The Cost of Safety vs Investment

Every employee in the UK is entitled to work in a safe environment where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. According to The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 'under health and safety law, the primary responsibility for an employee’s safety is down to the employer.'

Workplace safety measures are extremely important in every industry and not protecting your employees presents a serious business risk - it can easily affect an organisation’s cash position, its share price, perceived brand equity value, and its ability to attract, and retain, the best staff and customers.

The HSE have recently published their Health and safety at work Summary statistics for Great Britain 2016 with some interesting results.

1.3 million workers suffered from a work-related illness (new or long standing) in 2015/16, with the new cases alone costing companies a combined £9.3 billion. In the same year there was also over half a million non-fatal work related injuries at an annual cost of £4.8 billion. Unfortunately, the stats also show that 144 workers were fatally injured during the same period.

It’s clear that a lack of health and safety measures are costing businesses dearly, with over 30 million working days lost in 2015/16; it’s imperative, as a business, you look after you employees’ safety, this includes implementing procedures for the often overlooked, lone workers.

Measures should be taken in order for lone workers to have the necessary tools to allow them to respond correctly to emergencies. These measures should involve appropriate training, thorough risk assessments, a comprehensive lone worker policy and a lone worker solution that befits an employee risk profile.

• Well trained employees are better prepared to deal with risk and more likely to make the right decision when faced with aggressive or violent behaviour.
• Organisations should carry out a risk assessment before employees are allowed to work alone, however, it’s also an employees’ responsibility to continually carry out frequent risk assessments throughout their working day, and particularly when their situation changes.
• A lone worker policy is acknowledging risk and providing an employee with the tools to reduce said risk.
• Lone worker solutions, such as the one provided by SoloProtect, are designed to offer dedicated support, the fastest possible response and peace of mind to those working alone.

What you get from a SoloProtect Solution

• UK Manufactured Identicom Device
• SIM Card and all-inclusive network usage *
• In-house state of the art, EN50518 Compliant 24/7/365 ARC
• In-house customer support team
• UK Based lone worker training
• Comprehensive monthly reporting

Investing in a SoloProtect lone worker solution can ultimately cut future costs. Implementing a lone worker solution along with training your employees and suitable lone worker policies, confirm that you’re fulfilling your duty of care. From as little as 50p a day SoloProtect offer a range of functionality, dedicated devices and Smart-phone applications, whilst to giving you the flexibility and support you need through implementation and day to day solution management.

Health and safety legislation exists to protect employees and the businesses. Taking care of your staff makes them more inclined to look after your company’s interests. They will feel safer, more confident and valued. Addressing health and safety is not a regulatory burden and the significant business benefits certainly make it worthwhile.

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