Lone work is more common than many think. From delivery drivers to cleaners, it covers anyone who works without direct supervision or alongside others. That could mean working alone in an office, driving long distances, or making home visits. It’s not just about being physically alone. It’s about being without help close by when something goes wrong.
Some lone workers are out in the field. Others work at night when everyone else has gone. Some are in remote areas. Others are just a floor away from help but still out of sight and out of mind. The risks? They’re real. And if employers ignore them, things can go very wrong.
Examples of Lone Work
Lone work happens in all kinds of roles. Take these:
- Security guards on night shifts
- Cleaners in empty buildings
- Carers doing home visits
- Delivery drivers on long routes
- Maintenance staff fixing problems off-site
- Retail staff opening or closing stores alone
All of these roles involve some level of risk. No colleague nearby. No manager checking in. Just the person, the job and the risks around them.
Where Does Lone Working Happen?
Lone work isn’t tied to a specific location. It happens anywhere a person works alone for any length of time. In warehouses, care homes, shops, schools, even construction sites.
Some lone workers are mobile. Others stay put in one place. Some work in high-risk areas. Others work from home but still count as lone workers. What matters is how isolated they are from help if something goes wrong.
Even workers in busy places can be lone workers if they’re out of earshot or can’t get help fast. A shop assistant on a quiet shift. A delivery driver in a rural spot. A lab technician working late. They all need protection.
Legal Duties for Lone Workers
The law is clear. Employers must keep their staff safe. That includes lone workers. Just because someone is working alone doesn’t mean the risks go away. If anything, they increase.
Employers have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They need to assess risks. Put control measures in place. Check that staff are trained and supported. Lone workers need special attention because they face challenges others don’t.
Employer Responsibilities Under UK Law
Employers must:
- Carry out risk assessments
- Make sure the work is safe to do alone
- Give the right equipment and support
- Train workers for the job
- Keep in touch with them while they work
Ignoring lone workers is not an option. If something happens and there’s no plan in place, the consequences can be serious. Legal action. Injuries. Even deaths.
Lone Worker Risk Assessments
A proper lone worker risk assessment is not a tick-box exercise. It’s a key step. It looks at where and when lone work happens, what can go wrong, and how to deal with it.
It should ask:
- What are the tasks involved?
- Where will the work take place?
- What risks are made worse by working alone?
- What support or backup is available?
Once risks are known, employers can start reducing them. It might mean changes in the way work is done. It might mean using tech or check-in systems. It always means making lone worker safety a real priority.
Key Health & Safety Risks for Lone Workers
Lone workers face more than just boredom or silence. The risks are serious. No quick help. No second opinion. No one to spot the warning signs. That’s why safety matters more when someone works alone.
Violence and Aggression
Some face the public. Others enter private homes. Either way, things can turn fast. Verbal abuse. Threats. Physical attacks. Lone workers in roles like care, security or delivery are often easy targets.
Medical Emergencies
A sudden collapse. A fall. Chest pain. Anything can happen. With no one nearby, every second counts. Lone workers need ways to raise the alarm quickly, even if they can’t speak.
Slips, Trips and Falls
Wet floors. Uneven ground. Loose wires. Small hazards turn big when no one’s around. A fall that’s minor in a group setting can become life-threatening in a lone work scenario.
Manual Handling Injuries
Lifting boxes. Moving stock. Carrying tools. Without help, the strain builds. Muscles tear. Backs give out. No one there to share the load or notice early signs of injury.
Mental Health Issues
Lone work can feel isolating. No chats. No backup. No sense of team. Over time, that chips away at mental health. Stress builds. Morale drops. Mistakes happen.
Control Measures for Safe Lone Working
Keeping lone workers safe doesn’t have to be complex. But it has to be taken seriously. Start with the basics. Build up from there.
Training and Supervision
Every lone worker needs to know the risks. What to look out for. What to do if things go wrong. Lone worker training prepares them for the real world.
Training should be job-specific. Quick refreshers help too. No one remembers everything after one session. And while lone workers might be alone, they shouldn’t be forgotten. Good supervision matters, even from a distance.
Regular Communication
Set up check-in times. Use phones. Radios. Apps. Anything that keeps people connected. If someone misses a check-in, that should raise a flag.
It’s not just about tracking. It’s about support. Lone workers need to feel they’re not completely cut off. That someone knows where they are and cares if they don’t respond.
Monitoring Systems and Alarms
Tech can help. Panic buttons. GPS trackers. Motion sensors. Lone worker devices that alert others if something’s wrong. Choose tools that suit the job, not just the budget.
Make sure people know how to use them. Don’t just hand them out. Test them. Review them. Replace them if they fail.
Emergency Procedures
If something bad happens, what’s the plan? Who does what? How fast can help arrive?
Clear steps. Fast action. That’s the goal. Everyone involved should know the drill — lone workers, managers, responders. No guessing when things go wrong.
Lone Worker Policies and Procedures
A lone worker policy puts it all on paper. Who counts as a lone worker. What risks they face. What support is in place.
It’s a living document. Not just a dusty file. It should grow with the business. New risks? New tools? Update the policy. Share it. Use it.
Procedures should cover daily tasks and what-ifs. What if someone doesn’t check in? What if there’s an attack? What if the weather turns bad mid-shift? It’s about being ready.
Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident
Lone work isn’t going away. If anything, it’s growing. More remote roles. More flexible hours. More mobile jobs. But that doesn’t mean safety should slip.
Every lone worker has a right to come home safe. That takes planning. Training. Support. It takes effort. But it’s effort that saves lives.
Ignore it, and the risks stay hidden until it’s too late. Act on it, and lone workers stay seen, heard and protected. That’s the goal. Simple. Clear. Essential.
