drj logo

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Zip Code*
Please enter a number from 0 to 100.
Strength indicator
I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy*
Yes, of course I want to receive emails from DRJ!
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Already have an account? Log in

drj logo

Welcome to DRJ

Already registered user? Please login here

Login Form

Register
Forgot password? Click here to reset

Create new account
(it's completely free). Subscribe

x
DRJ Fall 2025 Dallas Show
Skip to content
Disaster Recovery Journal
  • EN ESPAÑOL
  • SIGN IN
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • THE JOURNAL
    • Why Subscribe to DRJ
    • Digital Edition
    • Article Submission
    • DRJ Annual Resource Directories
    • Article Archives
    • Career Spotlight
  • EVENTS
    • DRJ Fall 2025
    • DRJ Spring 2025
    • DRJ Scholarship
    • Other Industry Events
    • Schedule & Archive
    • Send Your Feedback
  • WEBINARS
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • On Demand
  • MENTOR PROGRAM
  • DRJ ACADEMY
    • DRJ Academy
    • Beginner’s Guide to BC
  • RESOURCES
    • New to Business Continuity?
    • White Papers
    • DR Rules and Regs
    • Planning Groups
    • Business Resilience Decoded
    • DRJ Glossary of Business Continuity Terms
    • Careers
  • ABOUT
    • Advertise with DRJ
    • DEI
    • Board and Committees
      • Executive Council Members
      • Editorial Advisory Board
      • Career Development Committee
      • Glossary Committee
      • Rules and Regulations Committee
  • Podcast

How to stay safe when you’re a lone healthcare worker

by Jon Seals | February 19, 2020 | | 0 comments

By Karen Smith

According to Worksafe, 95% of healthcare workers suffer verbal abuse at some point in their careers, while between 8 and 38% of healthcare workers have experienced physical abuse. Patients and visitors are usually the perpetrators but they can also be family members or pets. Healthcare workers may also become targets of political violence in disaster or conflict situations and staff who are most at risk include nurses, paramedics and community health staff who offer in home patient care.

Increase in homecare

Advances in technology and medicine means more people have the option to stay home for their medical and rehabilitation needs so the number of in-home carers is growing. That means lone healthcare worker safety has never been a more important issue to ensure that workers feel safe and protected. If safety is not maintained, some skilled and professional workers may leave the industry, forcing more people into overcrowded hospitals. 

Impact of violence in the workplace

Violence against healthcare workers can have many negative impacts on a person including their motivation for the job, physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing and financial burden. Stress, depression and fear can all cause long-lasting impacts on a person’s health.

Steps to provide a safer environment for lone healthcare workers

 While it’s never completely possible to keep someone safe who is working alone, it is possible to minimise the risks. 

Here are some ways that can be taken to provide a safer environment for lone healthcare workers providing in-home care:

  1. Perform a rapid risk assessment for each new client or home

Performing a lone worker risk assessment is important before visiting a new client at their home. Here are the reasons to perform a risk assessment:

    • Understanding any known history of aggression or criminal history
    • Understanding of any substance abuse
    • Understanding of any known emotional or psychological concerns
    • Being aware of any identified hoarding /squalor issues
    • Knowing if they have pets and request they are tied up or put in a separate room
  1. Ensure your risk assessment action plan is up-to-date

Risk assessments should not only take place before meeting a new client but should be updated regularly. A risk assessment might need to be updated for example if the patient’s behaviour changes. Their changing behaviour might not necessarily be worse but it should be noted so if another healthcare worker came they would be aware of any updates.

Other times a risk assessment might need to be updated is if an accident occurs, the patient changes medication or if any harm has come to the healthcare worker or patient.

  1. Make sure the lone healthcare worker is provided with a duress alarm 

A duress alarm should be carried on a lone healthcare worker at all times to ensure their safety. An alarm can be safer than having a mobile phone because the phone might be in a handbag or somewhere that’s out of reach. It also takes time to unlock and find the right contacts to call. The speed of response can make all the difference. A duress alarm can be worn around the neck, clipped to pants or put in a pocket and be accessed instantly when help is required. 

When the button is pressed, it alerts the monitoring center who then decides what course of action is needed. If the situation is serious they will contact emergency services but if less severe the appropriate manager or staff member will be notified.

Final words

While these three steps can minimise the risks, there is no guarantee they will completely keep a lone worker safe. By keeping risk assessments up-to-date it reduces the risk to the lone worker conducting regular visits combined with a duress alarm provides the peace of mind help is on hand if required.

Bio: Karen Smith works for MePACS, a lead provider of personal alarms for seniors and duress alarms for healthcare workers. She is the Head of Sales and Marketing for the last four years and has over 20 years experience in health, technology, digital and finance industries.

Related Content

  1. Disaster Recovery Journal
    Forecast for Healthcare: Prepare for Data Breach Spike
  2. Doctors Turn to Collaboration Platforms as COVID-19 Spells the End of the Hospital Pager
  3. Outsourcing: The Answer to Healthcare IT Challenges

Recent Posts

Sentra Launches Automated DSAR Capability to Accelerate Privacy Compliance

June 10, 2025

Trane Strengthens its Comprehensive Thermal Management System Capabilities Through Expansion of Liquid Cooling Portfolio

June 10, 2025

OTAVA Moves its Headquarters to Indianapolis

June 10, 2025

Check Point Software Technologies Expands Comprehensive Cybersecurity Portfolio on Pax8 Marketplace

June 9, 2025

Patero Announces Launch of CryptoQoR Post-Quantum Cryptography Software

June 9, 2025

Aiden Now Fully Transactable in Microsoft Azure Marketplace

June 9, 2025

Archives

  • June 2025 (22)
  • May 2025 (59)
  • April 2025 (91)
  • March 2025 (57)
  • February 2025 (47)
  • January 2025 (73)
  • December 2024 (82)
  • November 2024 (41)
  • October 2024 (87)
  • September 2024 (61)
  • August 2024 (65)
  • July 2024 (48)
  • June 2024 (55)
  • May 2024 (70)
  • April 2024 (79)
  • March 2024 (65)
  • February 2024 (73)
  • January 2024 (66)
  • December 2023 (49)
  • November 2023 (80)
  • October 2023 (67)
  • September 2023 (53)
  • August 2023 (72)
  • July 2023 (45)
  • June 2023 (61)
  • May 2023 (50)
  • April 2023 (60)
  • March 2023 (69)
  • February 2023 (54)
  • January 2023 (71)
  • December 2022 (54)
  • November 2022 (59)
  • October 2022 (66)
  • September 2022 (72)
  • August 2022 (65)
  • July 2022 (66)
  • June 2022 (53)
  • May 2022 (55)
  • April 2022 (60)
  • March 2022 (65)
  • February 2022 (50)
  • January 2022 (46)
  • December 2021 (39)
  • November 2021 (38)
  • October 2021 (39)
  • September 2021 (50)
  • August 2021 (77)
  • July 2021 (63)
  • June 2021 (42)
  • May 2021 (43)
  • April 2021 (50)
  • March 2021 (60)
  • February 2021 (16)
  • January 2021 (554)
  • December 2020 (30)
  • November 2020 (35)
  • October 2020 (48)
  • September 2020 (57)
  • August 2020 (52)
  • July 2020 (40)
  • June 2020 (72)
  • May 2020 (46)
  • April 2020 (59)
  • March 2020 (46)
  • February 2020 (28)
  • January 2020 (36)
  • December 2019 (22)
  • November 2019 (11)
  • October 2019 (36)
  • September 2019 (44)
  • August 2019 (77)
  • July 2019 (117)
  • June 2019 (106)
  • May 2019 (49)
  • April 2019 (47)
  • March 2019 (24)
  • February 2019 (37)
  • January 2019 (12)
  • ARTICLES & NEWS

    • Business Continuity
    • Disaster Recovery
    • Crisis Management & Communications
    • Risk Management
    • Article Archives
    • Industry News

    THE JOURNAL

    • Digital Edition
    • Advertising & Media Kit
    • Submit an Article
    • Career Spotlight

    RESOURCES

    • White Papers
    • Rules & Regulations
    • FAQs
    • Glossary of Terms
    • Industry Groups
    • Business & Resource Directory
    • Business Resilience Decoded
    • Careers

    EVENTS

    • Fall 2025
    • Spring 2025

    WEBINARS

    • Watch Now
    • Upcoming

    CONTACT

    • Article Submission
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us

    ABOUT DRJ

    Disaster Recovery Journal is the industry’s largest resource for business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management, and risk management, reaching a global network of more than 138,000 professionals. Offering weekly webinars, the latest industry news, rules and regulations, podcasts, the industry’s only official mentoring program, a quarterly magazine, and two annual live conferences, DRJ is leading the way to keep professionals up-to-date and connected in an ever-changing world.

    LEARN MORE

    LINKEDIN AND TWITTER

    Disaster Recovery Journal is the leading publication/event covering business continuity/disaster recovery.

    Follow us for daily updates

    LinkedIn

    @drjournal

    Newsletter

    The Journal, right in your inbox.

    Be informed and stay connected by getting the latest in news, events, webinars and whitepapers on Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.

    Subscribe Now
    Copyright 2025 Disaster Recovery Journal
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy