Lone workers are those who work without close or direct supervision. These may be:

• People in fixed establishments where only one person works on the premises e.g. in small workshops, kiosks, shops and home workers.
• Someone who is the last one to leave a premise at night and who may be on their own.
• People who work separately from others in shops, warehouses, leisure centres etc.
• People who work outside normal hours as cleaners, security, night shift workers, maintenance and repair staff.
• People who work away from their normal place of work.
• Maintenance and cleaning work, electrical repairs, lift work, painting and decorating, vehicle recovery.

Other workers who collect rents, postal workers, home helps, community nursing staff, pest control workers, drivers, engineers, estate agents, sales representatives and similar professionals visiting domestic and commercial premises.

Pre employment health check

You should ensure that lone workers do not have any medical condition that would make them unsuitable for working alone, seek medical advice if necessary.

Training and supervision
 
Training is particularly important where there is limited supervision.

• Lone workers need to be sufficiently experienced to fully understand the risks and precautions required.
• Employers should set limits of what may and may not be done whilst working alone.
• Lone workers should be competent to deal with unusual or new circumstances beyond their training, and know when to stop and seek advice.

The extent of supervision depends on the risk and the ability of the lone worker to identify and handle health and safety issues. Employees new to a job may need to be accompanied until competencies are achieved. Supervisors may periodically visit to observe the work being done.

• There should be regular contact by radio or mobile phone.
• Automatic warnings should be activated if specific signals are not received at base. Other warnings designed to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency should be devised.
• Check that the lone worker has returned to base or home on completion of the work.

Further information

Further information about Lone Working can be found at the following Webpage link:  HSE - Lone Working 

Further information on Controlling the Risks of Solitary Work (INDG73) can be down loaded from the following Web Link: HSE Publication - INDG73

Further information about Violence at Work (INDG69) can be down loaded from the following Web Link: HSE Publication - INDG69