Mark O’Connell, General Manager, EMEA/APAC, Globalstar and John Knowles, Head of Product, Peoplesafe explores the risks that lone workers face and how satellite handheld devices can improve communication and safety.
Across Europe, organisations in utilities, energy, oil and gas, construction, forestry and agriculture are facing a growing challenge: Keeping lone and remote workers safe.
From a technician inspecting power lines in rural France to a surveyor on a wind farm in the North Sea or a forestry worker in Scandinavia, these individuals often operate far from colleagues and well beyond the limits of reliable GSM coverage.
For health, safety and security leaders, this creates a critical risk profile.
Traditional mobile phones, even ruggedized models, are only as effective as the networks they depend on. In many parts of Europe, there are significant cellular ‘blind spots,’ such as rural dead zones, mountainous regions and offshore environments, where coverage is poor or nonexistent.
This is where satellite handheld devices are rising to the forefront of workforce safety strategies. They provide a lifeline where GSM networks fail, ensuring that lone workers remain visible, reachable and protected.
Despite Europe’s advanced telecoms infrastructure, cellular coverage is not universal. For industries that depend on field-based operations in precisely these locations, connectivity gaps are not just inconvenient; they are dangerous.
The result: Safety blind spots. Workers may be isolated, unable to raise an alarm, check in or receive critical instructions when incidents occur.
The concept of lone worker protection has been steadily gaining traction across Europe. Regulations in many countries require employers to assess risks for employees working alone and to provide adequate means of communication and protection.
Health and safety leaders now recognise that communication systems are not just productivity tools; they are essential safety infrastructure. Employers have a duty of care to ensure that lone workers can:
While GSM-based lone worker solutions exist, they fail in areas without coverage.
This makes satellite handheld devices a necessary complement, ensuring that workers remain connected everywhere, not just most places.
Satellite handheld devices, like Globalstar’s SPOT solutions, provide a direct link to orbiting satellites rather than relying on terrestrial towers.
This gives organisations:
For safety leaders, the value proposition is clear: Satellite handhelds transform lone worker communications from ‘best effort’ to mission assured.
Globalstar’s SPOT handheld devices have been adopted by individuals and enterprises worldwide for more than a decade, with 10,000+ documented rescues.
For European industries, SPOT brings three clear advantages:
1. Robustness in harsh environments
SPOT devices are designed to withstand the conditions that lone workers face every day: Dust, rain, snow, vibration and extreme temperatures. They are tested for field use in construction zones, offshore sites and forests, ensuring performance when it matters most.
2. Long battery life
In remote environments, charging opportunities are limited. SPOT devices are engineered for extended battery performance, enabling workers to operate for days or weeks without recharging. This makes them practical for forestry, agriculture and energy field crews who spend extended time away from infrastructure.
3. Affordability and accessibility
Historically, satellite handhelds were expensive and difficult to justify outside of military or high-value use cases. SPOT changes that equation. Its affordability allows organisations to equip not just a few workers, but entire teams, ensuring that connectivity is democratised across the workforce.
Combined, these attributes make SPOT a fit-for-purpose solution for organisations balancing cost control with safety obligations.
The true value of satellite handhelds came into focus when applied to real-world scenarios.
From powerline technicians in rural areas to forestry crews deep in the woods, workers in multiple sectors face fatal risks when operating outside the reach of GSM coverage.
By equipping these teams with SPOT devices, organisations ensure that safety protocols don’t end where cellular networks stop.
The following examples illustrate how satellite handheld devices provide critical connectivity across key industries:
Lone worker safety is no longer optional. Regulators, unions and industry standards are raising expectations for organisations to provide robust protections for employees who operate in isolation.
GSM-based solutions remain part of the picture, but their limitations in rural and remote environments create unacceptable risks.
Satellite handheld devices, specifically Globalstar’s SPOT solutions, close these gaps.
With always-on coverage, long battery life, rugged design and affordability, they offer health and safety leaders a proven, scalable way to safeguard their most important asset: Their people.
For organisations across Europe’s utilities, energy, oil and gas, agriculture, forestry, construction and public sectors, SPOT provides not just peace of mind, but life-saving connectivity.
This article was originally published in the December edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, clickhere.
