Published: November 7th, 2024
Help is at hand to keep people who work alone safe.
The Health and Safety Executive says lone workers can be at greater risk of harm at work as they may not have anyone to help or support them if things go wrong.
Now the HSE has produced a leaflet and video giving useful advice and tips for anyone who works alone – or those who employ them.
The HSE says: “A lone worker is someone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision and they exist in all sectors.
“Establishing a healthy and safe working environment for lone workers can be different from organising the health and safety of other workers. Some things to consider in ensuring lone workers are not put at risk include:
- assessing areas of risk including violence, manual handling, the medical suitability of the individual to work alone and whether the workplace itself presents a risk to them
- requirements for training, levels of experience and how best to monitor and supervise them
- having systems in place to keep in touch with them and respond to any incident
“Employees and some self-employed workers also have responsibilities to take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work activities and to co-operate with their employers in meeting their legal obligations.”
Details of how to manage risk, dealing with the working environment, coping with the mental health issues of working alone, training, supervision and a host of other factors are covered in the HSE leaflet Protecting lone workers: How to manage the risks of working alone.
The leaflet is supported by the HSE’s lone working guidance pages which includes advice aimed at lone workers themselves and there is also a lone workers video setting out the key advice.
