6 Steps to Building a Lone Worker Safety Strategy: A Complete Guide for Employers

What Is a Lone Worker Safety Strategy and Why Is It Important?

When employees work alone—whether in home healthcare, field service, construction, or manufacturing—the risks they face are very real. A lone worker safety strategy is a proactive plan designed to protect these employees when help isn’t immediately available. From reducing workplace injuries to improving emergency response, having the right lone worker safety solution in place is critical for keeping your team safe, staying compliant with OSHA safety standards, and maintaining business continuity. As OSHA states, “It is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace for workers.”

Step 1: Identify Who Your Lone Workers Are

Not all lone workers operate in remote locations. Lone workers are anyone who carries out their job without close or direct supervision, whether for part of a shift or all the time. Identifying these workers is the first step to protecting them.

Examples by industry:

Healthcare, home health aides and clinicians often work alone in patient homes, where unpredictable environments increase risk.

‍Manufacturing, maintenance staff and overnight workers may operate heavy machinery in isolated areas.

‍Government employees, such as code inspectors or field agents, frequently work in the community with limited backup.

‍Retail, managers or clerks opening or closing stores alone face heightened vulnerability during off-hours

🔗 For additional support in identifying lone workers, read our blog: What is a Lone Worker?

Step 2: Conduct a Lone Worker Risk Assessment

Once you know who your lone workers are, carry out a formal lone worker risk assessment. This will identify potential hazards and determine how best to manage them.

Typical risks include:

• Environmental: slips, trips, falls, extreme weather
• People-related: aggression, confrontation, harassment or violence
• Health-related: sudden illness or injury without help nearby

Example:

When patient care becomes confrontational or a routine health visit goes wrong.

These risks highlight the need for man down alarms, panic buttons for lone workers, and rapid response tools to help protect your teams.

🔗 You can download an example Lone Worker Risk Assessment from our resources.  

Step 3: Develop a Lone Worker Policy

A lone worker policy clearly outlines how your organization protects employees who work alone. It helps create consistency across teams, ensures accountability, and reinforces your commitment to workplace safety.

Key components to include:

• What qualifies as lone work in your organization
• Job-specific safety risks and how to manage them
• When and how to use lone worker safety devices or mobile apps
• Emergency response procedures
• Training plans and regular safety reviews

The policy should be clear on how tools should be used in different scenarios and what employees can expect if they activate them.

🔗 You can also download an example Lone Worker Policy from our resources.  

Step 4: Communicate and Collaborate with Your Teams

Your lone worker safety strategy will only succeed if your people understand and support it.

• Consult your lone workers: Understand their challenges and gain buy-in for new processes or technologies. ‍
• Foster a culture of safety and protection: Safety isn’t just a good idea — it’s essential.‍
• Reassure on privacy: Explain how devices protect safety—not monitor performance.

🔗 Share success stories, you can find case studies from real businesses on our resources section.

A collaborative approach helps avoid resistance, especially when implementing new tools.

Step 5: Choose the Right Lone Worker Device

Choosing the right technology is critical. Not all lone workers need the same level of protection—select tools based on the role and risk level.

Key features to look for:

• Discreet panic button (to raise the alarm covertly) ‍
• GPS location tracking ‍
• Man down detection (automatically alerts if the user is incapacitated)
• ‍Proactive chaperone listening (to provide additional reassurance in a potentially confrontational situation)‍
• 24/7 emergency dispatch center

🔗 For support comparing devices, visit our solutions page.

SoloProtect’s range of personal alarms for lone workers includes dedicated devices and solutions, all with 24/7 monitoring center support to meet the needs of different industries.

The best lone worker devices offer GPS tracking, discreet panic alarms, man down detection, and 24/7 monitoring support.

Step 6: Train, Test, and Review Regularly

A strategy is only as good as its execution. Ongoing training and regular reviews are essential.

Checklist:

• Provide induction and refresher training on using lone worker alarm systems.
• Conduct mock alarm scenarios to ensure staff know how to respond.
• Review the policy annually or after any incident.
• Monitor that the lone worker device is still fit for purpose.
• Technology and risks evolve—keep your lone worker strategy agile.

Customers can access SoloProtect training through the management portal SoloProtect Insights.  

How SoloProtect Can Help

At SoloProtect, we’ve supported thousands of organizations across sectors in Healthcare, Government, and Manufacturing implementing simple, scalable, and compliant lone worker safety solutions.  

Whether you need a man down alarm, a lone worker panic alarm, or an easy-to-use lone working alarm app, our expert team can help you identify the best fit for your people.

Interested in protecting your lone workers?

Get in touch with SoloProtect today or request a free demo of our lone worker safety devices and apps.

If you know how many lone workers you have and which devices or apps you are interested in, we can arrange a no-obligation quote for your team.  

Key Takeaways

Building a lone worker safety strategy isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it’s about creating a culture of safety and trust for people working alone. From assessing risks and writing policies to selecting the right technology, each step reduces harm and ensures everyone gets home safely.

Investing in reliable lone worker safety solutions help you meet your duty of care while giving employees the confidence to work alone without being unprotected.

What is the best lone worker device?

The best lone worker device depends on your employee’s environment, the risk level, and how discreet the alert needs to be. For example:

• High-risk lone workers benefit from robust man down safety devices with automatic fall detection and GPS tracking.

How do I identify lone workers in my business?

Lone workers work without direct supervision or support for any period. This can include:

• Staff working out of hours (e.g., night shifts or early starts)
• Employees conducting home visits or community work
• Team members who work remotely, on call, or in isolated locations
• Staff opening/closing premises or working alone in retail units

Use job role assessments and consult department heads to build an accurate list. Identifying lone workers is the first and most crucial step in building an effective lone worker safety strategy.

Do I need a panic alarm for lone workers?

Yes, if there is any potential for an employee to face violence, medical emergencies, or environmental hazards while working alone, a panic alarm for lone workers is essential. A panic button lets the worker to discreetly call for help, even under duress.

Modern solutions like SoloProtect also include man down detection, ensuring help will be sent even if the worker cannot raise the alarm themselves.

How much does a lone worker solution cost?

SoloProtect offers flexible safety solutions tailored to organizations of all sizes. Our lone worker devices are built to match your team’s risk level and budget. Want to learn more? Request pricing today and find the right fit for your workforce.

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