How companies can keep their lone workers safe

• Key Insight: Discover how lone-worker risks require extending facility-grade protections into the field.
• What's at Stake: Rising incidents threaten fines, reputational harm and increased staff turnover.
• Forward Look: Expect increased regulatory scrutiny and mandated field-safety protocols for remote-facing roles.
  Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

Among today's top cited workforce challenges — from talent retention to technology upskilling — is the less discussed but emerging concern of workplace safety for lone workers.

According to a 2022 survey from safety monitoring software StaySafe, 68% of organizations reported experiencing a safety-related incident involving a lone worker in the past three years, with 20% being described as "quite severe" or "very severe." Keeping employees safe, regardless of their role, should be organizations' top priority and they can do so by getting a better understanding of their workforce and being flexible with their strategies. 

"I think awareness of worker safety has definitely improved over the last few years, but there's still a long way to go," said Stephen Luke, U.S. president and head of sales for North America and Europe at workplace safety solutions company SoloProtect. "Many organizations don't realize how many of their employees actually qualify as lone workers or how often they're exposed to risk."

Read more: HR departments must prioritize workplace safety

Who are lone workers?

When people hear the term "lone worker," they often picture someone working late at night or in a remote location. However, according to Luke, lone workers span a wide range of professions, including home healthcare workers, caregivers, social workers, property managers, utility workers, delivery drivers, facilities staff, self-storage employees, real estate professionals, retail associates, hotel workers and cleaners. What unites these workers, Luke explained, is that they spend part or all of their workday without direct supervision or immediate support from colleagues.

And while employers often have strong safety measures in place at their facilities, Luke said, those protections don't always extend to employees working in the field.

"Workplace violence, medical emergencies, slips and falls, and threatening situations can happen anywhere and often with little warning," he said. "For someone working on their own, the impact of these types of incidents can be significant."

Read more: Why data is the key to workplace safety

Sometimes, those incidents are even fatal. Luke shared the story of a nurse who was murdered in 2023 while conducting a home visit in Connecticut. Following a thorough investigation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), her employer was cited for failing to adequately protect workers from known workplace violence risks and faced more than $160,000 in penalties.

Safety strategies are missing the right tools

According to Luke, in many cases the lack of workplace resources is to blame for much of the heightened risk. For example, a home care worker is typically instructed to call 911 from their mobile phone if an incident occurs, but in an aggressive situation, this can cause things to escalate, Luke said, or they may not be able to get to their phone to make the call. In the case of the nurse from Connecticut, OSHA specifically pointed to measures such as better risk assessments, access to background information, safety escorts for higher-risk visits, and emergency panic alert devices that could have helped reduce the risk.

"Safety isn't just about preventing incidents," Luke said. "It's also about creating an environment where employees feel supported, respected and confident in their employer's commitment to their well-being."

Read more: A guide to creating psychological safety in the workplace

Building strategies that prioritize well-being

The stress of lone workers worrying about their personal safety creates stress that can contribute to burnout, lower job satisfaction, and ultimately higher turnover. Organizations can strengthen lone worker safety by taking a multifaceted approach that includes listening to employees, conducting regular risk assessments, and adapting safety programs as workplace conditions change, according to Luke. Providing practical tools such as SoloProtect, which partners with organizations to provide wearable devices and a mobile app that features GPS tracking and panic alarms, can help workers quickly access assistance when needed. 

Most important is fostering a workplace culture where safety is prioritized at every level of the organization and viewed as an ongoing investment in employees, Luke said, rather than simply a compliance requirement.

"At the end of the day, the goal is simple," Luke said. "Every employee deserves to feel safe while doing their job, and every employer has an opportunity to help ensure their workers return home safely to their families at the end of every shift."