Lone Working
Posted on 30th January 2023 at 16:28
The HSE website defines lone workers as those working by themselves without any immediate or direct supervision, such as health workers, engineers, people working alone in an office and those who work at home.
Those who work alone are at greater risk of harm than with other people such as supervisors and fellow operatives, who would be able to prevent or reduce the severity of potential hazards in the workplace. Workers visiting a residential property could also be at threat of any risks when working alone, due to the presence of unknown people which could potentially present issues.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations require that the risks towards lone workers are considered.
Violence within property is one such risk, which would include verbal threats and physical violence; a factor in this could be the people in the area being affected by drugs and alcohol. This can occur in the late or early hours of the day with fewer workers around. Trespassers could also appear on the property, which could also lead to equipment being stolen and harm to the residents. Identifying and reporting incidents and training in personal safety or violence prevention must be supplied, as they allow workers to identify situations to know when they’re at risk and use learned techniques.
Physical and mental stress can be aggravated by violence and from isolation due to the worker’s lack of contact with fellow workers. Stress can severely affect performance and lead to accidents. Staying in touch with managers and colleagues by mobile or emails can relieve stress levels. If the worker has a medical condition, then emergency procedures should be considered, especially operating first aid emergencies.
High-risk work should especially be considered, as there may be risks from confined spaces, electricity amongst other hazards whilst the worker is lone working. Consideration must be given to how work may affect workers and residents. Additional training can be provided to ensure that workers know what to do and consider for their own and residents’ safety when operating alone. Supervision can depend on the risk level of the work and the operative’s ability to identify risks.
What Can We Learn From This? – Toolbox Talk Details
• The safety of the workers and residents must be considered when working in a property
• Residents could present hazards in the form of violence or being under the influence
• Lone workers’ stress levels must be managed at all times
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