How to protect health and social care lone workers

The latest Berg Insight report indicated there are 53 million lone workers across the US, Canada, and Europe today, making up 15% of all workforces. Many of these lone workers are employed within the health and social care sector. With Forbes reporting that 97% of assaults are by patients, the inherent risks of lone working are considerable.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) plays a crucial role in providing advice to businesses on fulfilling legal responsibilities related to workplace safety, including managing lone worker risks.

What are the risks for a lone worker?

Lone working has a higher risk factor for a number of reasons, especially when it comes to outreach workers such as community nurses, paramedics, and occupational health care workers. Employers need to consider the potential risks to all individuals who may be affected by the work activities, especially in scenarios involving lone workers.

Outreach workers may be more susceptible to attack because they are seen as an easy target. The risks of entering a patient’s home are numerous, but it’s a risk health care workers take everyday as part of their duty of care. These risks to lone workers include:

Violence and aggression

Violence and aggression towards healthcare workers is unfortunately common. According to the same Forbes report, 47% of physicians stated they had experienced physical violence from patients, with a further 71% having witnessed a colleague being assaulted.

Working away from immediate support, and entering unknown environments with potentially volatile patients or visitors, means if a health care worker is attacked, it is more difficult to get help.

It is crucial to address concerns related to caregiver safety by promoting the use of advanced solutions that provide reassurance and operational effectiveness for staff members.
Environmental risk

Working within the community and in patients’ homes can leave lone workers exposed to common hazards such as slips, trips and falls. According to Injury Facts, 42,114 people died in falls at home and at work in 2020. With patients’ homes not requiring Health and Safety Regulations, health and social outreach workers are inherently more at risk of environmental-based hazards and accidents.

Driving

Travelling on the road is one of the greatest risks to workers every day, with lone workers often having greater commuting distances between appointments. According to the US Department of Transport there were 20,160 deaths as a result of road traffic accidents in the first half of 2021, a 18.4% increase on the previous year.

Driving to patients’ homes and to clinics adds to the risk healthcare workers face as part of their daily duties. Reporting incidents and near misses provides critical information about risks and helps management take appropriate actions to enhance employee safety and prevent future occurrences.

Understanding risk in community settings

Community settings can pose significant risks to lone workers, including the threat of violence, aggression, and other forms of harm. Due to the nature of their work, which often involves interacting with vulnerable individuals or operating in isolated areas, lone workers may be more susceptible to these dangers. Employers must conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards and implement control measures to mitigate these risks. Providing lone worker safety devices, such as personal alarms or GPS tracking devices, can ensure immediate support in case of an emergency, thereby enhancing the safety and security of lone workers in the field.

Conducting a dynamic risk assessment

A dynamic risk assessment involves identifying and evaluating risks in real-time, often in response to changing circumstances or unexpected events. This type of assessment is crucial for lone workers, who may encounter unique and unpredictable risks in community settings. Employers should provide comprehensive training on dynamic risk assessment to equip lone workers with the skills needed to identify and respond to potential hazards. This training should cover how to assess risks, implement control measures, and seek support in emergencies. By fostering a proactive approach to risk management, employers can better protect their lone workers and ensure their safety.

Creating a safe work environment

The CDC reported that home healthcare has an employee turnover rate of 75%. Once the risks to lone workers are known, steps can be taken to ensure their personal safety and create clear guidance and practices within the workplace and workforce.

Creating a safe work environment reflects a commitment to employee well-being and can lead to improved quality of care and higher employee retention rates.

Whilst elements such as access issues within a patient’s property cannot always be known beforehand, the risks to lone workers can be managed. Health and social care workers can coordinate with their employers to ensure maximum safety when out in the community, and travelling between appointments.

Within health and social outreach, lone workers aren’t limited to community workers, nurses and doctors working night shifts, or nursing home carers may also find themselves working alone or away from the immediate support of colleagues. Creating a safe working environment is important, and the knowledge that help can be easily reached when in isolated situations, can offer peace of mind, and support employees to make safer decisions.

Role of employers in social care

Employers in the social care sector play a critical role in protecting lone workers and ensuring their safety and well-being. This responsibility includes conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing effective control measures, and providing ongoing training and support to lone workers. Employers must also ensure that lone workers have access to emergency services and immediate support in case of an incident. Additionally, prioritizing the mental health and well-being of lone workers is essential, as the nature of lone working can impact their emotional and psychological health. By taking these steps, employers can create a safer and more supportive work environment for their lone workers.

Ensuring health and social wellbeing

Ensuring the health and social well-being of lone workers is vital for their safety and productivity. Employers should prioritize creating safe working environments, providing adequate supervision, and offering robust support systems. This can include access to counseling services, training on stress management and resilience, and promoting a culture of openness and support. Recognizing the importance of work-life balance and offering flexible working arrangements can also support the well-being of lone workers. By focusing on the health and social well-being of their employees, employers can reduce the risks associated with lone working and foster a positive and supportive work environment.

The benefits of the lone worker app

Personal safety for lone workers is essential, and can greatly reduce workplace stress when outreach workers know they are not alone, and help can get in an emergency.

A lone worker safety device is a crucial element of a comprehensive safety system that includes risk assessments, policies, and training to protect lone workers and facilitate emergency responses.

Econoline’s lone worker app offers employers and lone workers 24/7 protection wherever they are. The app is a simple solution that can be connected to wearable tech, meaning whatever the job or situation, lone workers can focus on the job at hand, knowing that should the worst happen, help is at their fingertips.

Benefits of a lone working solution include:

• a cloud-based hub to accurately locate lone workers, and provide real-time updates on their welfare status and location
• the ability to check-in safely at regular intervals, plus adding extra details into the notes sections about who they are meeting and where
• a way for to signal for help through the panic button, or from missed check-in alerts, both of which are instantly visible in the hub

It is crucial to take practical steps to enhance personal safety while working alone. These steps should be tailored to address specific hazards identified through risk assessments.

For more information on the lone worker app, click the banner below: