Lone Worker Security in Construction

24/7 personal safety solutions for the construction and industrial sectors.

Construction is considered a high-risk industry with 40 fatal and 61,000 non-fatal injuries being reported on construction sites in the UK between 2019 and 2020 (according to HSE).

Whether it's climbing high ladders, working with heavy machinery, installing electrics, working on scaffolding, lifting and carrying, or working alone in unpredictable UK weather, construction and civil engineering have many hazards. Therefore, business owners and managers have a duty to put safety measures for construction workers in place to minimise the risks and ensure a quick response when an accident does occur.

Take a look at our video to see how you can protect your construction workers from risk:

What are the risks associated with the construction industry?

If you work in the construction industry, you’ll know that construction or civil engineering sites can be dangerous places to work.

Construction site hazards may include:

• Working with, or in the vicinity of, large and heavy moving vehicles
• Working at height e.g. up a ladder, on a roof or up scaffolding
• Working with hazardous and heavy materials e.g. asbestos
• Working with dangerous tools e.g. power tools
• Dusty or wet conditions
• Loud noises e.g. jackhammers or drilling
• Uneven ground
• Lone working

Are there lone workers in the construction industry?

You might consider a construction site to be a busy place to be. However, due to the sheer size of some sites, the type of construction work being completed, and the fact that many sites are in isolated locations, construction workers often work alone with no one else in the vicinity to notice if they have an accident.

Therefore, one of the biggest health and safety risks within the construction industry is a worker being incapacitated due to a slip, trip, fall, illness, or injury and them being left without help for a long period.

How can construction companies protect their lone workers?

Lone working or personal security devices can be a reliable and effective way to protect all workers on construction or industrial sites – whether they’re working alone or not.

SoloProtect’s devices are discreet, easy to use and won’t get in the way of the day job. With 24/7 emergency support and man-down detection, we can quickly get help to your construction workers when they need it most.

The user can either activate a Red Alert when they feel their personal safety is under threat or the device can cleverly detect if the user is incapacitated which automatically activates a Man Down Alarm. 

This initiates a call (via the device) with SoloProtect’s Alarm Receiving Centre (or the user’s designated contact) where our specially trained operatives use geolocation technology to locate the position of the construction worker, establish what has happened (or is currently happening), and initiate an appropriate response. This could be calling the emergency services or alerting the user's escalation contacts (i.e. a construction manager or family member). On average, it only takes just over 30 seconds for this response to be initiated – saving valuable time when it really matters.

Take a look at our lone worker security solutions for more information about available functionality.

"SoloProtect has given us the ability to offer our lone workers some peace of mind when working on their own or travelling to and from a workplace. Our colleagues have the right to feel safe when coming into work and these devices, in addition to our own internal policies and procedures, help assist in providing that reassurance to our people. Safety is our number one priority."

Health and Safety Assurance Coordinator, Modwen Properties

Lone worker devices designed for construction workers

The SoloProtect devices are designed with construction workers in mind:

• Built for noise
  The SoloProtect devices are well-equipped for noisy environments. While active, your device or phone will vibrate in a distinct pattern so you’re reassured it’s working.
  
  
• Tough on dust and water
  Wet and dusty construction sites are no match for our devices. They’re all water and dust resistant to ensure functionality is unaffected, even in the worst weather.
  
  
• Locates and communicates
  Geolocation (including what3words) and cellular technology (4G, 3G, and 2G) ensure we can communicate with users and pinpoint their location whenever they need support.
  
  
• Small and mighty
  All our devices are small, lightweight and won’t get in the way. They have a range of attachments so you can wear it on your belt, attach it to your keyring or lanyard, or simply put it in your pocket.

Take a look at our range of personal safety solutions, including our new mobile app.

How can deploying a lone working system help construction managers?

A lone working system from SoloProtect can help construction managers to ensure health and safety policies are adhered to and deliver operational efficiencies via the online Insights platform.

Using the Latest Location functionality, managers or team leaders can quickly identify the locations of your construction workers and redeploy them to where they’re needed.

You can also quickly allocate devices or app licenses to staff or contractors, assign the necessary training modules, specify escalation contacts, and generate automated reports - all on the platform which can be accessed from any location and on any device (as long as you have an internet connection).

Do your construction workers need lone worker protection?

If you’re unsure whether your construction workers need lone worker protection, take a look at our Team Assessment. This is a useful guide that helps an employer or construction team manager to understand the level of risk their workers are subject to.

But it’s not just about tangible risks and construction site safety. According to national statistics, the suicide rate for construction workers is more than three times the national average for men. Therefore, it’s vital that employers in the construction industry create an open culture and a safe working environment where health and wellbeing is the number one priority.

Who is responsible for the health, safety and security of construction workers?

The employer and main contractor on site are responsible for the health, safety and security of construction workers, and members of the public, while the work is taking place.

Example: A construction company was recently fined £48,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,443 when an HSE inspector found unsafe working at height practices during a routine inspection – despite a worker having fallen from height on the site a few days earlier.

You can read a wide range of similar examples on the SHP website.

What are your obligations towards contractors?