Rebranding Safety with Serese Selanders – Keeping Lone Workers Safe. Who is at risk?

Overview

When you hear “lone worker”, you might picture someone in a hard hat, miles from anyone, fixing power lines or driving long distances. But lone working is changing—and fast. In fact, you might be a lone worker and not even realise it.

In this blog, you’ll learn how safety expert James McPherson and Charise from SolusGuard explore the hidden risks of lone working in jobs like politics, journalism, and social care. You’ll also discover how smart tech can help you stay safe, even when you’re not really “alone”.

Rebranding Safety with Serese Selanders – Keeping Lone Workers Safe. Who is at risk?

What Is Lone Working?

You may think lone working only happens in trades like construction or utilities. However, Charise, CEO of safety tech company SolusGuard, has a different view.

Lone working is any time you’re doing your job without direct help nearby. That could mean:

• Visiting someone’s home alone
• Meeting strangers in public as part of your job
• Working in remote areas with no team around
• Being in a crowded place, but still responsible for your own safety

You could be a nurse, estate agent, politician, or even a journalist. If you’re out on your own, facing people or environments without backup, you’re a lone worker.

And that means you’re at risk.

From Family Care to Workplace Safety

Charise never planned to start a safety tech company. Nevertheless, when her parents needed help, she looked for ways to keep them safe at home. All she found were clunky, ugly emergency alert buttons.

Her dad refused to wear them, and honestly, would you?

That’s when she had an idea to design better-looking, smarter devices that people want to wear. What started as a product for older adults grew into SolusGuard, which now helps employers protect lone workers around the world.

Looks Matter More Than You Think

Most safety gear isn’t exactly stylish. But Charise learned that how a safety device looks can change how people feel.

Would you wear a giant plastic button that screams, “I need help”?

That’s why SolusGuard focused on making wearables that are discreet and professional. It’s something you’d feel okay wearing to a meeting, on a job site, or while talking to a stranger.

It turns out, design matters. Especially in jobs where showing a panic button might make things worse.

Lone Working Where You Least Expect It

You probably don’t think of politicians as lone workers. Nevertheless, they’re out in public, constantly meeting people, often without security. In the UK, two Members of Parliament have tragically lost their lives while doing their jobs.

What about journalists?
They get sent to places most people avoid, such as storms, protests, and crime scenes, all to report the truth. However, who’s keeping them safe?

Then there are nurses, social workers, estate agents, and even teachers. Many of these professionals are alone with strangers, behind closed doors.

Even if you’re surrounded by people, you can still be a lone worker if there’s no one to help when something goes wrong.

Why This Matters for You

If you’re a worker or employer, it’s time to stop asking, “Are they alone?”
Instead, ask: “Are they at risk?”

You need to think beyond job titles. Instead, look at situations:

• Is this person walking into an unpredictable environment?
• Could a simple meeting turn into a serious problem?
• If something did go wrong, how quickly could they get help?

That’s what SolusGuard focuses on. They give people an easy, discreet way to call for help before small problems turn into big emergencies.

Smart Safety Is for More Than Emergencies

The best safety tools help prevent problems.

SolusGuard includes tools such as:

• Check-in systems
• Satellite tracking in remote areas
• Custom panic buttons that work with smartphones

They’re built to be easy for anyone to use, even people who aren’t tech-savvy.

Lone Working Is a Growing Issue

Violence and tension are rising in many places. People are more stressed, more divided, and sometimes quicker to act out. From hospitals to news studios, you may face risks that weren’t there five years ago.

How do you prepare?

• Start with honest conversations about risk
• Think wider, beyond the job title
• Give your team the tools they need to feel safe and respond quickly
• Choose gear they’ll actually wear

If it looks bad or feels awkward, they won’t wear it. And then it won’t help.

Final Thoughts

At Risk Fluent, we believe in helping businesses move beyond box-ticking safety. That means looking at new risks in new places and having real conversations about what your team faces daily.

Ask yourself:

• Who in your team could be at risk, even if they don’t look like a “typical” lone worker?
• Do they have what they need to stay safe?

If not, now’s the time to start.

Want to Learn More?

Check out SolusGuard to see how modern safety tech is helping workers around the world.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Rebranding Safety for more deep dives into the future of health and safety without the boring bits.

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