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Employers are failing to address serious safety concerns among lone workers, with negative consequences for mental health, productivity and workplace trust, according to new research.
The Lone Worker Safety: Perceptions, Realities and Business Impact report, published by employee safety technology provider, Peoplesafe, found that 43 per cent of lone workers across sectors such as retail, healthcare and transport reported feeling unsafe at work.
Despite these concerns, 68 per cent said their employer took no action when issues were raised – creating what Peoplesafe calls a “safety blind spot”. For some, the lack of response has become so normalised that they no longer bother reporting incidents.
One respondent described being threatened by a customer who said they would “wait after my shift and kill me”, while another reported anxiety when working alone in the office after colleagues had left. Early starts, late finishes and dealing with the public were the top triggers for feeling unsafe.
Productivity and wellbeing hit
Safety fears are not only undermining confidence – they are affecting output. Peoplesafe’s research found that feeling unsafe reduced productivity for one in five lone workers, suggesting significant potential losses when scaled across large workforces.
The toll on mental health is even starker. Almost half (47 per cent) of respondents said their experiences of lone working had harmed their mental health, leading to anxiety, depression and in some cases time off work.
One worker said: “I’m often lone working and have anxiety about visiting certain areas or properties.” Another added: “It badly affected my mental health and made me anxious and depressed, so I had to take time off.”
Rethinking risk
Sue Parker-Tantush, lone worker expert and former Group Risk Head of Safety at Co-op, said organisations must move away from “task-focused” approaches and start with person-centred risk assessments. She added:
“As lone working increases alongside workforce reductions, it’s disappointing to see person-centred risk assessments still so often overlooked,” she said. “Seeing risk through the eyes of your employees not only shows you care, it ensures you’re choosing the right solutions to truly support them.”
Role of technology
The report also points to advances in safety technology, including app-based solutions, wearable integrations and wider coverage through eSIMs. According to Berg Insight, the European lone worker technology market is expected to grow to €178m by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5 per cent.
Peoplesafe argues that the right mix of technology and culture can restore confidence, reduce risks and protect both employees and business performance.
The company currently supports more than 350,000 users across the UK, including the NHS, Openreach and Tesco, through its 24/7 alarm receiving centre with a direct line to police forces.
