Top Tips To Help Lone Workers Stay Safe At Night
In the modern world, there are an increasing number of jobs which can be completed alone. It’s not just the people that choose to work from home or truck drivers that cover vast differences. Thanks to automated processes, you can have one worker controlling a whole production floor.
Equally, you can be working alone as a police officer, delivery driver, estate agent, and many more. In fact, most jobs require some element of working alone. While this can boost productivity and even make the job more enjoyable, working alone carries additional risks.
This is especially true if you are outdoors and could be subject to abuse or attacks by groups. In short, you need to know how to keep lone workers safe at night.
Appear Confident
If you walk down the street with your head down then you are more likely to be a victim simply because you look like you’re nervous and an easy target. Equally, people who lift their heads and walk confidently are less likely to be harassed by others.
The key is to appear confident, even if you don’t feel it. The same is true when you’re a lone worker. Appearing confident will help to keep you safe as people are less likely to cause problems.
Get An Alarm
Something that can help you feel confident and will alert others if you have issues, is an alarm. There are several great duress alarms on the market. They can be programmed to make a loud noise, potentially scaring off any attackers and attracting help.
They can also send a signal to your employer, telling them you need help.
In addition, a duress alarm is a great idea if you have an accident when working by yourself and need to get help. The alarm can alert your employer and people in the vicinity. That can help to ensure you get the assistance you need faster.
Regular Check-Ins
A lone worker should check in with the head office at least once an hour. This ensures that everything is okay. If the lone worker doesn’t check in the employer will have a set protocol to follow and they can send help to the lone worker’s location
Combined with an automated health check system, this can be an exceptionally effective way for an employer to know if there is an issue with a lone worker and get them the help they need.
Be Aware Of What Is Around You
This applies whenever you are working alone but is even more relevant if you work at night. While you should know what is around you, it’s possible, for many different reasons, that the surrounding environment has changed. This can cause an accident.
To prevent this, all lone workers should stay vigilant regarding their surroundings. It will make it easier to predict how accidents can happen and avoid them.
This should be complemented with regular risk assessments where all risks are assessed and suitable safety measures are implemented.
Remember, while you are responsible for looking after yourself, the employer bears responsibility if any accident is a result of working conditions.
