What is Lone Working?
Lone working is when someone works by themselves with no direct or close supervision. This could be an employee, self-employed person, or contractor. Lone working doesn’t just refer to people who work from home – there are many professions and industries that rely on lone workers.
Examples of lone working include:
- Drivers (delivery, lorry, and taxi drivers)
- Security staff
- People working from home
- Cleaners
- Petrol station workers
- Warehouse employees
Employers have health and safety responsibilities for lone workers within their organisation. These can differ from people onsite and vary depending on the nature of the role. Understanding and complying with relevant lone worker regulations is important to protect workers and your business.
Which laws regulate lone working?
There is no specific lone worker legislation, regulation, or law. The same laws that protect employee health and safety and place responsibilities on employers apply to lone workers. These include the:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Health & Safety Offences Act 2008
Is it a legal requirement for staff to have a lone working risk assessment?
Conducting a risk assessment for lone working is the responsibility of employers. There’s a legal duty for employers to assess all health and safety risks for their employees, which includes lone workers. Therefore, a risk assessment for lone working is a requirement under health and safety legislation.
The type of lone working affects whether an individual risk assessment is legally required. Many businesses can create a risk assessment that covers home working without the need to physically visit the home. However, for the likes of cleaners who work alone they may require a specific risk assessment that covers their working environment.
It’s a legal requirement for employers to ensure their staff operate in a safe environment to reduce the risk of injury and illness. That includes ensuring their working conditions don’t make lone working a risk. Where possible the safest option is to conduct a risk assessment for lone working.
What is a lone worker risk assessment?
A lone worker risk assessment reviews any hazards and risks that anyone working alone may encounter. It reviews the risk level and puts in place control measures to reduce the chance of illness or injury and protect the lone worker. Risks to consider in a lone worker risk assessment include:
- The workplace environment
- Stress and mental health wellbeing
- Possible violence in the workplace
- A lone worker’s medical suitability
- High-risk work that requires a second person
What should you have by law if you lone work?
Lone workers must be reasonably safe with appropriate measures arranged by the employer to ensure this is the case. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations requires employers to manage any risks to lone workers. This includes training, supervising, and monitoring lone workers and responding to any incidents.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises that lone workers must be provided with support and training, in regular contact, and work-related violence must be prevented by the employer. Employees must take care of their own health and safety but should report any concerns to their employer, manager or supervisor, or a health and safety representative.
As the same regulations cover the health and safety of lone workers, you should be provided with any specific equipment and protective clothing to work safely. The requirements vary depending on the role but having everything you need to operate safely with minimal risk when working alone is vital.
How to carry out a working alone risk assessment
Carrying out a lone worker risk assessment is similar to any other risk assessment except the working environment and conditions differ. To carry out an effective working alone risk assessment you should review:
- All hazards in the working environment
- Who is at risk from possible harm or illness
- How the lone worker may be harmed
- Current processes in place to prevent injury
- Required actions to reduce risks
The easiest way to conduct a lone worker risk assessment is to use our online risk assessment software. Access a wide range of risk assessment templates, edit and adapt to your needs, and securely store them online. Enjoy a free 15-day trial and see how it can help your organisation.
For further help check out our home working risk assessment checklist.