Working Alone, Dying Alone: The Hidden Crisis of Isolated Worker Fatalities

Every day, millions of people go to work alone. They unlock buildings in the dark, drive along rural roads and visit strangers’ homes. Others patrol empty sites at night or maintain equipment in isolation. For a lot of people, working alone is simply part of the job. But when something goes wrong, being alone can turn a routine shift into a fatal situation.

Read on for a more in-depth look at the hidden crisis lurking amongst lone workers.

Lone workers vs. team safety

Lone worker fatalities rarely make headlines, yet they happen regularly and often unnecessarily. The difference between surviving and dying isn’t always how serious the accident is, but how long it took for help to arrive.

In the United States, thousands of workers die on the job each year. In 2023 alone, there were 5,283 fatal work injuries. That’s roughly one worker every 99 minutes. The main causes of these deaths were transportation incidents (around 37%), falls, sudden medical emergencies and violence. And a lot of these incidents happen where workers are isolated for most, if not all, of their shift.

If you work alone, you face a higher risk because there is no one nearby to notice hazards, call for help or provide first aid. When working in a team, injuries can be quickly noticed and help can come faster. In comparison, lone workers might be injured or incapacitated for hours before help arrives.

As remote work and mobile job roles become more normal, the number of lone workers has grown. From delivery drivers and healthcare visitors to cleaners, security guards and maintenance staff, working alone is increasingly common.

But it’s also increasingly dangerous.

How fast help saves lives

When an accident or medical emergency happens, time is everything. If a worker slips and hits their head or suffers a heart attack, they have a much better chance of surviving if they get help quickly.

But any delay can be deadly. Research shows that cutting ambulance response times from 15 to eight minutes improves survival significantly. And getting help there in around five minutes can nearly double the chances.

When people don’t expect to see a lone worker for a few hours, they don’t necessarily think that anything could be wrong. Traditional safety measures, like check-ins or phone calls, rely on the worker being able to respond. In an emergency, that isn’t always possible. This is why the faster an alarm is raised, the better the outcome.

Preventable workplace deaths

The same tragic pattern occurs in many lone worker deaths. An incident happens, no alert is sent and help arrives too late.

For example, lone workers in maintenance and construction jobs have been found hours after having a fall or suffered a head injury, which has sadly led to their death.

But they might have survived with faster intervention. In jobs such as driving, having an accident in a remote area can be dangerous as they can go unnoticed until the next check-in. When it comes to security and healthcare, lone workers regularly face violence without a way to call for help immediately.

So what can be done to prevent these deaths? It’s been reported that companies who introduce lone worker alarm systems find a dramatic improvement to the statistics. They can expect faster response times and fewer serious injuries, for example.

Positive case studies

Several documented cases show how automatic alerts and GPS tracking have helped prevent serious incidents from becoming fatalities. In one case, a remote electrician fell 12 feet from a tower and was knocked unconscious. His fall-detection device automatically sent his GPS location to emergency responders. They arrived in under 15 minutes, much faster than they could have without real-time tracking.

In the US, laws like New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act require that panic buttons are provided that automatically alert the local police. This shows that in real situations, staff need immediate help during violent incidents with customers.

These examples show how quick calls for help and real-time location tracking can significantly reduce response times and ultimately, save lives.

Why employers are held accountable

Employers have a duty of care to protect their workers. This obviously includes those who work alone. Health and safety regulations are in place to make sure that employers have carried out risk assessments and put measures in place to keep their staff as safe as possible.

Lone working is a clear and well-known risk. Employers need to address it, otherwise the business can be faced with serious legal consequences. For example, fines, lawsuits, higher insurance premiums and reputational damage.

But beyond the legal impact, there is also the human cost. Families are left with unanswered questions and preventable grief.

Technology that saves lives

Thankfully, modern technology has made it much easier to protect lone workers, even in remote or high-risk environments.

Devices like SureSafe’s Lone Worker Alarm are designed specifically for these situations. It’s small, wearable and simple to use, giving lone workers a lifeline when no-one else is around.

Key features include:

• One-touch SOS button – Workers can instantly call for help in an emergency.

• Automatic fall detection – Alerts are triggered even if the worker is unconscious or unable to press a button.

• GPS location tracking – Emergency response knows exactly where the worker is, reducing search time.

• Two-way communication – Workers can speak directly to responders through the device.

• 24/7 monitoring options – Professional monitoring ensures alarms are never missed.

Devices like these do more than respond to emergencies. They also give peace of mind as lone workers know that they aren’t truly alone. Not to mention that employers also have the assurance that incidents will always be noticed.

Lone workers should have proper training and know clear safety procedures when wearing an alarm. With all of this combined, the alarms can significantly reduce response times and get help to them fast.

Don’t wait for a tragedy

Working alone should never mean facing danger without support.

Every year, lives are lost because no one knew help was needed. But with technology available, there is no reason for lone workers to remain unprotected.

SureSafe Alarms close the gap between isolation and emergency response. Their lone worker safety devices are designed to save lives, reduce response times and also help employers meet their duty of care.

Want peace of mind for yourself, your team or loved ones at work? SureSafe devices are easy to use, affordable and come with 24/7 monitoring so you can call your contacts or our response center anytime.

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