Risks of lone working are the same whichever sector you’re in. We’re not talking specific dangers, such as falls for construction workers, or the threat of violence for those working in social care. These are broader issues which tie into any working area. We outline each risk of lone working, and how to protect against them.
1. Lack of training
Without proper training, mistakes can be made, and accidents and avoidable incidents can, and likely will, happen. Ensuring you train your lone workers on a regular basis, while informing them of company health and safety policies will help avoid them in the future.
2. Lack of security
Do you have a reliable lone working communication system in place? Depending on your sector, providing your lone worker with a phone may not be adequate. To ensure your team’s safety, a system should be able to tell when your employees have gone home and when they are in an emergency situation.
3. Health risks
When carrying out your risk assessment, take into account people are more vulnerable in your organisation. This might include someone who is pregnant or who has previous health problems.
4. Lack of resources
Often, lone workers complete tasks that are meant for more than one person. This could lead to physical or mental exhaustion, which can cause problems in themselves, or make the lone worker more vulnerable to additional risks. An example may be an HGV driver working excessively, making them more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident due to tiredness. Risk assess all lone workers ensuring that they are not exposed to more risks than other employees.
5. Perceived culture
Health and safety is not just a box ticking exercise, and its crucial your employees understand this. Being clear on your company policies could keep them from harm’s way where possible.
Find out how we can help mitigate against the risks of lone working
A lone worker solution which allows for reliable communication in an emergency situation, time at risk for check-ins, and pre-alerts to advise of things like ill-health can help manage the above risks.
Visit our lone worker solutions page to find out more about these features and the flexible monitoring options which come with them.