Evolving Challenges of Lone Worker Safety for Global Enterprises

By: Gen Handley, Contributor

People who work alone face more challenges and are more vulnerable than those in teams. This extends to the millions of people employed by the growing number of global enterprises that are forming all over the world—many of whom perform their jobs alone and in isolation.

Someone who works around members of the public, such as a home healthcare worker, is still considered a lone worker. © zinkevych – stock.adobe.com

What is a Global Enterprise?

A global enterprise or multinational company is a small or large organization that has operations in countries and jurisdictions beyond the country in which it was founded and incorporated. Global enterprises are not limited to specific industries, and examples can be found in every sector. Globally, there are about 60,000 multinationals controlling more than 500,000 subsidiary companies. Additionally, majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign multinational enterprises employed nearly 8 million workers in the U.S. in 2021.

What are the Occupational Challenges?

With the head office and management potentially in a different location (maybe even different time zone), the biggest occupational challenge for global enterprises is maintaining and monitoring the safety of teams and lone workers. The inability to be physically present to make sure your people are safe is incredibly stressful. In a global enterprise, remote worker safety requires strategic planning and the use of current technologies, so workers can request help in an emergency, regardless of where they are performing their job.

Challenges may also be related to compliance and local safety legislation and regulations—as well as any industry safety standards or requirements. When employees are working alone, it may be a challenge to make sure they remember to follow certain safety protocols and steps they are required by local legislation and regulations or company policy.

A Look at Lone Workers

When addressing the safety of the team of a global enterprise, you must first identify who the lone and remote workers are. It is estimated that there are nearly 53 million people working alone in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

A lone worker is an employee who works in isolation and in circumstances where help is not readily available if they need it. However, this might not mean who you think it does. For example, someone who works around members of the public, such as a home healthcare worker, is still a lone worker.

The biggest occupational challenge for global enterprises is maintaining and monitoring the safety of teams and lone workers. © chitsanupong – stock.adobe.com

How to Protect Remote And Lone Workers

So how do you protect people in different countries and jurisdictions from remote locations? This can be accomplished through strategic thorough planning, as well as available safet y technology. Those working in large global enterprises face a range of occupational safety hazards that can include:

• Extreme weather, such as heat and cold
• Dangerous driving conditions
• Slips, trips and falls
• Hazardous chemicals
• Workplace violence and assault

Safety Strategies & Steps for Global Enterprises

As we just stated, exhaustive planning, partnered with innovative occupational health and OHS technology, are required to effectively manage the safety of remote teams and enterprises located elsewhere in the world.

Hazard and Risk Assessments

Due to the reality that employees, teams and worksites are located elsewhere, hazard assessment of the safety risks needs to be regularly performed at all sites, involving all relevant personnel who could offer valuable input.

Automated Check-Ins

When protecting large, remote teams and lone workers, valid confirmation of their well-being is integral. In different locations, an automated check-in system can prompt employees to confirm their safety while notifying the employer if a check-in was missed.

Location Monitoring

It might be an obvious one, but location monitoring (only during work hours) is an important tool for lone worker safety, particularly for emergency responders dispatching help to the correct location so workers receive the proper medical care.

Plan and Align

Even with employees working in different locations and different time zones, it may be possible to align online safety meetings and training sessions with your staff members and lone workers. The safety and engagement benefits are worth the extra planning and effort, especially when employees rarely interact or connect.

The Consequences of Failing To Protect

If employers fail to take steps like these, they could experience potential, serious consequences immediately—or in the future. The most obvious and important consequence is the safety of lone workers, but also complex OHS compliance, depending on the jurisdiction or country.

For example, a head office following United States lone worker legislation may have a site in Canada with lone workers, which has its own unique Canadian lone worker legislation.

When a company does not comply with any required local lone worker legislation, or OHS legislation and regulations, they could face serious financial fines or jail time, depending on their country’s OHS regulations.

Be Proactive about Protection

Building a company beyond international borders is worth the extra work to protect its lone and remote workers in various jobs on different sites around the world. Not only are your people at risk, but your company could be devastated by resulting fines and reputational damage. Assess your various work environments and implement any strategies and steps now—before someone is hurt and an accident occurs.

Gen Handley, gen.handley@safetylineloneworker.com