Lone Working Can Be Daunting – Here’s How To Put Your Employee’s Minds At Ease
Blog: Lone Working Can Be Daunting – Here’s How To Put Your Employee’s Minds At Ease Published: 11/08/2022
Lone Working Can Be Daunting - Here’s How To Put Your Employee’s Minds At Ease
For many employees in public-facing roles, including security work and caregiving, the thought of working alone can be daunting. Without the support of colleagues, it can be easy to feel isolated and alone. However, with the right planning and communication, business managers and supervisors can put their employee’s minds at ease and help them to feel comfortable working independently. With the right safeguards in place, lone-working staff are safer and more secure, able to request quick and easy assistance, and are also protected from accusations of misconduct.
1) Invest In Communication Technology
The cornerstone of any safeguarding strategy for lone workers is giving them an effective means to keep in touch with supervisors and colleagues, and to call for help in an emergency. The most obvious danger faced by lone workers is that of being harmed in an accident or attack. Technology such as two-way radios mitigate these risks by allowing workers to stay in contact with base, request assistance if needed, and keep track of their colleagues’ locations.
This allows for a quick and efficient response in the event of an incident. Many devices have a ‘man down’ feature that automatically signals for help if the worker is unresponsive for a designated time, or if the device is detected in an unusual alignment (a sign, perhaps, that the user has slipped and is unconscious). There are several different models of two-way radio to choose from, some of which may not be compatible with on-site systems and devices. That’s why it’s crucial to engage with telecommunications experts like DTS Solutions who can help you pick a solution that is suited to the specific needs of your organisation.
2) Have An Instant Means Of Communication
Digital two-way radios and push-to-talk over cellular radios provide an instant channel of communication with colleagues that can be vital in the case of a security breach. Mobile phones are easily damaged and can be rendered useless in some situations through insufficient network coverage, whereas digital radios continue to work even when mobile networks are unavailable. Commercial two-way radios come with built-in encryption to ensure that confidential conversations remain that way. Most push-to-talk cellular radios also offer multi-network SIMs as well as Wi-Fi connectivity which gives them an even greater degree of coverage compared to single-network SIMs.
3) Create A Supportive Working Environment
Forging stronger cooperation between managing staff and lone workers can help facilitate training and productivity goals by maintaining supervisor support even in the absence of direct face-to-face contact. One way to do this is to establish clear channels of communication between colleagues and support workers so that, if a problem arises, the lone worker will know who to contact and how to reach them. Additionally, you should provide training for both managing staff and lone workers on how to handle emergencies.
Next Steps
At DTS Solutions, we provide advanced two-way radio communication solutions for businesses in a wide range of sectors, from healthcare and retail to nightclub security. For our recommendations on the best equipment and communication strategy for your organisation, please contact us today on 01480 407740 or click here to book a free consultation.