1. Introduction
Increasingly staff are required to spend time working on their own. This can bring with it particular hazards and challenges to employers in meeting their duties of care through such as monitoring and supervision. Examples of lone working situations requiring attention include:
- working in small workshops or other premises
- temporarily working away from other colleagues
- working outside normal hours or locations
- repairs and maintenance, cleaning
- inspecting or surveying
These situations can arise in a very wide range of premises and urban or rural locations.
There are some situations where lone working cannot be safely carried out, including higher-risk confined space working, electrical work near exposed live conductors, and diving.
2. Nature of the Hazards
Working alone can heighten risks from hazards such as personal assault.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
The broad general duties to manage and assess risks apply.
4. Risk Assessment
Employers must apply conventional risk assessment approaches to lone working situations but must consider in particular:
- whether the planned tasks can be safely carried out by one person. This will include manual handling, use of equipment and tools, access and egress from the workplace.
- the effect on risk of the absence of availability of assistance from colleagues
- absence of direct supervision
- effectiveness of communications including raising calls for assistance in the event of emergencies and the ability to respond adequately
- possible enhanced risks to women and young people
5. Control Measures
Communications technologies can provide voice communications via satellite links where there is no mobile phone coverage. Regular reporting-in arrangements are commonly used for peripatetic workers. Proprietary alarm systems are also available for lone workers in water environments where there are risks of immersion.
Lone workers may need higher levels of training and competence to carry out tasks normally undertaken by more than one person.
It is important that employers set clear limits as to what lone workers can and cannot do.
6. Further Information
Working alone in Safety: Controlling the risks of solitary work. INDG73. Free from HSE website.
Violence at Work. INDG69. Free from HSE website.
This information is copyright of the BMF July 2009 and must not be re-published