Lone workers work alone without supervision. Anyone who works alone is classified as a “lone worker”, including self-employed individuals, contractors and employees.
Included in the category of lone workers are:
- People who work in fixed establishments with only one employee, such as small workshops, kiosks and petrol stations.
- Factory workers, warehouse staff, research and education premises and some leisure facilities.
- People who work outside of normal working hours. cleaners, security, special production, maintenance or repair staff, etc.
- People who work away from their permanent base. Construction, plant installation, cleaning and maintenance work, electrical repairs and lift repairs, painting, decorating, vehicle recovery etc.
- Workers in agriculture and forestry.
- Service workers, e.g. Rent collectors, postal workers, social workers and home helpers, district nurses and pest control workers.
To what hazards could lone workers possibly be exposed?
The following are some of the hazards that lone workers can encounter:
- Accidents or emergencies that arise from the workplace, including inadequate first aid provision
- sudden illnesses
- Inadequate provision of rest, hygienic and welfare facilities
- Physical violence by members of the general public or intruders
What controls could you implement to reduce the risk of lone workers?
Risk assessment should include control measures that will be implemented to reduce/eliminate the identified risks. Control measures can include:
- Communication is essential: Mobile phone, radio or telephone. For a Multi Network Data Sim, contact lister-communications.co.uk
- Controlled periodic checks
- Panic alarms
- Instruction and training on proper procedures. Code words are used to communicate potentially violent situations using mobile phones.
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment
- Health surveillance
- First-aid kits, training and more.