A lone worker is an employee who performs job duties without direct supervision and out of immediate sight and sound of colleagues, making it difficult to obtain rapid assistance in emergencies. The U.S. lacks a specific OSHA standard for lone workers, but employers have clear legal obligations under the OSHA General Duty Clause.
A lone worker concept rests on three elements: 1) physical isolation, 2) lack of immediate assistance, 3) vulnerability to hazards. Millions of American workers spend significant time working alone.
Field technicians, security guards, home healthcare workers, delivery drivers, real estate agents, agricultural workers, facilities managers, remote employees, retail staff. Status is not limited to blue-collar occupations.
General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)): Requires employers to furnish employment free from recognized hazards. OSHA has cited employers for failure to implement hazard controls. Related: 29 CFR 1910, 1926 (Construction).
Failure to protect results in OSHA citations, civil liability, workers' compensation claims, and criminal liability in serious cases.
Mobile Safety Apps: smartphone alerts, GPS tracking, automatic detection. Dedicated Alarm Devices: portable units for harsh environments. Smart Wearables: wrist-worn with fall detection. Satellite Communication: beyond cellular coverage. Two-Way Radios: voice check-ins and emergency alerts.
No dedicated standard; the General Duty Clause applies.
All sectors; high concentration in utilities, healthcare, agriculture, construction, retail, delivery.
Yes; assess hazards and implement protections.
High-risk: every 1-2 hours. Moderate: every 4-8 hours. Lower-risk: daily.
OSHA's General Duty Clause creates clear obligations. Assess hazards, implement systems, train workers, and maintain vigilance.
| Technologie | Avantages | Inconvénients | Adapté pour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wifi + VoIP | - Transmission instantanée des alertes et appels VoIP - Coût faible après installation - Facile à déployer en intérieur | - Portée limitée (bâtiments uniquement)- Nécessite une infrastructure locale (bornes WiFi) | Zones blanches intérieures (usines, tunnels, entrepôts) |
| Réseau radio privé (UHF, VHF, NXDN, dpMR) | - Réseau indépendant (aucun besoin de réseau mobile)- Transmission instantanée- Levée de doute par la voix | - Coût d’installation élevé - Nécessite une maintenance et des licences | Sites industriels, chantiers, tunnels, zones rurales |
| LPWA (LoRa, Sigfox) | - Faible consommation énergétique- Longue portée | - Ne permet pas la transmission vocale - Latence élevée - Risque d’interférences sur bande libre | Surveillance d’équipements, mais déconseillé pour les PTI |
| Satellite (Bivy Stick, Iridium, Inmarsat) | - Couverture mondiale, fonctionne partout- Transmission immédiate des alertes- Autonomie longue durée | - Coût d’abonnement plus élevé - Dépendance à une bonne visibilité du ciel | Zones blanches extérieures (montagnes, forêts, chantiers isolés, offshore) |
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