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Work Alone Monitoring
Published in: Case Studies

Beyond Check-Ins: How Real-Time Telemetry Is Redefining Lone Worker Safety

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1. Introduction

Lone workers—those who perform duties without direct supervision—face unique risks on the job every day. Traditional safety measures like scheduled check-ins, manual call-ins, or group chats have long been the norm; however, these methods create significant monitoring gaps that can delay emergency responses when every second counts. Real-time telemetry eliminates time wastage when it counts the most

Today’s fast-paced, high-risk environments demand more than periodic updates. Real-time telemetry provides continuous, live data that improves situational awareness and optimizes emergency response. This whitepaper explores how continuous monitoring—with added benefits like ERP group customization—not only bridges the gaps left by traditional methods but also delivers substantial economic and safety benefits, as highlighted by industry leaders like the National Safety Council (NSC).

A note from Colin:
“Being a part of the Be Safe team, I am fortunate to learn from the experiences of the organizations we serve, and those we hope to serve.  One public sector organization recounted a time when one of their field team had a heart attack in their car, parked on the side of the road.  As a response to the loss of their colleague, the organization mandated a costly policy of never working alone.  If an organization is unfortunate enough to have an incident which falls through the cracks, the fallout costs immense amounts of time, money, and possibly  lives. 


The idea of safety coming first is kind of a fairy tale.  Does safety really come first at your organization?  For organizations that qualify for a dedicated lone worker solution but lack one, it’s crucial to consider the benefits compared to the potential loss of life and financial costs, if a key piece is missing. For those with existing solutions, clearly communicate your review and renewal process to service providers. Ensure you are getting the best service at the best value.  When bad things happen, they don’t usually get talked about or promoted.  Let’s talk about the risks, the costs and what happens when safety is managed proactively. “

  • Colin Rees – COO – Be Safe
2. Limitations of Traditional Check-Ins
2.1 Gaps in Periodic Monitoring

Traditional check-in systems—whether via scheduled calls or manual reporting—are inherently limited by:

  • Delayed Detection:
    Incidents occurring shortly after a scheduled check-in may go unnoticed until the next interval. For example, research from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) illustrates how delays in incident detection can critically impact emergency response times.
    https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1915/1915.84
  • Inconsistent Communication:
    Network variability, human error, and other manual process limitations often lead to missed check-ins, leaving lone workers vulnerable during emergencies.
  • Limited Visibility:
    Fixed-interval snapshots provide only partial views of a worker’s status, resulting in significant blind spots where hazards and incidents may go undetected.
2.2 Real-World Impact

Guidelines from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) stress that intermittent monitoring fails to capture the dynamic risks lone workers face in real time. In practice, companies relying solely on scheduled check-ins have reported response delays of 30 minutes or more in critical incidents—delays that can mean the difference between a swift rescue and a severe injury or fatality.

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/alone/workingalone_offsite.html

3. The Emergence and Benefits of Real-Time Telemetry
3.1 What Is Real-Time Telemetry?

Real-time telemetry continuously collects and wirelessly transmits data—such as location, movement, and sensor readings—from a lone worker’s device to a centralized system. This technology offers:

  • Constant Visibility:
    Supervisors have uninterrupted, second-by-second insight into a worker’s status.
  • Immediate Alerts:
    Should a check-in be missed or an emergency sensor trigger activated, the system instantly notifies a dedicated response team.
3.2 Key Benefits Over Manual Check-Ins
4. How Be Safe Stands Apart

Be Safe’s solution leverages real-time telemetry to deliver a comprehensive safety platform that not only monitors lone workers continuously but also ensures that alerts reach the right responders at the right time.  Be Safe includes the features you need to Be Safe, so there are no service tiers, limiting potentially life-saving service and features. 

4.1 Continuous, Live Data
  • Live GPS Tracking & Status Updates:
    Unlike systems that rely on intermittent check-ins, Be Safe continuously streams location and status data—providing a complete, real-time picture of each worker’s condition.
  • Immediate, Human-Escalated Alerts:
    When an incident is detected, alerts are escalated by an in-house, Canadian-based safety team. This personalized approach minimizes delays and enhances accuracy.
4.2 Customized Emergency Response with ERP Groups
  • ERP Group Integration:
    Each user can be assigned to an ERP (Emergency Response Plan) group, allowing organizations to tailor emergency protocols based on location, department, or operational needs.
  • Targeted Notifications:
    Each ERP group can have its own set of emergency contacts who receive real-time SMS and/or email alerts. By reducing unnecessary alerts, the system ensures that only critical notifications are sent—resulting in faster and more focused responses.
  • Tailored Response Protocols:
    Organizations can configure which alert types trigger notifications, ensuring that the right people are alerted only when truly needed.
4.3 Flexible, Usage-Based Service & Enhanced Customer Care
  • No Contracts:
    With a usage-based billing model, Be Safe adapts to fluctuating workforce needs—a key advantage for industries with seasonal or project-based operations.
  • Rapid Adaptability:
    The cloud-based platform receives frequent updates, ensuring continuous improvement without service interruptions.
  • Dedicated Real Person Call-Out Services:
    Unlike competitors that require separate monitoring services and alert escalation, Be Safe’s localized response team manages emergency call-outs, ensuring rapid intervention and clear communication.
5. Economic Impact and ROI of Lone Worker Monitoring
5.1 Quantified Cost Savings

Using the NSC Safety Technology Investment Calculator, an Oil & Gas company with approximately 200 employees—of which around 50 work alone—could realize significant cost savings by adopting lone worker monitoring. The calculator estimates potential annual savings as follows:

  • Medical and Fines: $23,891.11
  • Workers’ Compensation: $15,927.41
  • Wage Loss: $3,981.85
  • Absenteeism: $281,384.20

These figures underscore the financial impact of reducing incidents and improving emergency response times. For organizations operating in high-risk environments, such savings translate directly into a better bottom line while enhancing worker safety.
https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/work-to-zero/resources/safety-technology-investment-calculator#/

5.2 Broader Industry Insights

The NSC Work to Zero initiative further reinforces that effective lone worker monitoring not only mitigates risks and enhances safety culture but also delivers substantial economic benefits. The initiative’s research emphasizes that enabling two-way communication, reducing unnecessary alerts, and providing real-time data are key to lowering costs associated with medical expenses, workers’ compensation, wage loss, and absenteeism. These insights have driven the growing market for lone worker safety solutions in North America and Europe.
https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/work-to-zero

6. Regulatory and Compliance Considerations

Real-time telemetry aligns with the latest regulatory guidelines and best practices:

7. Bringing it All Together

Traditional check-in methods are rapidly becoming obsolete in today’s fast-paced work environments. Real-time telemetry bridges the critical gaps left by scheduled check-ins, delivering continuous monitoring, rapid alerts, and tailored emergency responses via ERP groups.

Be Safe offers a comprehensive, flexible, and state-of-the-art solution that:

  • Provides continuous, real-time monitoring and live data tracking.
  • Delivers immediate, human-escalated alerts with customizable ERP groups.
  • Reduces unnecessary notifications, ensuring faster, targeted emergency responses.
  • Supports regulatory compliance with automated, audit-ready record-keeping.
  • Demonstrates significant cost savings—potentially saving companies hundreds of thousands annually.

Are you ready to redefine lone worker safety?
Discover how Be Safe’s innovative real-time telemetry solution can protect your workforce and drive operational savings.
Visit: www.be-safe.ca
Email: crees@be-safe.ca
Phone: 1-866-510-2178
Request a Demo Today!

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