Lone Worker Security for Construction Workers

Lone workers in construction face unique social and environmental risks, including but not limited to robbery and on-the-job injuries.

The worker industry sector Construction of Buildings (NAICS 236) is a subsector of Construction (NAICS 23). This type of work is typically performed alone or in small groups and includes tasks such as building new entities as well as additions, alterations or maintenance to existing entities as well as those that show model homes or units. 

Those in construction work in often environmentally dangerous job sites, with their work often involving being far above the ground as well as working with heavy equipment and machinery, putting them at a substantial environmental risk. According to a News Release by Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor (BLS), falls, slips or trips caused 699 worker fatalities in 2013. Additionally, the same News Report states that in 2013, a total of 717 fatal work injuries resulted from contact with objects and equipment. Construction workers work on their own projects, and often, there is no one else around to notify others if anything goes wrong.

The leading causes of worker deaths in the construction industry according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are the "fatal four":

• Falls (over 36%)
• Being struck by an object (over 10%)
• Electrocution (nearly 9%)
• Being caught in or between industry related equipment (2.5%)

In fact, according to the BLS, there were a total number of 575 workplace related fatalities in the Construction of Buildings sector between the years 2010-2013. While these employees face a larger environmental risk than most other industries, they are not limited to only this type of risk. Because of their lone nature and odd hours, they also face social risks and should be alert of any strange or dangerous activity that they notice from others near them. Those who show homes especially have a higher social risk, as they often show these properties alone. Many instances, including realtor Suzy Lamplugh’s disappearance and the more recent murder of Arkansas realtor, Beverly Carter, confirm the need for lone worker safety protection among this sector.

An additional social risk for those involved in construction of buildings often stems from these workers’ job sites, as this particular type of job site has been a high target for theft. There was a recent example of this in Long Island City, where a construction worker was attacked in order for the attacker to steal his tools.

Due to construction workers' high rate of exposure to hazardous circumstances, a lone worker safety device is essential. SoloProtect’s lone worker safety solutions provide precaution and assistance for both environmental and social risk. The service is much like a personal OnStar (TM) where the employee is able to contact emergency responders by manually pressing an alert button and also via an automatic 'Incapacitation'  alert in situations where they are unable to manually activate the alert.