Lone Worker Protection
What is lone working & lone working risks?
There are a variety of risks associated with lone working which range from industry to industry. It is crucial you are aware of these risks and have the right solutions in place to mitigate them. A lone worker policy will help you to understand these risks.
Your guide to lone working.
Lone working refers to situations where individuals perform their job duties in isolation from others and without direct supervision or close contact with colleagues. It often spans various industries, encompassing roles such as healthcare professionals, remote field workers, security personnel, delivery drivers and now more increasingly remote or hybrid workers.
Understanding lone working is essential because it comes with unique challenges and risks, that are different from those in more traditional team-based roles. In this deep dive, we will explore what lone working is, the different types of lone workers and lone worker risks and most importantly how you can improve the safety and wellbeing of your employees. Whether you’re completely new to the idea of lone working or already have a lone worker solution implemented, this guide is here to help you navigate the world of lone working.
What is a lone worker?
The HSE defines a lone worker as “those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision”, therefore encompassing millions of workers in a range of roles from a full spectrum of industries. As there continues to be rapid advances in smartphone apps and other technology improving communication, enabling more industries to conduct business remotely, the number of people whose jobs involve being alone at work is only going to rise.
There is an estimated 6.8 million people working alone in the UK. Internationally, this figure is much higher and is expected to rise as the continued change in working habits forces more remote working.
It is a common myth to think that the term ‘lone worker’ simply refers to people who work completely alone. Although thousands of people do indeed fall into this category, the term ‘lone worker’ actually refers to a much broader spectrum of people – including anyone who works remotely or feels vulnerable in their work – many of them whom probably don’t even know that they are lone workers.
See our what is the definition of a lone worker blog post which explores this in more detail.
Lone workers exist across many industries.
Lone workers span a wide range of industries, which often presents employers with the challenge of protecting their employees against a variety of different risks. From public facing roles in healthcare and retail, to roles that take place in more isolated environments such as factories or remote and hybrid working, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of lone workers is critical.
Lone workers come from diverse industries and roles.
- Window cleaners scaling heights to work on a large building.
- Cleaners working alone in large office premises before or after normal working hours.
- Social workers visiting patients in unfamiliar homes or environments.
- Nurses and healthcare professionals managing the chaos of a busy A&E department.
- Scientists and laboratory workers working alone in secure labs surrounded by chemical hazards.
- Farmers and workers in agricultural roles, working in remote or outdoor areas with livestock and farming machinery.
- Delivery drivers and truck drivers transporting valuable cargo across the country.
- Fully remote or hybrid workers working alone for long periods of time.
- Factory workers and workers in industrial environments handling and moving heavy equipment.
- Retail workers travelling home after a late shift.
- Warehouse supervisors locking up at the end of the day.
What you need to know.
Whether you are getting started with lone working or already have measures in place to protect your lone workers, it’s important to understand the regulations surrounding lone working and your duty of care as an employer.
Employers have a legal duty to carry out risk assessments for any work-related activities that present a risk to personal safety, including lone working. Read our blog post on lone worker regulations to find out more.
Is lone working legal?
Working alone is legal, however current health and safety legislation requires that organisations conduct thorough risk assessments and take steps to protect their lone workers.
Read our blog post 5 facts you need to know about lone working for more details.
Your duty of care.
Want to know what your responsibilities are as a lone worker employer?
Read our blog post to find out what your responsibilities are as an employer to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of your employees.
Have you got a lone worker policy?
Lone workers are under increased threats from certain risks associated with their particular job. A lone worker policy helps your business assess these risks. Our document contains useful resources and guidance on how to create your own lone working policy as well as a written template.
The risks of working alone.
Working alone presents a number of risks and challenges. A huge number of jobs can require people to be left alone and isolated, while many of the hazards that lone workers face are similar to those faced by other workers, the risks involved may be greater because the worker is on their own.
From physical hazards in the working environment to attacks, verbal abuse and violence against lone workers, it’s important to understand and be aware of potential risks so that safety measures can be implemented to reduce the likelihood of incidents.
Physical attacks and violence.
The reality of attacks on lone workers is a reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by those who work in isolation. Understanding these risks and advocating for better safety measures, can create safer environments for lone workers.
Statistics from the British Crime Survey indicate that as many as 150 lone workers are attacked, both physically and verbally, every day. The victims of attacks are varied and take place across a number of industries and job roles where people can be found working alone. Figures from the TUC show that in retail alone, for example, 20,000 shop workers are attacked each year and an even greater number are exposed to threats of violence and verbal abuse.
Read our blog post how many lone workers are attacked everyday to find out more.
The different risks lone workers face.
Understanding the types of risks associated with lone working is crucial for ensuring safety, mitigating potential hazards and effectively preparing for emergency situations.
Read our blog post on 10 types of lone worker risk explained to discover the different types of lone worker risks that are present in lone working environments.
Lone worker risk assessments.
Understand how risk assessments can help identify common lone worker risks and vital precautions that can be taken to provide a safer working environment.
Annual data released recently by the HSE has revealed a slight increase in workplace fatalities over the past two years, rising from 136 to 144. While the average of fatalities to 100,000 workers equalled 0.42 overall, industry averages – including in agriculture, waste and recycling, construction and manufacturing – rose to 7.73.
Protecting lone workers.
Protecting lone workers is paramount to ensuring their safety and wellbeing. With an increasing number of individuals working alone, it’s more important than ever that measures are put in place to prevent incidents. However, as you may already know, there are instances where not all accidents can be prevented or foreseen.
Therefore, it’s vital that lone workers always have an easy and convenient way to call for help in emergencies. See here for comprehensive insights and practical strategies to safeguard lone workers.
How to protect lone workers.
Read our blog post on enhancing safety with lone worker solutions.
Remote and hybrid workers.
Share essential tips and tricks to work safely when remote or hybrid working with your lone workers.
Have you got a lone worker policy in place?
Please call us now on 0330 999 8484 to speak to one of our lone worker protection specialists. Alternatively you can visit our contact page for more information.
Lone Workers are under increased threats from certain risks associated with their particular job. A Lone Worker Policy helps the business to:
- Assess any health and safety risks to an employee which can be relevant to a number of different situations in the workplace.
- The assessment is essentially in the form of a risk assessment and can help decide whether the employee requires a lone worker device or something similar.
- You can request a copy of a lone working policy template by entering your details in the request form here. The document contains useful resources and advice including guidance on how to create your own lone working policy as well as a written template.
It's time to talk about lone working.
For more information on lone working or lone worker protection, please browse through our other sections, if you are still not sure feel free to ask us a question.