The majority of estate agents have had a lone worker incident in the past three years, with a fifth described as severe, fresh research shows.

A new survey of over 1,300 lone workers and health and safety executives finds that 65% of estate agents, property and facilities management have had an incident in the past three years.

The research, from lone worker solution StaySafe, shows that 17% of companies take no action after a health and safety incident and only 45% of lone workers feel that their managers have suitably addressed their safety concerns.

StaySafe says that lone worker safety concerns are being significantly under-reported, with only around a third – 36% – of lone workers surveyed having expressed their safety concerns to their employer.

However, companies seem unaware that lone workers are failing to report these concerns, it is claimed, with almost all executives at estate agents, property and facilities management companies – 92% – believing that their lone workers are speaking to them regularly about any incidents and concerns.

Don Cameron, CEO of StaySafe, commented: “The considerable under-reporting of hazards is a major concern for health and safety executives, particularly as they seem unaware that their staff aren’t having these conversations.

“Under-reporting can lead to employers under-estimating the real level of risk faced by staff on a daily basis and failing to put in the necessary protective measures to prevent accidents or incidents.”