Part 3
Sudden illnesses and medical emergencies
Sudden medical episodes – such as heart attacks, strokes, seizures, or diabetic crises – can strike any workplace, from offices to construction sites. They have become recognized as a serious workplace hazard in the past decade. In the U.S. alone, roughly 10,000 cardiac arrests occur at work each year, yet if victims must wait for emergency medical services, survival rates are only about 5–7%.
For lone workers, such emergencies are perilous. Isolation means it can take a long time for anyone to notice something is wrong and get help. This delay can turn a potentially treatable event into a tragedy, making rapid emergency response measures crucial for lone employees.
Example cases:
Isolated in the office
In a 2023 incident at a bank’s corporate office in Arizona, a 60-year-old employee died of sudden cardiac arrest at her cubicle and went unnoticed for four days. Most of her colleagues were working remotely and her desk was in a sparsely occupied area, factors which delayed discovery of her condition until a security guard finally found her body. This case underscored how modern remote/hybrid work arrangements can dangerously increase isolation during health emergencies.
Lone field worker
In 2020, a line technician was dispatched alone to clear a fallen power line on a rural road. When he stopped responding to radio calls, a supervisor drove out and discovered him slumped over the steering wheel of his truck. The worker had suffered a heart attack. Despite the supervisor’s immediate CPR and quick arrival of paramedics, the 56-year-old employee could not be revived.
Mitigation strategies:
Manage health screenings & fitness-for-duty: Pre-placement and periodic checks for safety-critical roles (drivers, operators, lone/remote). Seek medical advice before approving lone work with relevant conditions; provide accommodations (e.g., diabetes management kits, seizure-safe tasking).
Practice CPR/AED readiness: Place AEDs where people work; train multiple staff per shift; drill the “recognize → call → CPR → AED” chain. Designate first-aiders and ensure <4-minute response in life-threatening cases. Stock task-appropriate first aid (EpiPen, glucose gel).
Have emergency action plans: Clear roles (who calls, who brings AED, who guides EMS), posted numbers, routine drills. Empower workers to stop work when someone feels unwell; teach FAST (stroke) and cardiac red-flags.
Lone-worker protections: Prohibit lone working for defined high-risk tasks (e.g., high-risk sites, confined spaces) and document the exceptions. Run timed check-ins with automatic, immediate escalation when a check-in is missed. Equip workers with man-down/fall-detection wearables with GPS and panic/SOS, backed by 24/7 monitoring, and ensure reliable comms (radio/mobile/satellite) with precise location sharing.
Work design & wellness: Manage overtime; schedule rest/breaks; heat plans (acclimatization, shaded rest, water/electrolytes, work-rest cycles); encourage early reporting of symptoms without stigma.
Train & raise awareness: Recognize cardiac/stroke/heat illness signs; rehearse lone-worker emergency steps; supervisors coach on workload and fitness to work each shift.
