Report reveals stark safety picture among lone workers

A report into the safety habits and attitudes of lone workers has revealed issues around mental health, productivity and a lack of confidence when it comes to reporting incidents.

The study, Lone Worker Safety: Perceptions, Realities and Business Impact, conducted by leading lone worker technology provider Peoplesafe, found that feeling unsafe was more likely than experiencing a safety incident. Significantly, these safety concerns impacted on the productivity of 18% of workers (1 in 5). Extrapolating this one in five to a larger workforce suggests a substantial loss in output.

Blind spot

The survey canvassed lone workers from a range of industries including transport, healthcare and hospitality and revealed that 43% reported feeling unsafe at some point in their work environment. 

Responses to workforce safety concerns were found to be lacking, with 68% of workers revealing that their employers did nothing when they raised issues around their personal safety. It suggests a safety blind spot between employers and workforce. 

In some cases, this lack of action was so ingrained that many no longer flagged incidents. “It’s part of my job,” said one respondent, accepting the role will continue to make them feel unsafe. “You just get on with it,” said another.

This attitude exists despite trade bodies and the HSE continuing to show an increase in incidents of abuse, violence and aggression among lone workers. Data from Peoplesafe’s own Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) reveals a 26% increase in the number of genuine incident alarms, with the prevailing categories both verbal abuse and physical violence.

Customer threats

When asked what made them feel unsafe while lone working, having to work early or late and dealing with members of the public were the two main concerns cited in the survey. 

“A customer threatened to wait for me and kill me after my shift,” shared one respondent, revealing the level of abuse public-facing workers can face.

Having little support in these environments only amplified these unsafe feelings. “I often work on my own in our temporary office until 5pm as this is when my shift ends,” a worker said expressing concern at having to work late. “Other people finish at 4:30 and I often worry about something happening to me and no one around to help.”

Revealing the dynamic and complex nature of lone workers, employees who start work early, overlap with shift patterns, or stay late to complete a task are effectively lone working during these pinch points and become exposed to lone worker risks causing safety concerns.

The report also found that feeling unsafe had a detrimental impact on workers’ wellbeing – with 47% reporting that these workplace experiences had directly affected their mental health.

“I’m often lone working and have anxiety about visiting certain areas or properties,” one respondent shared. “It badly affected my mental health and made me anxious and depressed, so I had to take time off work,” another said. 

Commenting on the research, Lone worker expert and former group risk head of safety at Co-Op Sue-Parker Tantush suggests employers reframe their approach to wellbeing. “As lone working increases alongside workforce reductions, it’s disappointing to see person-centred risks assessment still so often overlooked as we continue to be focused on-task.”

Technology, she says, is “important” but must be part of a wider blueprint that ultimately forges trust. “Seeing risk through the eyes of your employees not only shows you care, it ensure you’re choosing the right solutions to truly support them.”

Technology

The report also gauges technology use and the role it plays in safety management strategies. Awareness seems to be a key barrier to its application with 15% of those surveyed unaware what lone worker technology is, yet those who did use a device or app said they felt safer while working (45%).

Lone worker technology has advanced rapidly in the last five years with the development of app-based solutions, wider network coverage from eSIMs and wearable smart watch integrations. According to the Berg Insight report, the lone worker market value in Europe is expected to grow to €178 million in 2029 representing a CAGR of 4.5%.

For employers, it’s important to recognise that the right technology, combined with a strong culture of safety, can restore employee confidence, lower risk and improve business performance.