefits, including:Improved worker safety Enhanced communication Reduced response time during emergencies ### Compliance with safety regulationsReaching All Employees In a world where employees use a variety of devices, its essential to choose a lone worker app that works seamlessly across multiple platforms. Wide device compatibility ensures that all employees, regardless of their device preferences, have access to the safety features provided by the app. Lone workers across different industries will use different devices for their protection. ### Reducing Costs By opting for an app with wide device capability, companies can avoid adding the expense of purchasing and maintaining additional devices for their employees. Employees can continue using their preferred devices, reducing the organizations overall costs. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Lone Worker App ### Device Compatibility The app should be compatible with a broad range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops, to ensure accessibility for all employees. Compatibility with both iOS and Android operating systems is essential, as these are the most widely used platforms. Additionally, consider any other platforms that your employees may use to guarantee that the app is functional across all necessary devices. You can consult with the apps customer support team or check online reviews to gather more information on its compatibility with various devices. By selecting a lone worker app with wide device capability, you can provide your employees with a reliable safety solution, regardless of the devices they use. Involving employees in the selection process Involving employees in the selection process of a Lone Worker solution is a crucial step in ensuring its success and adoption within an organization. By gathering employee input and addressing their concerns, you can better understand their needs and preferences, ultimately leading to a more effective and tailored solution. Involving employees also helps alleviate any apprehension or resistance they may have towards the new system, as they are more likely to embrace a solution that they had a hand in choosing. Encourage open communication and feedback during the selection process, and consider conducting surveys or focus groups to gather valuable insights. Employees should be involved in selection of which lone worker app to use. ### Ease of Use A user-friendly interface is essential for promoting employee adoption of a lone worker app. When an app is easy to navigate and offers clear instructions, users can quickly familiarize themselves with its features and functions. This ease of use ultimately leads to increased adoption rates among employees, making the app a more effective tool for ensuring worker safety. By prioritizing user experience, businesses can feel confident that their lone workers are equipped with a reliable and accessible resource. Customization Different organizations have distinct safety requirements, making it essential to choose a lone worker app that offers customization options. By selecting an app with the ability to tailor its features to your organizations specific needs, you can ensure that the safety measures in place are both relevant and effective. Customization options may include adjusting alert settings, creating unique check-in schedules, or modifying escalation procedures to align with company protocols. By implementing a lone worker app that caters to your organizations unique safety requirements, you can provide employees with a robust and tailored solution to safeguard their well-being while on the job. Scalability As your organization grows, its vital to choose a lone worker app that can scale with it. Opting for a solution capable of accommodating an increasing number of users without compromising performance ensures that your investment in the app remains beneficial over time. A scalable app can adapt to changes in your workforce size, maintain its effectiveness, and continue to provide the necessary safety features for your employees. When evaluating a lone worker apps scalability, consider factors such as its ability to handle multiple users simultaneously, the ease of adding or removing users, and whether the app requires additional resources to maintain performance as the number of users increases. ### Support and Updates Choosing a lone worker app from a reputable company that provides ongoing support and regular updates is crucial for maintaining its functionality and keeping it up-to-date. A reliable company will stand by their product and offer comprehensive customer service, addressing any technical issues, answering questions, and assisting with app setup or customization as needed. Additionally, regular updates are essential for ensuring the app remains compatible with the latest devices and operating systems, as well as incorporating new features or improvements that enhance its overall effectiveness. These updates may include bug fixes, feature requests, and performance enhancements that contribute to a seamless user experience. Evaluating Lone Worker App Options Before committing to a lone worker app, consider the following steps:Assess your organizations needs and requirements. Research and compile a list of potential apps. Compare features, compatibility, and pricing. Test the app with a small group of employees. Evaluate feedback and make a final decision. Lone worker app with multi-device compatibility. ### Making the Right Choice with Ok Alone Choosing a lone worker app with wide device capability is essential for organizations that prioritize employee safety and well-being. By considering device compatibility, ease of use, customization, scalability, and support, you can select the best app to meet your organizations needs. Device compatibility ensures that the app works seamlessly across various devices and operating systems, making it accessible to all employees regardless of their preferred device. Ease of use plays a significant role in promoting employee adoption, as a user-friendly interface encourages workers to fully utilize the apps features for their safety. Customization options allow organizations to tailor the apps functions to their specific safety requirements, creating a more effective and relevant solution. Scalability is essential for growing organizations, as a scalable app can adapt to accommodate an increasing number of users without compromising performance. Finally, choosing an app from a reputable company, like Ok Alone, that provides ongoing support and regular updates guarantees that the app remains functional, up-to-date, and a reliable resource for safeguarding your lone workers. By taking these factors into account, you can make an informed decision and select a lone worker app that not only provides wide device capability but also aligns with your organizations unique safety goals. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Monitor driver safety away from the vehicleHow can a software based panic button help lone retail workers? Recent Posts about Ok AloneHow to Create a Formal Hazard Assessment Updated Changes to BS 8484 for 2022 Ensuring Safety in the Workplace with Employee Safety Monitoring from Ok Alone Will I have to Self-isolate or self-quarantine? Lone Worker Legislation & Policy in Canada Dashboard Links in SMS Alerts for Monitors Lone Worker Policy The California Consumer Privacy Act --- ## 5 emergency response plan essentials for education Lone workers *December 6, 2023 · Ok Alone* Emergencies, disasters or critical incidents that occur within an educational setting are every parents, teachers and school administrators nightmare. The health and welfare of hundreds or thousands of children and young people could be at risk and dependent upon a thorough and well-executed emergency response plan. The five basic all-hazard responses that educators teach and drill with students are:drop/cover/hold on evacuate lockdown lockout and shelter in placeThese essentials are proven first steps in an emergency response, and educators discuss and practice these with students, usually on a specific schedule set out by the school board or district. In the case of a lockdown or shelter in place response, its critical that teachers have a means to check in with authorities outside of the immediate vicinity. The method of contact should be predetermined and consistent for all who may be involved in the incident. It also needs to be easy to implement, so that contact is seamless under what may be extremely stressful circumstances. Lone worker protection technology for emergency response in education settings Fortunately, modern technology brings this kind of emergency response tool within reach of public schools, independent schools and post-secondary settings. Ok Alones lone worker monitoring system provides a reliable point of contact through our safety app, downloadable to iPhone and Android as well as iPad, laptop and desktop devices, so your school won't need to purchase extra equipment. Teachers will find it simple to learn and use, plus the system is flexible enough that substitute teachers can download the app and be added to your schools roster on a day-by-day basis. Adding this tool to your school districts safety policy will give an effective point of contact that strengthens your emergency response plan, and its priced reasonably, to fit within constrained education budgets. We even offer a free trial! Contact us to learn more. www.okaloneworker.com Volunteers Need Safety Monitoring TooSafety Zone from Ok Alone Recent Posts about Ok AloneWhy You Need a Lone Worker App for Check Ins What is Lone Working and other Relevant Questions Legislation for Lone Working in New Brunswick High Risk Check-ins from Ok Alone Electronic Safety Devices for Lone Workers How International Driving Laws affect Lone Workers You Can't Afford Not to Have a Lone Worker Safety System Single point of contact made easy --- ## How Ok Alone is used by Schools, Tutors and Teachers for Lone Working *February 28, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* Making sure teachers and tutors are safe in the school environment, when working alone, is becoming increasingly important. Ofsted guidelines and health and safety policies mean that any school worker who is on their own must be protected. At Ok Alone we have a suitable lone worker solution for your school. Here is a summary of how our work alone solution will help keep your teachers safe in term time or while on site working in the holidays. ### Workers and Monitors Ok Alone uses terms such as workers and monitors. Workers are kept safe by the lone worker solution and if there are any issues, then the monitors are alerted. For schools, read teachers or tutors for workers. And monitors can be senior staff or the person in charge of safeguarding, including the lone worker policy. ### Lone Worker Monitoring for Tutors Ok Alone is being used by an increasing amount of schools offering tutoring services away from the school site. This means the tutors are often teaching on their own and need monitoring for safety. Tutors can start Ok Alone at the beginning of the lesson and check in during the lesson, often at the half way point. They can then end their shift at the end of the lesson. If the tutor does not check in or end their shift then a senior member of staff can be alerted to a potential issue. ### Start Shift Reminders One of Ok Alones most popular features are the start shift reminders. Lone workers often forget to start their Ok Alone shift, especially when they first start using the lone worker system. In Ok Alone you can easily add reminders, so workers get an SMS to start their shift this is used by tutors to remind them to start their monitoring before each lesson. After feedback from schools, we have now added multiple daily start shift reminders, so teachers can now get a reminder before each tutoring lesson. As a result, schools know their staff are safe and being monitored correctly. ### Live Monitoring for Lone Workers There is not always someone available when you are in school to respond to any lone worker issues. Ok Alone provides a 24/7 live monitoring service, where our trained team can respond to any alert. This is great for tutors working in the evening, and live monitoring can be toggled on/off when required. If you are a school, you can try Ok Alone for free for 7 days. Simply visit our Free Trial page and get started today. Stacey ManclarkAs an expert in lone worker content management, I possess an extensive knowledge base and experience in the area of lone working and safety monitoring. My expertise in this field encompasses a wide range of areas, including risk assessment, training, communication, and technology. I have a deep understanding of the unique risks associated with lone workers and have researched and written many projects and articles to educate people in how to mitigate these risks. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Lone Worker Incidents & Workplace Fatalities in IrelandOfsted Guidelines for Lone Working in Schools Recent Posts about Ok AloneLegislation for Lone Working in New Brunswick Iridium Extreme 9575 Satellite Phone Lone Worker App for Android from Ok Alone About our Work Alone System Keeping your Lone Workers Safe Hands Free Lone Worker Solutions Help Nurses and Health Workers ### Future of Health and Safety Conference 2016 Lone Worker Protection Systems More Information on Lone Workers in SchoolsLone Working in SchoolsWhen you think of schools, you don't often think of someone being on their own, but in reality, ... Ofsted Guidelines for Lone Working in SchoolsOfsted states that all schools must have an up to date Health and Safety policy. Health and safety ... How Ok Alone is used by Schools, Tutors and Teachers for Lone WorkingMaking sure teachers and tutors are safe in the school environment, when working alone, is becoming ... --- # Retail, Hospitality and Public-Facing Roles ## Working Alone Safety Tip for Realtors and Estate Agents *December 6, 2023 · Ok Alone* ### Working Alone Safety Tips for Realtors and Estate Agents You've worked hard to get that property listing and now you have a potential buyer coming to see it. Fantastic. As exciting as this is, its worth remembering that following a few basic rules can go a long way to ensure you return home safely. 1. Set-up check-in times based on risk When you're travelling to meetings with known work colleagues, you are in a low risk environment. As a result, you may only need to confirm you are safe and well every 2 to 4 hours. However, when you are about to show a property, particularly to someone you've never met, the potential risk increases. In these situations, you may want to check-in every 20-30 minutes. Having a convenient way to do this becomes very important. 2. Make sure back-up is always available Calling a buddy or back to the office may work most of the time. But people now work irregular hours or they may get tied up in a meeting. As a result, its a good idea to ensure one or more people will be alerted if you get into trouble. For example, you may want an email sent to the office and a phone call made to a nearby co-worker. A good work alone monitoring system enables you to do this quickly and easily. 3. Ensure help knows where you are You may have told the office your showing was at 123 Oak Street, but you either didn't get there or left early to do something else. If you're not at Oak Street when an issue occurs, you are putting yourself at greater risk. A simple way to resolve this is to have your GPS location automatically sent to your safety team on a regular and consistent basis. Better still, the GPS would actually monitor your movements throughout the day and make this information available to those who need to know. Our customers tell us these three ideas help ensure that if a problem develops when they are on the job, it gives their safety team the best possible chance of assisting them as quickly as possible. Want to try it out yourself? Why now sign-up for a free trial. Most people are up and running in 10 minutes or less. www.okaloneworker.com Looking after retail staff who work aloneLone Worker Monitoring System Recent Posts about Ok AloneSituation Not Normal Is Your Mind on Your Driving? U.S Legislation for Electricians High risk situations for Lone Workers The Most Common Workplace Safety Policy Violations Why Municipalities Need a Lone Worker App Volunteers Need Safety Monitoring Too CSSE 2016 Lone worker safety systems --- ## Volunteers Need Safety Monitoring Too *December 6, 2023 · Ok Alone* Fundraising events and canvassing for charity can be hazardous to volunteers and fundraising professionals. Where would we be without volunteers? Volunteerism contributes to a kinder, more equitable and safer society, so its only fair that those who go out of their way to help others should be protected themselves, right? The people who canvas door-to-door for various charities also put themselves at risk, along with those who volunteer in public spaces, whether they are looking for donations to a cause or simply offering information to passers-by. There are folks who react violently to any solicitation, putting at risk those who are only doing their job, whether as a fundraising professional or an unpaid volunteer. Discover how to protect your volunteers www.okaloneworker.com Ok Alones gift to you FREE access for fund raisers5 emergency response plan essentials for education Lone workers Recent Posts about Ok AloneWhy Municipalities Need a Lone Worker App Man Down / Worker Down App to Keep Workers Safe Reducing Workplace Accidents How can a Lone Worker App Protect Your People in High-Risk Situations? How workplace culture shapes your working alone safety policy Use Your Voice to Check in Whilst Lone Working Understanding Man Down in the Ok Alone Dashboard and Alerts Lone Working Canadian Security Guards Need Help How lone worker alerts play out in real life --- ## Are You Getting Your Municipality Value For Money? *October 16, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* ### Local Government Responsibilities Within a municipality there are many departments each with their own committee or board. Each council could have for instance school, libraries, social services and health boards, transportation board, parks board, water and wastewater boards. As well as having responsibility for the upkeep of facilities like garbage collection systems, fire departments and community centres. Additionally, the majority have municipal boards or commissions that are appointed by the provincial government to review certain aspects of the municipal governments actions, including capital expenditure, public borrowing, community planning and specific local by-laws. As a municipality you need to justify all spending and get committee approval for expenses. ### Committee Approval As councils house many different departments they have people doing many different roles. Quite often these roles result in people working alone and therefore being considered a lone worker. To keep these workers safe municipalities need to provide their workers with a lone worker solution. The question is though, how do you get board approval for the expense? Finding a lone worker solution that is used by other councils similar to your own is a good start. Ask other local authorities for recommendations of the lone worker solutions they use for their employees. Contact municipal associations and see if they have reputable companies that they can recommend. Another place to look would be the App Store or Google Play and see which lone worker solutions have the best reviews. There might even be reviews left by members of local government for their town or city. Having these positive reviews of a product to share with the board will help justify the legitimacy of purchasing the service. ### Low Cost, High Value You need to find the best value for money when looking at which product to buy. Some services are cheaper than others because their service is not up to the same standard, you pay less and very obviously get less. You need to find a lone worker system that is compatible with the work government employees do that is low cost, but still offers a professional service. As a complete lone worker solution you should have an app or device that allows workers to: check in at pre assigned times, alert management that they need immediate assistance, detect if there has been no movement, give a precise location through GPS, use voice commands or go handsfree. The solution should also offer a dashboard that can be accessed by management which shows workers locations, contact information and agreed escalation procedures for emergencies. Another way to get good value for money is to ask about any discounts or offers the company can do for your municipality. Some companies offer a volume discount where the base rate per worker will reduce the more workers you have. This is an excellent way to ensure you are getting a professional, reputable solution and still keep the costs low. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Why Municipalities Need a Lone Worker AppHow Municipalities use Ok Alone Recent Posts about Ok AloneA Firm Foundation: The Efforts to Improve Safety in Canadas Construction Industry Get grouping Taking group actions with Ok Alone Security Guard Lone Worker Policy and Hazard Assessment Using Focus Groups to Gather Risk Information for a Lone Worker Policy Ok Alone Integration with the V.ALRT Panic Button Favourite Feature High Risk Check-ins Lone Worker App for Android from Ok Alone --- ## Can a task bar help button on your computer help in emergencies? *July 26, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* When you have employees working on their own it is important to have an employee safety monitoring system in place in case of emergencies. This applies to people across many industries and occupations, from education to retail or front of house staff. Having a system that is compatible with pcs and laptops, and shows as a taskbar icon, allows staff quick access to help when they need it. Calling for help may not always mean that something violent is happening, it may be a medical emergency that is occurring where others cannot see. ### Benefits of the Employee Safety Monitoring System Having an employee safety monitoring system is crucial for those who work alone or with members of the public. The systems real-time monitoring allows employers to see where staff are if they need help. When in an environment where staff are mainly stationary (a lab or office), it can be recorded in the personal files of each worker where they are located, e.g. which floor and office or cubical position. Therefore, if a request is made the people responding can see on their dashboard exactly where they need to go. Staff are also able to send a message from the desktop app to those monitoring them, giving more information about the incident, for example: weapon on site or chest pains. ### Versatility in Various Industries Having a desktop app, that is able to get help, is a fantastic tool to have in many different industries. There are so many aspects of each industry that people forget about, so many people that are either alone tucked away in an office or face to face with customers:Retail: Night shift workers, lone sales staff, Management, Online customer support, Marketing and advertising specialists Healthcare: Front desk staff, doctors in exam rooms, lab technicians, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Specialists, Telehealth providers Education: One-to-one support staff, classroom teachers, receptionists, Management ### Hospitality: Concierge, Front desk staff, Guest services, Management Corporate Offices: Anyone in an office with a closed door, CCTV control room staff, receptionistsLaptop Compatibility and Task Bar Icon One of the great things about a desktop employee monitoring system is they work on most laptops and desktops which means there is massive scope for accessibility. Ok Alones Task Bar Help Button is a system available to those who use laptops and pcs. Once the app is open and the employee logged in, the icon remains on the task bar as a means of immediate access. The help button on the task bar can be double tapped to immediately request help. Ok Alones task bar icon is green for live. It can also be right clicked, which gives more options, such as Log out or Open App. If Open App is clicked employees are able to choose Send Message from the menu and send additional information to their monitors about the situation. If a worker double clicks or selects Get Help the green icon will turn orange for 5 seconds to give the worker a chance to cancel the request (if it was accidentally activated). After the five seconds, the icon will turn red to inform the worker that the request has been sent. They will also receive an acknowledgment message once a monitor has accepted their request and the icon will change to a red circle with a green tick, to show someone is coming. ### Using the Task Bar Help Button Scenario Oskar, a lone office worker, is diligently working at his computer late in the evening when he suddenly feels a sharp pain in his chest and struggles to catch his breath. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Oskar frantically double clicks on the Ok Alone task bar icon of the employee safety monitoring system. Instantly, a distress signal is sent to his designated monitors, alerting them of the emergency as Oskar passes out at his desk. Within minutes, a security guard and a colleague trained in first aid rush into Oskars office equipped with a first aid kit and an automated external defibrillator (AED). They quickly assess Oskars condition, administer necessary first aid measures, and attach the AED to monitor his vital signs. Thanks to the immediate response triggered by the task bar icon, Oskar receives the necessary medical attention without any delay. The task bar icon proved to be a lifesaver in this scenario, enabling Oskar to swiftly summon help during a medical emergency. Its presence on his screen ensured that he could access the monitoring system with ease, facilitating prompt response from the designated responders. Conclusion Having a desktop based employee monitoring system allows staff to access help in the easiest manner when they need it. This feature ensures that the monitoring system is readily accessible to employees at all times, allowing them to quickly reach out for assistance in case of emergencies or threatening situations. With the task bar icon constantly visible on the screen, employees can easily locate and activate the system with a double click, without the need to navigate through menus or search for applications. Double clicking the icon can be done without notice if it will escalate a situation, or easily if the person is experiencing a medical emergency. Introducing this system is a proactive way to enhance employee safety and prioritise the well-being of staff within a company. The persistent task bar icon serves as a constant reminder of the systems availability, reinforcing employee safety and enabling swift response times when they are most needed. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ How can a software based panic button help office workers?Californias regulations for preventing heat-related illness in outdoor workers Cloud-based Dashboard for Lone Worker Monitoring How Desktop Panic Buttons Work What Artificial Intelligence thinks of Ok Alone --- ## How can a software based panic button help lone retail workers? *July 19, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* Marisa works as the lone retail worker on shift in a boutique clothing store. Towards the end of the day, while attending to a customer, Marisa notices another individual displaying unusual and aggressive behaviour making her feel increasingly uncomfortable. Recognizing the potential threat, Marisa discreetly activates the panic button on the task bar of her computer screen. Instantly, an alert is triggered, notifying her monitors and store manager. Meanwhile, Marisa maintains her composure and continues assisting the customer while waiting for help to arrive. Unbeknownst to the aggressive individual, the panic button activation has alerted the security personnel to the location of the store. In response to the alert, the security personnel swiftly head to Marisas position while she updates her monitors through a discreet messaging system connected to the panic button software. Within moments, security personnel arrive at the store, approaching the individual calmly and professionally. Their timely intervention diffuses the situation and ensures the safety of both Marisa and the customer. The store manager joins the scene to provide support and follow-up. After the incident, the store conducts a thorough review of the panic button logs and the security footage, documenting the details for future reference and training purposes. Marisa expresses her gratitude for the quick response and effective support, emphasizing how the computer-based panic button played a vital role in her feeling safe and protected throughout the incident. This example demonstrates how a computer-based panic button can empower lone retail workers by providing immediate assistance, discreetly alerting security personnel, facilitating communication, and ensuring a swift response to potentially dangerous situations. It highlights the significance of such technology in safeguarding the well-being of retail employees and maintaining a secure work environment. Benefits of using a software based panic button in retail A software-based panic button can provide significant assistance to lone retail workers, enhancing their safety and well-being. Here's how it can help:Immediate Assistance: In case of a threatening situation or emergency, a software-based panic button allows lone retail workers to quickly request immediate assistance. With just two clicks on their computer screen, they can activate the panic button, triggering an alert that notifies store management or designated responders. Discreet Activation: The panic button enables lone retail workers to seek help without drawing attention or causing panic among customers or potential perpetrators. It ensures that assistance is summoned quietly, allowing workers to manage the situation professionally and minimize any escalation. GPS Location Tracking: When the panic button is activated, the software can capture and transmit the workers GPS location. This feature allows responders to pinpoint the precise location of the distress signal, expediting their response and ensuring the workers safety. Documentation and Reporting: Panic button activations are recorded by the software, providing valuable documentation for post-incident analysis, compliance reporting, or legal purposes. This information helps to understand the nature of the incidents and improve future safety measures. By implementing a software-based panic button, retail businesses can provide their lone workers with a powerful tool to enhance their safety and confidence. It empowers them to seek immediate assistance, facilitates discreet communication, and ensures a swift response, ultimately fostering a secure work environment and protecting the well-being of employees. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ Choose a Lone Worker App with Wide Device CapabilityThe importance of lone worker training and engagement of staff Cloud-based Dashboard for Lone Worker Monitoring How Desktop Panic Buttons Work What Artificial Intelligence thinks of Ok Alone --- ## Which industries would benefit from using a computer based panic button? *July 6, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* A PC based panic alarm system is a versatile solution that offers immense benefits across various industries. It provides employees with a quick and accessible means to seek immediate assistance during emergencies or threatening situations. Whether its in corporate offices, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, hospitality settings, transportation hubs, or retail environments, an on-screen computer emergency request button ensures a rapid and discreet channel for requesting help. With customizable features, seamless integration, and user-friendly interface, solutions are designed to enhance safety, improve response times, and instil peace of mind across many sectors. Industries who should use a computer based panic button There are many different industries and occupations that would benefit from using panic button software on their computers. Corporate offices: Corporate offices often have security teams or designated personnel responsible for emergency response. Panic button software designed for the office environment allow employees to quickly and discreetly notify the appropriate personnel in case of a safety or security issue within the office premises. Discreet activation of a panic button can be useful in scenarios such as workplace violence, intrusions, or other threatening situations. It enables employees to silently alert security teams or management, who can then respond appropriately without causing the source of the danger to be aware that help has been requested. Working in an area where you cannot be seen by others. Retail: Retail stores, shopping malls, and outlets can implement an on-screen emergency request button to enhance the safety of employees and customers. In the retail industry, employees may face instances of theft, aggressive customers, or potentially dangerous situations. The software allows employees to discreetly request assistance from security personnel or management in situations involving theft, aggressive customers, or potential hazards. By discretely activating a panic button, retail workers can alert store security or management without causing panic among customers or alerting potential perpetrators. Government facilities: Government buildings, courthouses, or public administration offices can benefit from an PC based panic alarm system. The system offers a straightforward way for employees to quickly notify security or management in case of security breaches, threats, or emergencies within the facility. Education: Educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, can benefit from an on-screen emergency request button. In these locations teachers or staff members may encounter emergencies like intruders or violence. Teachers, staff, or even students can use the button to alert the school administration or security personnel in case of emergencies such as threats, violence, or medical emergencies. Discreet activation of a panic button can help people immediately notify school security or administrators, enabling a quick response while minimizing disruptions and maintaining a calm environment for students. The only person still in a department at school. Hospitality: In healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes, computer screen panic button software can aid healthcare providers in calling for immediate assistance during critical situations or medical emergencies. It allows them to swiftly notify colleagues, security, or emergency medical teams within the facility to situations where they feel threatened by a patient or visitor. Discreetly activating a panic button allows them to silently summon security or assistance without escalating the situation or alarming other patients. Transportation: In the transportation industry, including airports, train stations, or bus terminals, a PC based panic alarm system with discreet activation can be crucial. It allows employees, such as ticket agents or customer service representatives to discreetly use the button to notify authorities or security personnel in case of suspicious activities, security breaches, or disruptive behaviour within the transportation facility. Conclusion These industries are just a few examples of how an on-screen emergency request button can be adapted to various other sectors where immediate communication and response are essential for ensuring safety and security. In all these industries and situations, discreet activation of panic buttons ensures a swift response from appropriate authorities, increases the safety of individuals involved, and helps prevent potential escalation or harm. The software provides a discreet channel for seeking assistance while minimizing panic, maintaining order, and safeguarding the well-being of all parties involved. Desktop lone worker app on screen. One such system is Ok Alone, an employee safety monitoring solution, which works across a variety of devices including laptops and pcs. The solution is designed to enhance the safety of those working alone, whether they are in an office, at a clients house or up a mountain! Ok Alone features a wide range of safety options such as the panic button mentioned above as well as man down, high-risk settings, voice commands and GPS positioning. www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ A Day in a Life with Ok AloneA Day in a Life with Ok Alone Security Guards Cloud-based Dashboard for Lone Worker Monitoring How Desktop Panic Buttons Work What Artificial Intelligence thinks of Ok Alone --- ## Essential Tips for your Retail Employees Lone Worker Safety *March 8, 2023 · Ok Alone* ### Essential Safety Tips for your Retail Employees Your retail business, whether large or small, is responsible for providing a safe environment for workers as well as following the lone worker safety regulations of your country and local jurisdictions. While retail isn't considered a particularly high risk occupation, it can be quite hazardous. Many retail workers are young, and new to the work force, so they might not know what to do when faced with a challenging situation. Its important that they receive appropriate safety training and have specific instruction in what to do when there is an incident. Here are a few safety tips for retail staff:Be careful when doing repetitive manual tasks or working in awkward positions Pushing, pulling or lifting things can put you at risk for injury, learn how to lift safely Working on ladders or lifts to store or replenish stock is hazardous, go slow and use safety equipment (hardhats, safety belt systems) whenever possible Slips, trips and falls are common causes of employee injury, don't rush about, even when you are busy. Other risks that retail workers face include bullying and workplace violence; working with the public is not always pleasant and you might be accosted by a hostile person. A lone worker protection system can provide a means to call for help if necessary. ### Effective, Affordable Lone Worker Safety Solutions for the Retail Industry Our lone worker safety app is an affordable solution that's easy for retail workers to learn and use no extensive training required! The safety app will give staff a way to check in and to report any problems as they occur. Its very simple to implement, we can have you up and running in minutes. Contact us to learn more about our lone worker protection system. www.okaloneworker.com You Can't Afford Not to Have a Lone Worker Safety SystemKeeping Home Care Nurses Safe with a Lone Worker Safety App Recent Posts about Ok AloneIntegrations with Ok Alone Understanding Man Down in the Ok Alone Dashboard and Alerts Work Alone Safety: Creating a Safe Space for Fixed-Site Lone Workers Live Monitoring with our Work Alone Call Centre How your Workers can become Safety Champions Lone Worker Legislation & Policy for New South Wales Working from Home Tips from the Ok Alone Team Ok Alone Saves Lone Workers Life! Desktop/Web App for Lone Workers --- ## Ok Alones gift to you FREE access for fund raisers *March 8, 2023 · Ok Alone* Ok Alone wants to give something back to the community. If you're involved in a fund raising event, Ok Alone would like to donate its lone working monitoring service free of charge. To expand on this a little, we regularly see volunteer organizations asking people to fund raise, drive and door knock. Often times, the volunteers are on their own. From our conversations, many boards are not aware of their legal obligations to regularly monitor the safety of the people in their care. We'd like to help fix that by donating the Ok Alone service to your next event. The program is straight forward. Simply sign-up online at www.okaloneworker.com/event, and then use Ok Alone to protect as many volunteers as you like. If you have questions, naturally, we are here to help. Learn more about how it could work for you www.okaloneworker.com Future of Health and Safety Conference 2016 Lone Worker Protection SystemsVolunteers Need Safety Monitoring Too Recent Posts about Ok AloneWorkers Compensation- the Safety Net for your Employees Learn about Safety for US Lone Working Electricians Lone Working in HVAC and the Trades Health Care Planned Inspectional Initiatives from WorksafeBC Lone Worker Legislation & Policy for New Zealand About our Work Alone System Keeping your Lone Workers Safe Get grouping Taking group actions with Ok Alone --- ## Volunteers Need Safety Monitoring Lone worker safety systems *March 8, 2023 · Ok Alone* Fundraising Events and Canvassing for Charity can be Hazardous to Volunteers and Fundraising Professionals Where would we be without volunteers? Volunteerism contributes to a kinder, more equitable and safer society, so its only fair that those who go out of their way to help others should be protected themselves, right? Recently, a young man volunteering at a charity haunted house in St. Johns, NL was the victim of a terrifying verbal assault as he stood in costume on the street to promote the event. It may have been an unfortunate choice to provide to him a clown costume, considering the proliferation of scary clown incidents this year, but he certainly didn't deserve to be accosted when volunteering his time to help others! The people who canvas door-to-door for various charities also put themselves at risk, along with those who volunteer in public spaces, whether they are looking for donations to a cause or simply offering information to passers-by. There are folks who react violently to any solicitation, putting at risk those who are only doing their job, whether as a fundraising professional or an unpaid volunteer. If your organisation employs people, paid or unpaid, to interact with the public for the purpose of raising funds for or awareness of a particular cause, it is your responsibility to provide them a lone worker safety system. In some jurisdictions, you are required to develop, implement and maintain a safety policy, program, practices and procedures appropriate to your volunteers and fundraising professionals. Invest in OK Alone for easy-to-use, no-fuss lone worker safety systems While you are probably in complete agreement that your volunteers and fundraising professionals deserve protection, you need to do so economically charitable organisations can't afford to spend the money collected without due regard for both donors and the intended recipients. Fortunately, Ok Alone has an affordable solution. Our lone worker monitoring system is easy for volunteers to learn and use, adaptable to your specific needs, and very effective. We offer a free trial, so that you can really experience the benefits of our lone worker protection system at no risk. Ensure the protection of your volunteers and keep your charitable organisations fundraising costs down, so that you can do more good. Contact us to learn more about safeguarding volunteers and fundraising professionals. www.okaloneworker.com Drivers are Benefitting from Lone Worker Safety AppsFuture of Health and Safety Conference 2016 Lone Worker Protection Systems Recent Posts about Ok AloneStreamline Your Workflow by Integrating a Lone Worker App Why Municipalities Need a Lone Worker App Pitfalls of the Buddy System Lone Worker Protection Systems A Day in a Life with Ok Alone Security Guards 7 Reasons to Choose Ok Alone Are you looking out for the mental health of your lone workers? --- ## Illinois and Chicago Lone Worker Legislation *February 28, 2023 · Stacey Manclark* In 2016 UNITE HERE Local 1, a Chicago hospitality workers union, carried out a study that looked at the safety of local hotel and casino workers. Based on their findings the state of Illinois introduced the Hotel and Casino Safety Act (S.B. 75). This legislation requires all hospitality based lone workers to be issued with a panic button. Study into hotel and casino lone workers To better understand the experiences of women working in Chicagoland hotels and casinos, UNITE HERE Local 1 developed a program to survey nearly 500 women. The union surveyed 487 women at thirteen Chicagoland hotels, three casinos and one convention centre. At the time of the survey, all the women were hospitality employees, working as housekeepers, bartenders, waitresses and cocktail servers, among other job classifications . The study revealed that the women who work in Chicagoland hotels and casinos face a high level of sexual harassment, mainly from male guests: 58% of hotel workers and 77% of casino workers surveyed have been sexually harassed by a guest . 96% of housekeepers surveyed said they would feel safer carrying out their duties if they were equipped with a panic button . New hotel lone worker legislation in Chicago As a result of the study, Chicago passed an ordinance, Chicago Municipal Code 4-6-180(e), effective from July 1st 2018, requiring hotels to establish and provide their employees with their sexual harassment policy and provide panic buttons to certain employees . Under the new legislation, anyone who holds a hotel licence under Section 4-6- 180 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is required under Section 4-6-180(e) of the Code to provide panic buttons to certain hotel employees (covered employees) . Chicago legislators define a covered employee as employees who are assigned to clean or to inventory, inspect or restock supplies in a guest room or restroom in circumstances in which no other employee is present in such room. Hotel employers are responsible for providing a working panic button to their covered employees. What is a lone worker panic button? A panic button is a portable emergency contact device that the covered employee carries on his or her person, and that can be quickly and easily activated by the employee, to summon to the employees precise location in the hotel, using GPS coordinates, prompt assistance by a hotel security officer, manager or designated staff member . When activated, the panic button must effectively summon to the employees precise location prompt, on-scene assistance from a hotel security officer, security guard, manager or other appropriate person designated by the hotel employer . In order for a panic button to pass muster under the Ordinance, The Chicago government have come up with a list of necessary attributes or capabilities: The panic button must be portable, and easily carried and activated by the employee; The panic button must summon prompt assistance from appropriate persons designated by the hotel employer when activated; The panic button must not require continued activation by the employee to sustain the alert (e.g. simple whistles, walkie-talkies, mugger buttons or other non-GPS supported notification devices are not panic buttons within the meaning of Chicagos Ordinance); The panic button must have GPS capabilities and be able to identify the exact location of the employee in real time . State-wide lone worker legislation Hot on the heels of the Chicago Housekeeping ordinance, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into Illinois state law the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act (S.B. 75) on August the 9th 2019. Article 5, Section 5-10, the Hotels and casinos; safety devices; anti-sexual harassment policy states that, Each hotel and casino shall equip an employee who is assigned to work in a guest room, restroom, or casino floor, under circumstances where no other employee is present in the room or area, with a safety device or notification device. The employee may use the safety device or notification device to summon help if the employee reasonably believes that an ongoing crime, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other emergency is occurring in the employees presence. The safety device or notification device shall be provided by the hotel or casino at no cost to the employee. The new law came into effect on July 1 st, 2020. The state of Illinois is among a wave of municipalities to propose and adopt legislation that requires hotels to expand security measures to employees, especially those who work alone. ### How Ok Alone provides a Panic Button Solution There are many panic buttons and lone worker solutions available for hotel and casino owners to purchase in order to keep their lone workers safe. One such solution is Ok Alone, the lone worker safety solution from Trusty Ox Systems. Through the app, a supervisor or security personnel, will be notified if a worker requests immediate assistance, keeping in line with the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act (S.B. 75). Ok Alones lone worker safety app runs on a workers smart phone and allows workers to check in at regular intervals or request help if they need it. The Help Button sends an alert to their supervisor that they need immediate assistance and need to be contacted. This button can be pushed manually or triggered using voice commands. The system has GPS capabilities that can locate a worker if they activate the help alert. What features does Ok Alone have to keep lone workers safe? Ok Alone also has features that allow lone workers to contact their supervisors directly. Workers have the option of sending a written or voice message directly to the person monitoring their safety. Workers are able to change the frequency of their check ins with the high-risk feature. If a worker enters an area where they feel vulnerable, such as a room at the far end of an empty corridor, they can reduce the check in time to as little as 10 minutes. After the time has passed with no alerts, the check in frequency will revert to the original count down duration. The Ok Alone smartphone app works in conjunction with a website and dashboard that can be used on a pc, laptop, tablet or another smartphone. The online dashboard will display a map supplying the monitor with the workers last known location if an alert is triggered. This will allow help to be sent to the correct location at a moments notice.* https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4099726.html 1, 2, 3 HANDS OFF PANTS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN CHICAGOS HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY JULY 2016, A report by UNITE HERE Local 1, https://www.handsoffpantson.org/wp-content/uploads/HandsOffReportWeb.pdf 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/bacp/Small%20Business%20Center/BACPPanicButtonFAQs.pdf 10 https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/101/PDF/101-0221.pdf www.okaloneworker.com/author/staceymanclark/ New U.S legislation for Lone Workers in Hotels and CasinosNew Jerseys Hotel Lone Worker Legislation ---