Safety for home care workers

2026-03-23

Home care workers work alone in service users’ homes every day – an environment with high safety demands. Lone working in home care requires specific measures, and the right technology can be critical when seconds count.

A working environment with high safety requirements

Home care workers face daily situations where they are alone, moving between different environments and meeting people in vulnerable circumstances. Safety is a critical factor – not just for the working environment, but for the quality of care itself.

Common risk situations in home care:

Lone working in the service user’s home with no colleagues nearby
Unexpected medical emergencies
Threatening or volatile encounters – read more about personal alarms in unsafe situations
Falls and injuries with no one to help
Situations where staff cannot reach their phone

Employer responsibilities

It is the employer’s duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to carry out a risk assessment for home care workers and ensure that effective procedures and technical solutions are in place. Safety at the workplace for HR managers sets out the practical requirements. Failure to meet these obligations can lead to serious legal consequences [1].

Personal alarm – a central part of the solution

In health and social care, personal alarms are used alongside procedures and training. For home care workers, a personal alarm creates faster response chains and increases safety during work.

Immediate alert – at the press of a button, an alert is sent and location is shared automatically.

Direct communication – the built-in speakerphone enables direct voice contact when an alarm is raised.

GPS positioning – employers can see staff locations in real time and quickly locate them when an alarm is triggered.

Man-down alert – if something happens and the worker cannot raise the alarm themselves, an automatic man-down alert is sent.

A personal alarm with man-down alert increases workplace safety

Sensorem’s personal alarm is designed specifically to increase safety for lone workers. The alarm has an automatic man-down alert that calls alarm recipients via the watch’s built-in speakerphone with two-way communication. The alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning.