Blackline Safety has announced that Vasi Philomin has been appointed to its board of directors, effective 11 September 2025.
Lone worker safety protocols in UK businesses under scrutiny
Increasing threats to lone workers
As reported by Safepoint, incidents involving lone workers are on the rise, prompting calls for UK businesses to strengthen safety protocols.
Statistics reveal that 68% of companies have experienced an incident involving a lone worker in the past three years, with 20% of these incidents classified as severe or very severe.
Lone workers, including contractors, self-employed individuals, and employees working alone without direct supervision, make up approximately 20% of the UK workforce.
This equates to around 8 million workers.
Safepoint, which provides safety apps and devices, is urging businesses to review and implement robust safety measures to protect these workers, especially those in sectors like healthcare, construction, and utilities.
The role of technology in lone worker safety
Safepoint highlights the importance of modern technology in enhancing the safety of lone workers.
CEO Callum Coombes stated: “GPS tracking, wearable devices, and remote monitoring technologies are not just innovations, they are lifelines.”
The use of automated check-ins and emergency alerts ensures that help is dispatched quickly in emergencies, reducing the time workers spend without assistance.
Additionally, incident reporting platforms allow companies to continuously improve safety measures based on real-time data and analytics.
Coombes emphasised the psychological benefits of these technologies, noting that they provide lone workers with peace of mind, which in turn increases productivity and reduces stress.
Legal obligations and potential penalties
Employers in the UK have a legal obligation to protect their lone workers.
Failure to comply with safety regulations can result in severe financial penalties.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has removed the upper limits on fines for health and safety infringements, meaning that companies could face fines in the millions of pounds.
Coombes stressed the importance of proactive measures: “Ensuring the safety of lone workers is not just a legal obligation but a moral one.
“Employers must take proactive steps to protect these vulnerable employees.”
Practical steps to enhance lone worker safety
Safepoint provides several recommendations for business leaders looking to improve the safety of their lone workers.
These include conducting regular risk assessments, implementing monitoring systems, and establishing clear communication protocols.
The company also advises on the importance of providing training and resources, developing emergency response plans, and fostering a safety-first culture within the workplace.
Leveraging technology, such as modern safety apps and platforms, is also crucial in ensuring that lone workers are always connected and protected.
Lone worker safety protocols in UK businesses under scrutiny: Summary
The increasing number of incidents involving lone workers has prompted Safepoint to urge UK businesses to strengthen their safety protocols.
Lone workers, who make up about 20% of the UK workforce, are particularly vulnerable due to their isolated working conditions.
Safepoint emphasises the role of technology in enhancing safety, including GPS tracking, wearable devices, and remote monitoring.
Employers are reminded of their legal obligations to protect lone workers, with the potential for substantial fines if they fail to do so.
Safepoint recommends practical steps such as risk assessments, monitoring systems, and a safety-first workplace culture to improve the protection of these workers.
NEBOSH and HSE join forces to develop new qualification
NEBOSH and Great Britain’s health and safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), have partnered to develop a new qualification aimed at preventing one of the main causes of musculoskeletal disorders; manual handling.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for 8.9million lost working days in Great Britain in 2019/20 with manual handling estimated to be the main cause. 0.5 million workers suffered from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder in 2020/21, with a cost to organisations and to the UK economy. This is a global problem; the World Health Organization estimates 1.71 billion people experience musculoskeletal conditions worldwide, three in five workers in Europe report MSD complaints, more than half of US adults experience an MSD and it’s estimated that they cost countries between 0.5-2% of Gross National Product.
The new NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Manual Handling Risk Assessment is a one-day qualification which is based on the Health and Safety Executive’s best practice guidance and tools. It focuses on practical solutions to help recognise, assess, and manage manual handling risks. On completion of the course, learners will be required to undertake a manual handling risk assessment, based on a selection of video case studies, to put their new knowledge to the test.
Matt Powell-Howard, NEBOSH Head of Product Development, says: “Many organisations jump straight to providing training on manual handling – how to lift etcetera. In developing this qualification we’re encouraging organisations to take a step back and take the time to effectively risk assess their manual handling activities. By doing so they may be able to eliminate or reduce an activity and, if manual handling is required, then they’ll have all the information they need to protect their workers.”
The NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Manual Handling Risk Assessment is available to study from 10 February 2022 via our global network of Learning Partners. Read full details and choose a Learning Partner today: NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Manual Handling Risk Assessment.