Employer Responsibilities for Managing Lone Working Risks

As an employer, you are legally required to manage all health and safety risks before allowing anyone to work alone. This responsibility applies to all individuals working for you, including those who are self-employed.

What Is a Lone Worker?

A lone worker is anyone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision. Examples include:

• Delivery drivers, health workers, or engineers
• Security staff or cleaners
• Warehouse or petrol station operatives
• Employees working from home

Managing the Risks of Working Alone

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must assess and manage the risks associated with lone working.

Conducting a Lone Working Risk Assessment

A thorough risk assessment should identify:

• Who will be working alone
• The hazards they may face
• Control measures to reduce or eliminate those risks

Employer Duties

Employers must:

• Train, supervise, and monitor lone workers
• Maintain regular communication and respond promptly to any incidents

Common Risks for Lone Workers

Lone workers face unique risks, including:

• Workplace violence or abuse
• Stress, mental health, or wellbeing concerns
• Medical conditions that may affect their ability to work alone
• Working in isolated or hazardous locations

High-Risk Activities That Require Assistance

Certain tasks are too dangerous to perform alone. These include:

• Working in confined spaces (requiring a supervisor and rescue support)
• Working near exposed live electrical conductors
• Diving operations
• Operating vehicles carrying explosives
• Conducting fumigation work

Home Working Health and Safety

Employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for those based on-site and the same liability for accident or injury as for any other workers.. This includes:

• Providing adequate supervision, information, and training
• Implementing appropriate control measures to protect homeworkers from risks

Managing the Risk of Violence

Although lone working doesn’t always increase the risk of violence, it can make workers more vulnerable due to the lack of nearby support. The lack of nearby support makes it harder for them to prevent an incident.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), violence is defined as “any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work”, including verbal abuse.

Common Workplace Violence Risks

• Working late at night or early in the morning , when fewer workers are around
• Enforcing rules (e.g., security or enforcement roles)
• Dealing with individuals affected by alcohol or drugs
• Handling money or valuable equipment

Stress, Mental Health, and Wellbeing

Lone working can lead to work-related stress and negatively affect mental health. Being isolated from managers and colleagues can reduce access to support.

Employers should:

• Implement procedures for regular contact and welfare checks
• Enable managers to spot early signs of stress
• Encourage communication to prevent workers feeling isolated or abandoned

Poor communication and lack of supervision can lead to reduced performance and higher stress levels.

Working Alone with a Pre-Existing Medical Condition

If there are any doubts about an employee’s medical fitness to work alone, employers must seek medical advice.

As an Employer should consider both routine duties and potential emergencies that could place additional physical or mental strain on the lone worker.

First Aid and Emergency Procedures

Employers must ensure appropriate emergency arrangements are in place and that lone workers are trained to use them.

Risk assessments may show that lone workers need to:

• Carry first aid kits
• Receive first aid training, including self-treatment
• Have access to suitable first aid facilities

Emergency procedures should clearly outline:

• How and when lone workers should contact their employer
• Relevant emergency contact numbers

Training for Lone Workers

Because lone workers have limited access to immediate help, training is essential. They must understand:

• The specific risks involved in their work
• How to control and respond to those risks

Training is especially important where:

• Where there is limited supervision to control, guide and help in uncertain situations
• Workers may face unpredictable or violent situations

Supervision Levels

The level of supervision required depends on:

• The findings of your risk assessment
• The risk level of the work
• The worker’s competence in identifying and managing health and safety issues

Higher-risk work requires closer supervision.

Monitoring and Maintaining Contact

As an Employer, you must monitor your lone workers and keep in regular contact with them. You should make sure they understand any monitoring system and procedures you use. These may include:

• When supervisors should visit and observe lone workers
• Knowing where lone workers are, with pre-agreed intervals of regular contact, using phones, radios, email etc.
• Other devices for raising the alarm, operated manually or automatically
• A reliable system to ensure a lone worker has returned to their base once they have completed their task

You should regularly test these systems and all emergency procedures to ensure lone workers can be contacted if a problem or emergency is identified.

Key Takeaway

Lone working can be safe and productive if risks are properly managed. Employers have a duty to protect all workers — whether on-site, on the road, or at home — through effective risk assessment, training, communication, and supervision.

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