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Gap in Executive Awareness as Lone Workers Face Increased Aggression, EcoOnline Research Finds
Lone workers—defined as anyone who works by themselves ' without close or direct supervision ', are an often undercounted and underrepresented group in the UK workforce. The report estimates that between 7 and 9 million people work alone, with 46% of executives expecting this number to grow in the coming years. However, working alone is becoming increasingly dangerous, as 64% of organisations have experienced incidents involving lone workers in the past three years.
This year's report highlights significant discrepancies between executives' views and the actual experiences of lone workers. According to the survey, lone workers identified violence and aggression as their greatest risk, with 46% reporting an increase in incidents over the last 2-3 years. This is reflected in incident reports, which show that violence accounts for 20% of all reported incidents, a figure that has doubled since 2023. On the other hand, executives are more concerned about workers being in remote areas without a mobile signal, with 50% identifying this as the top risk, placing violence as a secondary concern.
Speaking on the research, EcoOnline's Chief Customer Officer, Helen Jones , said "Lone workers are facing more risks than ever, whether it's environmental, accidental, or deliberate. There's a clear gap between how executives and workers perceive these risks, and it's important for employers to take this as an opportunity to bridge that gap. Leaders must align safety measures with the realities lone workers face by being proactive—ensuring teams are aware of policies and risk assessments, can give input on processes, and have the right support in place. With both transparency and technology, we can significantly reduce risks and keep lone workers safe."
Considering the role of innovation in protecting lone workers, Steve White , Health and Safety, Audit and Profit Protection Manager at Tile Giant , said "EcoOnline's StaySafe solution has enabled the business to manage one of the highest risk factors in the business, lone working. The app and dashboard mean that, as an operations team, we can all monitor stores across the country and be immediately alerted on escalations. Those working alone are given panic alarms, fall detection and frequent check-ins to ensure any situation is managed effectively."
Want to better protect your lone workers? Download the for key insights, and register for EcoOnline's webinar, 'Preventing Isolation,' to explore practical strategies for safeguarding your frontline team.
We partnered with Illuma Research to develop a questionnaire and survey over and executives responsible for safety in their organisations. The aim of this research was to identify any developing trends in lone working in 2024, more specifically:
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View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gap-in-executive-awareness-as-lone-workers-face-increased-aggression-ecoonline-research-finds-302251774.html