From Piecemeal to Powerful: Why Lone Worker Safety Needs a Modern App-Based Solution

The Hidden Risks Facing Lone Workers

Every day, hundreds of thousands of Australians head to work alone without teammates, supervisors, or immediate backup. Whether it’s a community care nurse visiting clients in their homes, a field technician repairing infrastructure, a security guard patrolling after hours, or a real estate agent meeting new clients, lone workers face elevated risks that many organisations underestimate.

Personal safety risks for lone workers are not new. Assault, accidents, health emergencies, and environmental hazards have always been part of the job. Unfortunately, for decades these risks have been loosely managed with minimal tools and ad hoc procedures that often left workers exposed.

The cost of neglect is high. Incidents involving lone workers don’t just impact the individual. They can result in serious harm to the worker, reputational damage for the employer, regulatory penalties, and long-term business disruption.

Past Approaches: Piecemeal and Inadequate

Historically, organisations relied on outdated methods to “check in” with lone workers. A paper logbook, a whiteboard, a scheduled phone call, or a basic two-way radio may have offered some reassurance, but they were far from robust safety systems.

These piecemeal measures suffered from major flaws:

• Human error. Workers forgot to check in or supervisors missed a call.
• Slow response times. By the time someone realised a worker hadn’t reported back, hours, or even days, might have passed.
• Inconsistent application. Processes varied between departments or individuals, with limited centralised oversight.

Such systems may have been better than nothing, but they rarely stood up to scrutiny, especially when serious incidents occurred. Families, regulators, and the courts have increasingly asked: Was the employer actually doing everything reasonably practicable to keep their staff safe?

Technology Has Changed. So Should Safety.

Fast forward to today. Mobile technology has transformed how we live, work, and connect.

Smartphones are in nearly every pocket. GPS location, mobile networks, and app-based services give us real-time visibility and communication options that were unimaginable just a decade ago.

This shift means there’s no longer an excuse for outdated, unreliable safety measures. Employers now have access to modern, integrated solutions that are:

• Built on devices workers are already carrying.
• Capable of supporting small teams through to nationwide organisations.
• Offering redundancy and automated alerts that don’t rely on human memory.
• Cost effective. Eliminate the need for expensive bespoke systems.

The problem of lone worker safety has always existed. What’s changed is our ability to address it effectively and sustainably.

The Rise of App-Based Safety

App-based lone worker safety solutions like My Safety Buddy are designed to put emergency support directly into the hands of those who need it most. Instead of relying on fragmented systems, workers have a single, user-friendly tool on their phone that can:

• Trigger a duress or panic alarm if they feel threatened.
• Activate a man down alarm if they stop moving after a fall or medical event.
• Enable journey monitoring to track safe travel from one site to another.
• Provide scheduled welfare checks to ensure workers are safe throughout their shift.
• Send real-time location data to nominated responders for rapid assistance.

This isn’t just about technology. It’s about peace of mind. Lone workers feel supported and in control, while employers can demonstrate due diligence and proactive safety management.

Regulatory Pressures: “Reasonably Practicable” is the Standard

WorkSafe regulators across Australia have become increasingly clear: employers must implement safe systems of work. Simply telling employees to “be careful” or “check in when you can” doesn’t cut it.

The legal benchmark is reasonably practicable. That means employers must take steps that are:

• Proportionate to the risk workers face.
• Aligned with current technology and industry practice.
• Proven to reduce harm and improve response times.

Failing to meet this standard can expose organisations to WorkSafe investigations, hefty fines, criminal prosecution, compensation claims, and reputational fallout. In contrast, implementing an app-based safety system demonstrates leadership, preparedness, and a genuine commitment to worker wellbeing.

No Excuses: Safety Systems Are a Must-Have

There are no excuses left for neglecting lone worker safety. The technology exists. The risks are known. The expectations are clear.

Employers who continue to rely on outdated systems are not only putting their staff at risk, they’re putting their business on the line. Conversely, those who adopt modern safety solutions protect their people, strengthen their reputation, and position themselves as employers of choice.

Better systems equal better outcomes:

• Faster emergency responses.
• Reduced severity of incidents.
• Lower costs from claims, absences, and investigations.
• Greater staff confidence and retention.
• Stronger compliance with duty of care obligations.

Case in Point: A Smarter Safety Strategy

Consider a regional council with dozens of field workers, from inspectors to maintenance staff, scattered across a large geographic area. Relying on a manual phone-in system would be inconsistent, stressful, and prone to error.

By implementing My Safety Buddy, the council can achieve:

• Centralised oversight of all lone worker activity.
• Automated welfare checks removing manual follow-ups.
• Immediate duress alerts with accurate GPS data for first responders.
• Improved morale as staff felt valued and protected.

A transformation like this not only improves safety outcomes but also streamlines operations and reduces administrative burden.

Why Choose My Safety Buddy?

At My Safety Buddy, we combine innovation with simplicity. Our solutions are:

• Easy to implement. App-based solution for the user requiring no expensive infrastructure.
• Developed with deep expertise in lone worker safety, technology, and compliance.
• Designed to meet the needs of diverse industries and work environments.
• Suitable for small teams through to large, multi-site, national organisations.

My Safety Buddy isn’t just an app. My Safety Buddy delivers a complete lone worker safety ecosystem, including training, support, and knowledge-sharing to help organisations strengthen their safety culture.

Final Word: From Obligation to Opportunity

Lone worker safety isn’t just a legal obligation. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, compassion, and innovation. Employers who invest in modern safety solutions like My Safety Buddy are protecting their people, their brand, and their future.

The risks may be timeless, but the solutions are now smarter, simpler, and more effective than ever.

So the question for organisations isn’t “Do we need a lone worker safety system?” It’s “Why wouldn’t we?”

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Travis Holland
CEO
My Safety Buddy

Should you wish to discuss strategies to improve your staff’s safety in their work environment, please feel welcome to contact My Safety Buddy.

Passionate about creating safer workplaces our goal is to enhance wellbeing for all concerned whilst also delivering improved operational and financial performance.

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