Panic buttons for hotel workers are now mandatory in the state of New Jersey. The law, signed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, goes into effect in January 2020 and is applicable to hotels with 100 rooms or more. The legislation was spurred by an incident at Bally’s casino in Atlantic City, where a room cleaner was sexually assaulted by a guest.
If you are an employer in Canada, lone worker safety is not only a consideration that every business owner must make, it’s a legal requirement.
Employees who work alone in potentially unpredictable situations face a unique set of risks. They don’t have colleagues present to offer help. Their location may remain unknown. And there may be no witnesses to observe what occurred during an incident. Having proper safety protocols and tools becomes even more critical for these lone workers. While there are a number of options available on the market, not all safety products work as effectively as they should. When choosing a lone worker safety device, make sure that it has the following six capabilities:
For businesses, worker safety comes from having the right tools, plan, and strategy to minimize risk and to respond to emergencies. It starts with doing all you can to reduce exposure to hazards, but you can’t control everything in unpredictable situations. So it’s crucial that you have a solid protocol in place to help your workers get out of emergency situations as safely as possible — especially when they work alone. While there is no cookie cutter approach to lone worker safety, as every business has its own unique set of needs, there are 6 fundamental steps that every safety plan should have.
Many jobs come with inherent risks. Whether you have employees who work alone, travel, or are generally in unpredictable situations, your business is responsible for maintaining the safety of your workers—no matter what may happen. Even the best laid plans can take an unexpected turn, so taking protective measures is not just a best practice, it is a legal obligation. The exact requirements vary among Canadian provinces and U.S. states, but many have legal standards to hold businesses accountable for employee safety. Failure to meet these standards makes your business susceptible to everything from fines and bad press to lawsuits.