Working Alone in Safety

8/14/2019 Working Alone in Safety

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W O R K I N G

ALONEIN SAFETYControlling the risks of solitary work



Is it legal to work alone and is it safe? The

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) isfrequently asked these questions. There is nosingle answer; it will depend on the findings ofrisk assessment but often the answer will beyes. This leaflet will help anyone who employsor engages lone workers.

The leaflet gives general guidance on workingalone. It offers advice on how to comply withduties towards lone workers under the Healthand Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act)and the Management of Health and Safety atWork (MHSW) Regulations 1999.

Employers have responsibilities for the health,safety and welfare at work of their employeesand the health and safety of those affected bythe work, eg visitors, such as contractors andself-employed people who employers mayengage. These responsibilities cannot betransferred to people who work alone. It is theemployer’s duty to assess risks to loneworkers and take steps to avoid or control risk

where necessary. Employees haveresponsibilities to take reasonable care ofthemselves and other people affected by theirwork and to co-operate with their employers inmeeting their legal obligations.

This leaflet may also help self-employedpeople who work alone themselves or engagelone workers.

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Who are lone workers and what jobs do

they do?

Lone workers are those who work bythemselves without close or direct supervision.They are found in a wide range of situations;some examples are given below.

People in fixed establishments where :

q only one person works on the premises,eg in small workshops, petrol stations,kiosks, shops and also homeworkers;

q people work separately from others, eg infactories, warehouses, some research andtraining establishments, leisure centres orfairgrounds;

q people work outside normal hours, egcleaners, security, special production,maintenance or repair staff etc.

Mobile workers working away from their fixed

base :

q on construction, plant installation,maintenance and cleaning work, electricalrepairs, lift repairs, painting and decorating,vehicle recovery etc;

q agricultural and forestry workers;

q service workers, eg rent collectors, postalstaff, social workers, home helps, district

nurses, pest control workers, drivers,engineers, architects, estate agents, salesrepresentatives and similar professionalsvisiting domestic and commercial premises.

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Can people legally work alone? Assessing

and controlling the risks

Although there is no general legal prohibitionon working alone, the broad duties of the HSWAct and MHSW Regulations still apply. Theserequire identifying hazards of the work,

assessing the risks involved, and puttingmeasures in place to avoid or control the risks.

It is important to talk to employees and theirsafety representatives as they are a valuablesource of information and advice. This willhelp to ensure that all relevant hazards havebeen identified and appropriate controlschosen; consultation with employees and theirrepresentatives on health and safety mattersis a legal duty anyway.

Control measures may include instruction,training, supervision, protective equipment etc.Employers should take steps to check thatcontrol measures are used and review the riskassessment from time to time to ensure it is

still adequate.

When risk assessment shows that it is notpossible for the work to be done safely by alone worker, arrangements for providing helpor back-up should be put in place. Where a

lone worker is working at another employer’sworkplace, that employer should inform thelone worker’s employer of any risks and thecontrol measures that should be taken. Thishelps the lone worker’s employer to assessthe risks.

Risk assessment should help decide the rightlevel of supervision. There are some high-riskactivities where at least one other person may

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need to be present. Examples include some

high-risk confined space working where asupervisor may need to be present, as well assomeone dedicated to the rescue role, andelectrical work at or near exposed liveconductors where at least two people aresometimes required.

Employers need to be aware of any specificlaw on lone working applying in their industry(examples include supervision in divingoperations, vehicles carrying explosives,fumigation work).

Sources of further information are listed at theend of the leaflet.

If you have five or more employees you mustrecord the significant findings of your riskassessment.

Further detail is now given on issues toconsider when assessing risks from loneworking.

Safe working arrangements for loneworkers

Establishing safe working for lone workers isno different from organising the safety of other

employees. Employers need to know the lawand standards which apply to their workactivities and then assess whether therequirements can be met by people workingalone.

Lone workers face particular problems. Someof the issues which need special attentionwhen planning safe working arrangements areas follows:

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Can the risks of the job be adequately

controlled by one person?

Lone workers should not be at more risk thanother employees. This may require extra risk-control measures. Precautions should takeaccount of normal work and foreseeable

emergencies, eg fire, equipment failure, illnessand accidents. Employers should identifysituations where people work alone and askquestions such as:

q Does the workplace present a special riskto the lone worker?

q Is there a safe way in and a way out forone person? Can any temporary accessequipment which is necessary, such as

portable ladders or trestles, be safelyhandled by one person?

q Can all the plant, substances and goodsinvolved in the work be safely handled byone person? Consider whether the work

involves lifting objects too large for oneperson or whether more than one personis needed to operate essential controls forthe safe running of equipment.

q Is there a risk of violence?

q Are women especially at risk if they workalone?

q Are young workers especially at risk if

they work alone?

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Is the person medically fit and suitable to work

alone?

Check that lone workers have no medicalconditions which make them unsuitable forworking alone. Seek medical advice ifnecessary. Consider both routine work and

foreseeable emergencies which may imposeadditional physical and mental burdens on theindividual.

What training is required to ensure competency in safety matters?

Training is particularly important where thereis limited supervision to control, guide andhelp in situations of uncertainty. Training maybe critical to avoid panic reactions in unusualsituations. Lone workers need to besufficiently experienced and to understand therisks and precautions fully. Employers shouldset the limits to what can and cannot be donewhile working alone. They should ensureemployees are competent to deal with

circumstances which are new, unusual orbeyond the scope of training, eg when to stopwork and seek advice from a supervisor andhow to handle aggression.

How will the person be supervised?

Although lone workers cannot be subject toconstant supervision, it is still an employer’sduty to ensure their health and safety at work.Supervision can help to ensure thatemployees understand the risks associated

with their work and that the necessary safetyprecautions are carried out. Supervisors canalso provide guidance in situations ofuncertainty. Supervision of health and safety

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can often be carried out when checking the

progress and quality of the work; it may takethe form of periodic site visits combined withdiscussions in which health and safety issuesare raised.

The extent of supervision required depends

on the risks involved and the ability of the loneworker to identify and handle health andsafety issues. Employees new to a job,undergoing training, doing a job whichpresents special risks, or dealing with newsituations may need to be accompanied atfirst. The level of supervision required is amanagement decision which should be basedon the findings of risk assessment. The higherthe risk, the greater the level of supervisionrequired. It should not be left to individuals todecide whether they require assistance.

Procedures will need to be put in place tomonitor lone workers to see they remain safe.These may include:

q

supervisors periodically visiting andobserving people working alone;

q regular contact between the lone workerand supervision using either a telephoneor radio;

q automatic warning devices which operateif specific signals are not receivedperiodically from the lone worker, egsystems for security staff;

q other devices designed to raise the alarmin the event of an emergency and whichare operated manually or automatically bythe absence of activity;

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q checks that a lone worker has returned to

their base or home on completion of a task.

What happens if a person becomes ill, has an accident, or there is an emergency?

Lone workers should be capable ofresponding correctly to emergencies. Riskassessment should identify foreseeableevents. Emergency procedures should beestablished and employees trained in them.Information about emergency procedures and

danger areas should be given to lone workerswho visit your premises. Lone workers shouldhave access to adequate first-aid facilities andmobile workers should carry a first-aid kitsuitable for treating minor injuries.Occasionally risk assessment may indicate

that lone workers need training in first aid.

Employers Liability Insurance

Under the Employers Liability (Compulsory)Insurance (ELCI) Act 1969 most employers

are required by law to insure their employeesagainst workplace injury or disease. If youemploy people who are lone workers thenthey must be included in your ELCI cover.

Further information

Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 SI1997/1713 The Stationery Office 1997ISBN 0 11 064643 6

Safe work in confined spaces. Confined

Spaces Regulations 1997. Approved Code of Practice L101 HSE Books 1997 0 7176 1405 0

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Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 SI

1989/635 The Stationery Office 1989ISBN 0 11 096635 X

Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 HSR25 HSE Books1989 ISBN 0 7176 1602 9

HSE leaflet Violence at work INDG69(rev)HSE Books 1997 (single copy free or pricedpacks of 10 ISBN 0 7176 1271 6)

Management of health and safety at work.Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Approved Code of Practice and guidance L21 (Second edition) HSEBooks 2000 ISBN 07176 2488 9

HSE leaflet 5 steps to risk assessment INDG163(rev1) HSE Books 1998 (single copyfree or priced packs of 10 ISBN 0 7176 1565 0)

Employers Liability (Compulsory) Insurance Ac t 19 6 9 : A guide for employers HSE40 HSE

Books 2002

The future availablity and accuracy of thereferences listed in this publication cannot beguaranteed.

Additional information and advice is availablefrom your local HSE Office and EmploymentMedical Advisory Service, your tradeassociation or employers’ organisation, tradeunions and some charities, eg The SuzyLamplugh Trust (a national charity for

personal safety) in London. Their phonenumbers are in the telephone book.

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HSE priced and free publications are available

by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999,Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WATel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk (HSE pricedpublications are also available frombookshops and free leaflets can be

downloaded from HSE’s website:www.hse.gov.uk.)

For information about health and safety ringHSE’s Infoline Tel: 08701 545500Fax: 02920 859260 e-mail:[email protected] or writeto HSE Information Services, CaerphillyBusiness Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

This leaflet is available in priced packs of 15from HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 1507 3. Singlefree copies are also available from HSEBooks.

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This leaflet contains notes on goodpractice which are not compulsory but

which you may find helpful inconsidering what you need to do.



© Crown copyright This publication may be freely

reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or

commercial purposes. First published 3/98. Pleaseacknowledge the source as HSE.

Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive

INDG73(rev) C400 Reprinted 1/05

Documents

Working Alone in Safety