Lone Worker Contact Details 

Ensuring Lone Worker Safety: A Contemporary Approach

In today’s ever-evolving work landscape, the safety and well-being of lone workers have gained renewed importance. Employers bear a legal duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their employees, including those who work alone. This modern approach to lone worker safety emphasizes the need for thorough risk assessment and proactive safety measures.

Employer Responsibilities:

Consultation on Health and Safety: Employers must engage in open dialogue with their employees about health and safety matters at work, recognising this as a legal duty.

Risk Assessment: Assessing risks specific to lone workers is paramount. Employers should identify potential hazards in the workplace and evaluate the associated risks.

Risk Mitigation: Steps must be taken to prevent or control risks where necessary. This includes implementing safety procedures, providing adequate training, supervision, and equipping lone workers with personal protective equipment, such as personal attack alarms, when deemed necessary.

Supervision: Regular supervision is essential for the well-being of lone workers. Supervisors should periodically visit and observe those working alone.

Communication: Ensure regular contact with lone workers by telephone to maintain their safety and well-being.

Emergency Preparedness: If a risk assessment reveals that it’s not possible for the work to be carried out safely, arrangements for providing help or backup should be established. It is the employer’s responsibility to make this decision; individuals themselves should not determine whether they require assistance.

Employee Responsibilities:

Duty of Care: Employees have a duty of care, not only for themselves but also for those affected by their work. This extends to cooperating with their employers to meet legal obligations regarding health and safety.

To assist employers in conducting risk assessments and ensuring lone worker safety, the following checklist can be referred to. It helps identify potential risks in client interactions and prompts appropriate safety measures:

Before You Go:

• Assess whether the person you are dealing with is facing high levels of stress.
• Consider if the person is likely to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Evaluate if the person has a history of violence or criminal convictions.
• Assess if the person has a history of psychiatric illness.
• Consider if the person suffers from a medical condition that may lead to a loss of self-control.
• Reflect on whether the person has verbally abused or threatened violence in the past.
• Consider if the person has attacked you in the past or perceives you as a threat.
• Assess if the person has unrealistic expectations of your capabilities.
• Reflect on whether you’ve felt anxious for your safety with this person before.
• Evaluate if other people are present who might reward the person for violence. 

When You Are There:

• Be vigilant for signs of atypical behaviour in the person.
• Check for the presence of weapons or cues to potential violence.
• Assess whether there is a breakdown in the normal pattern of communication.
• Be aware of signs of rapid mood swings in the person.
• Consider if the person is showing oversensitivity to suggestions or criticisms.
• Evaluate whether you are alone without backup.
• Ensure colleagues are aware of your whereabouts.
• Assess whether you have a means of raising the alarm if attacked.
• Consider if you might be trapped without an escape route if the person becomes violent.
• Reflect on whether you are aware of how you react in violent situations.

Incorporating these contemporary safety measures and risk assessment strategies is crucial for ensuring the well-being of lone workers in the modern workplace.