Lone Worker Regulations in the U.S.: What Employers Need to Know

Lone workers face significant risks, from injuries and medical emergencies to the challenges of isolation, often with no one nearby to provide immediate help. While there isn’t a comprehensive federal standard for lone work, OSHA and state-level regulations establish vital requirements to address these dangers. This guide offers clear insights into the regulations, highlights critical safety risks, and provides actionable solutions to help employers protect their lone workers and stay compliant.

tribunal, travailleur isolé

Definition of a Lone Worker

A lone worker is someone who performs their job independently, without close or direct supervision. While neither NIOSH nor OSHA provides an official definition of lone work, it is generally understood as a potentially hazardous situation where an individual is out of sight or earshot of others, with no immediate access to assistance in case of an emergency. This work may be a permanent or temporary arrangement, depending on the role and setting.

Who are lone workers?

Lone work is prevalent across many industries, including construction, healthcare, security, hospitality, and logistics. It can occur at fixed sites like warehouses, mobile locations like construction zones, or remote areas such as rural highways or oil well sites.

Risks Faced by Lone Workers

Risque accident pour les travailleurs isolés

Physical Risks

Lone workers are at heightened risk of injuries from falls, accidents, or other workplace hazards when no one is nearby to provide immediate assistance. For example, a construction worker operating alone on a site might face delays in receiving critical help if injured.

risque pour les travailleurs isolés

Medical Emergencies

Health issues, such as sudden illnesses, fainting, heat stress, or severe injuries, pose a serious threat to lone workers who cannot quickly access medical aid. Research shows that immediate response in emergencies like heart attacks or traumatic injuries significantly increases survival rates.

Risque psychique pour les travailleurs isolés

Psychosocial Risks

 Isolation can contribute to feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety, which are linked to long-term mental and physical health issues. Without regular social interaction or the support of colleagues, lone workers may struggle with additional pressures that impact their well-being.

Employer Responsibilities for Lone Worker Safety

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are required to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards that could result in serious injury or death. This responsibility extends to protecting lone workers through proactive measures such as:

Conducting Risk Assessments: Employers must identify and address potential hazards specific to lone work environments, ensuring safety measures are in place.

Establishing Safety Protocols: Implementing procedures like regular check-ins and emergency response plans is critical for maintaining lone worker safety.

Providing Communication Tools: Ensuring that lone workers have reliable means of communication, such as phones, radios, or monitoring systems, allows for quick access to help in emergencies.

Travailleurs isolés souriant

OSHA Standards Relevant to Lone Workers

Although OSHA does not have a dedicated standard for all lone workers, several regulations address specific situations where lone work occurs:

Shipyard Employment (1915.84): Employers must account for lone workers at regular intervals during shifts to ensure their safety.

Confined Spaces (1910.146 and 1926.1204): These standards require robust safety measures for workers in confined spaces, a common lone work scenario.
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U.S. States with Specific Lone Worker Regulations

While the U.S. lacks a comprehensive federal standard for lone workers, some states have implemented their own regulations to address the unique challenges of working alone:

California: Cal/OSHA mandates regular communication with lone workers as part of its Heat Illness Prevention Standard (Title 8, Section 3395). This regulation also requires employers to ensure access to water and shade for outdoor workers, which may include those working alone.

Washington: The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries provides guidance through its "Working Alone Safely" manual. Recommendations include regular check-ins, the use of automatic warning devices, and procedures for supervisors to contact lone workers throughout their shifts.
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Protective Measures for Lone Workers

Employers can take several steps to improve the safety of lone workers, focusing on prevention, monitoring, and response:

Implement Monitoring Systems: Leverage technology, such as lone worker devices and apps, to track worker locations and check their status. Ensure these tools are reliable, especially in remote or rural areas where communication may be limited.

Establish Clear Emergency Protocols: Develop and communicate detailed procedures for emergencies, ensuring workers know how to seek help quickly in various scenarios.

Provide Comprehensive Training: Equip lone workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize hazards, use communication devices effectively, and follow safety protocols.
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Prohibited or supervised activities for lone workers

These prohibitions relate to situations where the absence of immediate assistance can lead to serious consequences in the event of an incident.

Prohibited activities

Some activities are prohibited for a lone worker. These prohibitions concern people working on elevators, freight elevators, elevators whose speed does not exceed 0.15 meters per second, escalators, moving walks or automatic vehicle parking installations. (article R4543-20 of the Labor Code).

Manual port with a mass greater than 30 kg
Activities requiring the wearing of respiratory, insulating or filtering personal protective equipment with assisted ventilation
The manual installation or removal of device components with a mass greater than 50 kg
The installation or removal of elevator traction cables
Work at heights that require a fall arrest system (e.g. intervention on pylons, scaffolding, etc.).
Maneuvering machines or trucks without adequate visibility (e.g. loading/unloading in a blind area).
Handling dangerous substances, especially those that present risks of inhalation, burns, or explosions.
Work in wells, galleries or confined spaces, where the lack of oxygen or the accumulation of toxic gases can be fatal.
Interventions on high-voltage electrical networks that require permanent monitoring.
Work that exposes the risk of falling into the water, such as the maintenance of pipes, dams or port docks.
Handling firearms, dangerous tools or explosives, due to the immediate risks of accidents.
Work in enclosed spaces, where the absence of ventilation or confinement can be dangerous (e.g. tanks, tanks, etc.).

The article R.4543-21 of the Labour Code strictly regulates the interventions carried out by an isolated worker on the roof of a moving passenger compartment. This type of situation presents increased risks, including falls, ofsmashing Or of imbalance due to the movements of the machine.

To guarantee the safety of workers, this article imposes specific conditions intervention in isolation situations:

  • The mobile home or the equipment concerned must be equipped with a maneuver control device inspection to allow the worker to intervene safely.
  • Of fall risk prevention measures must be set up as guardrails or secure platforms.
  • If no collective solution is possible, the employer must provide for a Adapted PPE, like a harness with a life line.

Activities with active surveillance

Other work situations require active supervision by a person competent to intervene, Give the alert and first aid in case of an accident. For example, the following cannot be done by a lone worker:

Work carried out in an establishment by an external company at night or in an isolated place (Article R4512-13 of the Labor Code).
Handling dangerous chemicals (article R 4412-11 of the Labor Code)
Work in a hyperbaric environment (article R 4461-47 of the Labor Code)

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Decreased Productivity

Unsafe working conditions can lead to higher absenteeism, lower morale, and increased turnover. Employees are less likely to perform effectively if they feel unsupported or unsafe, which can impact overall productivity and workplace culture.

Legal Penalties

Non-compliance with OSHA regulations can result in significant fines and penalties. In severe cases, such as when negligence leads to an injury or fatality, employers may face criminal charges. Beyond financial penalties, such incidents can also damage a company's reputation and erode trust with employees and clients.

Increased Risk of Workplace Accidents

Without proper safety measures, lone workers face a greater likelihood of accidents or emergencies, which can result in costly workers' compensation claims and downtime.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The legal responsibility of the employer

Failing to ensure the safety of lone workers can have serious repercussions for employers, affecting both operational efficiency and legal standing:

Decreased Productivity: Unsafe working conditions can lead to higher absenteeism, lower morale, and increased turnover. Employees are less likely to perform effectively if they feel unsupported or unsafe, which can impact overall productivity and workplace culture.

Legal Penalties: Non-compliance with OSHA regulations can result in significant fines and penalties. In severe cases, such as when negligence leads to an injury or fatality, employers may face criminal charges. Beyond financial penalties, such incidents can also damage a company's reputation and erode trust with employees and clients.

Increased Risk of Workplace Accidents: Without proper safety measures, lone workers face a greater likelihood of accidents or emergencies, which can result in costly workers' compensation claims and downtime.
LoneWorker on a bike
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Obligation of means or obligation of results?

Far from being a simple formality, the prevention of isolated work is based on an obligation to achieve results. Setting up a PTI or a DATI is not enough: the employer must ensure that these devices are operational and allow for effective intervention in the event of an incident.

The case law is unequivocal: in the event of an accident, it is not enough to have measures planned on paper; it is necessary to prove that they are effective and adapted to the real situation. A poorly configured device, an inapplicable procedure in the field or a lack of responsiveness may suffice to characterize the endangerment of others (Court of Cassation of November 12, 2020).

A Comprehensive Solution for Lone Workers


Neovigie offers an all-in-one solution tailored to the unique needs of lone workers. Our system integrates a variety of alert devices, including: MobileApp, Smartwatch App and Satellite Devices.  

These devices are designed to adapt to the specific missions and environments of each lone worker, ensuring seamless functionality and protection.Our robust web platform enhances the solution by streamlining alarm management, enabling quick responses, and providing comprehensive oversight. With Neovigie, you gain maximum safety and flexibility to protect your workforce efficiently.

Respect the RGPD with a DATI - PTI solution that complies with confidentiality requirements

Protection by the RGPD

The RGPD Protect them personal data, that is to say information that makes it possible to identify a natural person or to make him identifiable. It can be a name, a first name or any other intersecting privacy information such as a customer number, a telephone number, an address. Data processing operations concern both the collection of this information and its recording, organization or storage. The GDPR is required for companies that process personal data, as long as they are established on the territory of the European Union or their activity targets European residents directly.

PTI - DATI and respect for privacy

Respecting the privacy of our users is at the heart of our concerns. By setting up a PTI mobile application or a DATI box to protect an isolated worker, the employer processes personal data to identify the employee. To avoid any risk of an attack on the confidentiality, availability and integrity of this data, NEOVIGIE carried out an impact study. The PTI DATI NEOVIGIE solution ensures the protection of your employees, in full compliance with the RGPD for the respect of their privacy.

Data organization and processing

The data contained in the PTI mobile application or the DATI box is organized and processed to meet the requirements of the RGPD. Our Data Privacy Officer ensures collect only essential data to the safety of your employees, to anonymize sensitive data, to encrypt it and to store it on secure servers.

FAQs

Many of you are asking us about the protection of lone workers. Find our answers to the most frequently asked questions here.

A Neovigie expert answers your questions!

Lionel Lewin Fleur

IT expert, former lawyer

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Lionel Lewin is president of Neovigie and an expert in protecting lone workers. A former lawyer, he combines legal expertise and technological innovation to support companies' compliance and strengthen their security.

Its motto: “Combining technology and compliance for uncompromising security.”

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