Lone working

An organisation that has people who work on their own without close or direct supervision should have policies and procedures in place to ensure they and those they work for are kept safe from harm. 

Lone workers may be paid employees or volunteers, and may work alone within premises of an organisation or when operating on its behalf externally e.g. carry out pastoral visits in people’s homes.

The organisation is responsible for assessing the risks to lone workers and taking steps to avoid or control the risks where necessary. Employees and volunteers have responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves and others in lone working situations. 

Lone working is not inherently unsafe. Taking precautions can reduce the risks associated with working alone. 

Before permission to work alone is given there are some things that SHOULD be considered: 

• Assessing areas of risk: this may include risk of violence, physical work such as manual handling, the medical suitability of the person to work alone and whether the context itself presents a risk to them. 
• A full safer recruitment process must be followed. 
• The level of experience of the individual and any training needs. 
• How the worker will be supported and what processes are in place for transparency and accountability. 
• Ways to communicate regularly and in an emergency.

Things to consider 

You could consider having a set time when the worker makes contact with either the supervisor or another designated person. If the worker does not report in as expected, an agreed plan should be put into practice, initially to check on the situation and then to respond as appropriate. 

You should involve workers in identifying any potential risks and ways to manage them. 

You should consider what happens if the lone worker becomes unwell, has an accident or there is an emergency. Your assessment of the risks should include identifying possible events, not just what happens on a typical shift or in ideal circumstances. Emergency procedures should be put in place and workers trained in them.  

You may want to consider issuing the worker with a personal alarm, a first aid kit or providing first aid training.