Like every year, the festive season brings with it an increase in demands, both personal and professional. For lone workers and individuals, this period can also present heightened risks, from increased incidents of violence to longer response times from emergency services. With these challenges in mind, it’s essential for workers, employers, and families to take proactive steps to ensure safety over this busy time.
The Growing Risks During Festive Periods
The festive period is a time for celebration, but it also tends to see a sharp increase in certain types of incidents. Emergency services are typically stretched during this time, from car accidents to medical emergencies and heightened social/domestic violence reports.
- For lone workers, particularly those in the hospitality, healthcare, logistics and community lines of work, the pressure ramps up as they encounter more volatile situations in both work and social environments. For example, social workers or in-home caregivers can find themselves in situations where tensions flare unexpectedly. In these environments, immediate access to support and a quick response is crucial.
- According to recent statistics, there’s a notable uptick in domestic violence cases during the holidays (up to a 25% increase), often exacerbated by alcohol consumption and family tensions.
- In addition to the typical seasonal hazards, we notice an alarming spike in home invasions during the holiday period, as families travel or are preoccupied with festivities. Criminals often exploit this time of year when homes are left unattended or while everyone is busy and distracted.
Practical Tips for Managing Lone Worker Safety During the Festive Period
The festive season is an especially busy and challenging time for businesses, and lone workers face heightened risks due to increased demand, long hours, and unpredictable environments. Employers should take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their workforce during this period. Here are some key tips to enhance safety and well-being for lone workers:
1. Recognise Potential Safety Risks:
For workers in high-risk sectors like healthcare, social services, and delivery, understanding early warning signs of potentially unsafe situations is crucial. Changes in client behaviour, a rise in stress levels, or unpredictable working environments can lead to dangerous circumstances. Employers should provide training on identifying red flags and practicing conflict de-escalation techniques.
2. Implement Strategic Check-ins and Location Sharing:
During the busy festive season, it’s essential that lone workers stay connected. Employers should encourage regular check-ins through SafeTCard Lone Worker mobile apps or SafeTCard lone worker devices with Duress /SOS capability as well as location-sharing capabilities. This not only allows for real-time updates on a worker’s safety but also ensures that if an emergency arises, the worker’s last-known position is quickly accessible. This strategy is particularly important for those working in isolated or unfamiliar areas, where emergency services may take longer to respond.
3. Monitor Employee Well-being and Adjust Workloads:
The festive season often leads to increased workloads for businesses, especially in customer-facing roles. Employers must be proactive in assessing the well-being of their employees, ensuring they are not overworked or pushed beyond their limits. Fatigued workers are more prone to mistakes and less capable of handling unexpected challenges. Regular breaks, realistic shift schedules, and mental health support should be prioritised to reduce the risk of burnout.
4. Prepare for Delays in Emergency Services:
Emergency services tend to be overwhelmed during the festive period, which can lead to delayed responses. Employers should prepare their lone workers for this by ensuring they have access to alternative communication channels, such as direct links to monitoring centres like SafeTCard’s Alarm Receiving Centre. This ensures that in the event of an emergency, workers can quickly alert a professional monitoring team that can assess the situation and coordinate a response without relying solely on public services.
Optimising Personal and Lone Worker Safety
Ensuring safety during the festive period doesn’t have to mean drastic changes, but it does involve a level of proactive awareness. By addressing some of these key insights and emphasising practical steps, both individuals and businesses can create safer environments and mitigate the additional risks that this time of year brings.
By fostering a culture of preparedness and open communication, employers and individuals can significantly enhance safety for lone workers and reduce stress for both staff and their families during the busiest and most challenging time of the year.
The SafeTCard Advantage
During the festive period, when emergency services may take longer to respond, SafeTCard’s end-to-end safety solution ensures immediate action. Our monitoring centre (managed by Valour Security, a sister company), is a certified ASIAL Grade A1 Alarm Receiving Centre. This certification ensures that our monitoring services meet the highest level of security requirements under the Australian standard AS2201.2:2004. This service surpasses standard alarm systems by providing direct human intervention in emergencies, ensuring a priority response comparable to a hold-up alarm (Alarm category A). This status is crucial for businesses choosing a safety solution, as it guarantees a top-tier response when it matters most.
But SafeTCard goes beyond just monitoring. We offer a comprehensive range of tailored solutions, including alarm devices and mobile apps designed for lone workers and individuals. These devices allow real-time location sharing, regular check-ins, and an instant SOS feature. This enables workers to connect with the ARC at any moment, triggering an immediate response—whether it’s a call for help, escalation to authorities, or even sending a professional to the scene.
For example, in the event of an emergency—whether it’s an unexpected home invasion or conflict experienced by a lone worker —SafeTCard provide real-time intervention that surpasses standard alarm systems. Our solutions are designed to protect both individuals and businesses from physical, legal, and reputational risks. By combining tailored devices, proactive monitoring, and certified intervention, SafeTCard ensures that businesses can meet safety regulations while safeguarding their people during the busiest time of year.
Conclusion
The festive period doesn’t have to be filled with fear or uncertainty. By staying aware of the risks and implementing the right controls, you can protect yourself and your employees, ensuring a safe and peaceful holiday season. With SafeTCard’s Grade A1 certified solutions, you can be confident that your safety is prioritised at the highest level. Our solutions are here to give you peace of mind, no matter how busy the world around you gets.
