This guidance explains how to keep lone workers healthy and safe. It is
for anyone whoemploys lone workers, or engages them as contractors
etc, including self-employed people or those who work alone.
Lone workers face the same hazards at work as anyone else, but
there is a greater risk of these hazards causing harm as they may
not have anyone to help or support them if thingsgo wrong.
As an employer, you should provide training, supervision, monitoring
and support for lone workers.
A lone worker is ‘someone who works by themselves without close or
direct supervision’. They exist in all sectors and include those who:
■ work alone at a fixed base, for example in shops, petrol
stations, factories, warehouses or leisure centres;
■ work separately from other people on the same premises or
outside normal working hours, for example security staff,
cleaners, maintenance and repair staff;
■ work at home;
■ work away from a fixed base, such as:
– health, medical and social care workers visiting people’s
homes etc;
– workers involved in construction, maintenance and repair
including engineers, plant installation and cleaning workers;
– engineers, assessors and delivery drivers of equipment and
supplies who attend construction projects;
– service workers, including postal staff, taxi drivers,
engineers, estate agents, and sales or service
representatives visiting domestic and commercial premises;
– delivery drivers including HGV drivers, van driver/couriers
and car/bike-based couriers;
– agricultural and forestry workers;
■ are volunteers carrying out work on their own, for charities or
voluntary organisations (fundraising, litter-picking etc). More
information is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/voluntary/
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