Monitoring lone workers is essential, but many organisations worry it will be seen as intrusive. Workers want to feel trusted. Organisations want to meet their duty of care without creating friction. The solution is a monitoring approach that focuses on wellbeing, not surveillance.
Why lone workers need monitoring
Lone workers face the same hazards as anyone else, but without colleagues nearby to notice an issue or raise the alarm. Monitoring ensures incidents are identified early and escalated quickly, reducing the severity of outcomes.
It is not about watching. It is about ensuring help arrives when it is needed most.
Monitoring that supports safety, not micromanagement
The best monitoring setups are structured, predictable and respectful. They often include:
• Scheduled or automated check-ins that confirm a worker is safe.
• Audio prompts or countdown timers during higher-risk tasks.
• Duress alerts for deliberate calls for help.
• Man Down detection to capture sudden falls or immobility.
• Professional monitoring so alerts are never missed or delayed.
• Event-based location access, rather than continuous tracking.
This approach provides reassurance without unnecessary oversight.
Privacy matters
Privacy concerns often arise when tools track location continuously. Modern safety systems avoid this. Location should only be activated when:
• A worker begins an active monitoring session.
• An incident is triggered.
• A welfare concern is escalated.
Clear communication helps build trust. Workers should always know what data is collected, why, and for how long.
Avoiding common mistakes
The main pitfalls include:
• Relying on colleagues to respond to alerts instead of trained professionals.
• Requesting constant manual check-ins, which can feel excessive.
• Tracking location all day, which damages trust.
• Failing to define risk levels, leading to inconsistent monitoring.
Monitoring should be intentional, not something done “just in case”.
Final thought
Monitoring lone workers is not about control. It is about creating a safety net that catches issues early and ensures help is available when it matters. When done well, monitoring strengthens trust, protects workers and supports a healthier safety culture.
