Lone Worker Training

The UK Government Health & Safety Executive (HSE) defines a Lone Worker as:

Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision, for example:

In fixed establishments:

• A person working alone in a small workshop, petrol station, kiosk or shop
• People who work from home other than in low-risk, office-type work
• People working alone for long periods, e.g. in factories, warehouses, leisure centres or fairgrounds
• People working on their own outside normal hours, e.g. cleaners and security, maintenance or repair staff
  

As mobile workers working away from their fixed base:

• Workers involved in construction, maintenance and repair, plant installation and cleaning work
• Agricultural and forestry workers
• Service workers, including postal staff, social and medical workers, engineers, estate agents, and sales or service representatives visiting domestic and commercial premises

Why is training particularly important for lone workers?

Training is particularly important where there is limited supervision to control, guide and help in uncertain situations.
Training may also be crucial in enabling people to cope in unexpected circumstances and with potential exposure to violence and aggression.

Lone workers are unable to ask more experienced colleagues for help, so extra training may be appropriate. They need to be sufficiently experienced and fully understand the risks and precautions involved in their work and the location that they work in.
Employers should set the limits to what can and cannot be done while working alone. They should ensure workers are competent to deal with the requirements of the job and are able to recognise when to seek advice from elsewhere.

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For more information, or to book a Lone Worker Training Seminar, please contact us on 01279 419427, or email from our contact page.