The definition of a lone worker is anyone working without the direct and immediate support of supervisors or colleagues.

What is the HSE definition of a lone worker?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines lone workers as “those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.”

What is classed as lone working?

If an employee cannot be seen or heard by a colleague, they are a lone worker – whether that be for all or part of their working day. This also includes staff who work from home.

Lone working can constitute a wide range of job roles across any industry. Traditionally, the phrase ‘lone worker’ would likely conjure images of an employee working in complete isolation, such as a security guard manning a building at night, or an engineer carrying out maintenance in a remote area. While this may be true for some job roles, lone working doesn’t always mean completely alone.

When identifying lone workers in your organization, it is important to consider ‘hidden lone workers’ in situations that may be overlooked, such as:

• Those working on the same site but out of sight and sound of a colleague
• Colleagues working alone in different parts of a building
• Employees left alone for periods while a colleague takes a break
• A single employee working late after everyone else has left the worksite
• Anyone working alone but alongside members of the public or in populated locations
• Staff traveling alone during work hours
• Staff members who work from home

Some roles commonly utilizing lone workers include:

• Utilities: remote engineers, meter readers, field service staff, maintenance and repair staff
• Housing: estate agents, surveyors, housing officers, housing agents, social workers
• Healthcare: health visitors, paramedics, nurses
• Charities and not-for-profits: outreach and community workers
• Retail and hospitality: shopworkers, keyholders, cleaners, security guards, sales representatives
• Construction: laborers, builders, repairmen
• Corporate businesses: office workers working from home or remotely

How many lone workers are there in the UK?

The number of lone workers in the UK is on the rise, with the total running at around 8 million. This figure is likely to increase year on year. Technological advances mean that jobs that used to require a team can be done by an individual with specialist equipment and meetings that used to have to be conducted face to face can be done remotely. We are also better at identifying lone workers, with the HSE recognizing home workers as lone workers for the first time in their latest guidance.

Source: British Safety Council

What are the roles of lone workers?

Lone workers are employees who do not have direct supervision when carrying out their duties. Sometimes work is undertaken in areas that are remote, or one-to-one with members of the public or clients. 

Lone workers can be at additional risk from violence, aggression, or injury as there is no one there to raise the alarm in an emergency. 

Workers who are particularly vulnerable to violence and aggression are often those who are public-facing, such as social care workers, paramedics, and security guards. 

Other job roles are more susceptible to accidental injury, for example, construction workers, engineers, field service workers, and delivery drivers.

However, it is important that despite these additional risks, lone workers should feel protected. An employer has to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to mitigate any risks they face.

Lone worker security

How can you ensure the security of your lone workers? Follow these five steps:

• Ensure a risk assessment is completed before any work is carried out
• Correct health and safety strategies and training are executed
• It is an employer’s responsibility to conduct relevant and thorough training for their lone workers
• Ensure lone workers are wearing protective and conspicuous clothing, such as Hi-Vis jackets if working underground or late shifts
• Keep a record of where staff are when, and who they are with, or implement a specialist solution that can do this for you

The most common hazards faced by lone workers vary according to industry and job role. However, the top causes of workplace accidents, incidents, and fatalities are fairly consistent around the world.

Lone working hazards include:

• Violence and aggression from clients or members of the public
• Spills, cables, and other tripping hazards
• Working at heights such as ladders, scaffolding, and roofing
• Operating machinery and equipment
• Working with electricity, chemicals, and other harmful substances
• Heavy lifting, repetitive movements, and vibrations
• Working around vehicles
• Driving for work

According to HSE statistics 2021/22:

• 123 workers were killed at work 
• 0.6  million  working people sustained an injury at work according to the Labour Force Survey
• 61,713 injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR

The biggest risk factors in the workplace

The biggest workplace risk factors for employees in the UK are accidental injury, acts of violence, or a health emergency.

The most common cause of injury was slips, trips, and falls (33%) followed by handling, lifting, or carrying (18%). Being struck by a moving object (10%), violence (8%), and falls from height (8%) were also significant causes of non-fatal workplace injury. 

A health emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke, can occur anytime and requires immediate medical assistance.

Source: HSE 2022/23

Violence at work

Violence and threats are even more common than sustaining injury at work. According to Violence at work statistics, 688,000 incidents of violence were reported by employees in 2019/20.

38% of these resulted in injury, most commonly severe bruising. Other injuries reported by staff included stab wounds, broken bones, nose bleeds, broken noses, lost teeth, dislocation, concussion or loss of consciousness, internal injuries, and facial and head injuries. 

Source: HSE Violence at Work 

Who is most at risk from violence at work?

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed that respondents in protective service occupations (such as police officers) faced by far the highest risk of assaults and threats while working, at 8.4% – 6 times the average risk of 1.4%. Health and social care specialists and health professionals also had higher than average risk at 3.9% and 3.3% respectively. 

According to the CSEW, these professions have consistently had higher than average risk rates over the last number of years. Other professions with higher than average risk include other managers and proprietors at 2.9%.

As an employer, you have a duty of care to ensure that all staff are safe at work, no matter what their role is. Risk Assessments can help you understand the specific dangers faced by your employees in different situations and enable you to put measures in place to mitigate any risks.

What are the risks of lone working?

Workplace hazards such as injury or violence can be an increased risk to lone workers because there is no one to intervene or call for help in an emergency.

How many lone workers are attacked every day?

The British Crime Survey estimates that as many as 150 lone workers are physically or verbally attacked every day in the UK alone. Unfortunately, lone workers are more vulnerable to violence and aggression due to the nature of their work or being seen as easier targets.

The Lone Worker Landscape Report also revealed that 68% of organizations have experienced an incident involving a lone worker in the past three years. 

Not only can attacks result in physical injury, but violence towards lone workers can result in stress, anxiety, fear, and depression. This in turn can lead to sick leave, loss of confidence low productivity, and problems with staff retention.

Source: HSE Violence at Work 2019/20

How high risk is lone working?

Lone workers face similar types of risks to non-lone working employees – however, as any risks are faced alone they are more vulnerable.

Lone working is considered a higher-risk activity for a variety of reasons. Lone workers may be more susceptible to attack because they are seen as easy targets. If they suffer an accident or other emergency, there is no one with them to help or call for assistance. A lone employee may take on more physical work, such as lifting than they are capable of because no one is there to help, and then hurt themselves as a result.

What types of risks do lone workers face?

The main risks associated with lone working include people, environmental risks, and ill health.

People risk

Unfortunately, lone workers are at higher risk of violence and aggression and are often regarded as easier targets. This could be down to the nature of their work, such as working with vulnerable members of the public and behind closed doors (social, housing, and outreach workers for example) or working with large amounts of money (retail, bar, hospitality, and security staff).

A survey conducted for Suzy Lamplugh Trust found that 81% of lone workers are concerned about violence and aggression. Of those surveyed, one in ten had been punched, kicked, or suffered another form of violent attack. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, an estimated 1.5% of working adults have been the victim of one or more violent incidents at work.

Environmental risk

Lone workers are at risk from workplace hazards such as slips, trips and falls, heavy lifting, and electrocution. Working alone poses a challenge in regard to receiving immediate assistance and medical support if an accident does occur.

Ill health

Similarly, if a lone worker suffers from a medical emergency such as a heart attack or fainting, receiving immediate support and alerting emergency services could prove difficult without nearby colleagues, particularly if working remotely or out of sight and sound.

Risks of lone working in different environments

Different environments pose different sets of risks for lone working staff and in many industries, the dangers faced by staff – especially violence – are increasing. Here we examine the risks posed in some common lone working roles.

Many lone workers visit clients in their homes, placing them at higher risk of violence, aggression, and hostage situations, particularly if working with vulnerable individuals. 

Entering a client’s home comes with an element of the unknown. There could be aggressive animals present in the home, trip hazards, aggression and hostility from individuals within the property, and potential alcohol and substance abuse.

In a study published by the BMJ Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 22% of domiciliary care workers reported at least one incident of verbal abuse by clients or their relatives in the previous 12 months. Heightened risk factors included cramped client living conditions, clients with dementia, and limited mobility. Interestingly, workers with predictable working hours had a 26% lower risk of being verbally abused – indicating that workers who have changeable rotas are at an increased risk.

Other community workers such as social workers, community nurses, and charity workers are also vulnerable to similar risks. This can be particularly true for those working in environments where drugs, alcohol, and mental health issues could be involved.

Many community workers also drive between appointments and so are at risk of being involved in a road traffic accident whilst at work – especially those who drive at night. 

Following on from your risk assessment, you will need to produce a safety policy for your lone workers. A lone working safety policy is a guide that will set out your company’s rules on working alone and help your employees to understand the risks they may face.

What is a lone worker safety policy?

Lone workers require their policies and procedures to ensure they are protected from any specific risks and hazards. A lone worker policy is an official written document that covers the risks faced by lone working staff and the responsibilities of both the employer and employee in ensuring that lone workers can work safely.

It includes your lone worker risk assessment and practical instructions, as well as any details on any lone worker solutions in place and how to use them.

Tips for creating your lone working policy

Creating your lone working policy is an important task and we understand that sometimes it can seem daunting. Getting your lone workers on board is perhaps the greatest challenge which is why we have put together these tips for creating your lone worker safety policy.

Keep it simple

To ensure your lone workers understand and follow your policy, you should keep it as concise and simple as possible. Use language they would understand and clearly outline what is expected of them. Clarity is important, so consider the layout of the document as well as the language used.

Update regularly

It is important that your policy is regularly updated whenever your risk assessment is reassessed or whenever you introduce new lone working policies, such as a new training course or implementing a lone worker solution.

Involve your lone workers

To get your lone workers on board with your new lone worker policy, you should consider involving them in all aspects of the process. Ask them to help you identify risks and suggest ways they would feel safer.

Once your lone working policy has been developed, consider holding a workshop or health and safety day where you can openly discuss why you have developed the policy and what has been put in place. Be sure to focus on a clear safety message and the benefits to your lone workers.

Be direct

While you want to encourage adoption by focusing on employee safety and wellbeing, you also need your employees to understand that the policies and procedures you have implemented are a requirement and non-optional.

Be direct in the language you use in your lone working policy. Avoid using words such as ‘you should’ or ‘you could’ which suggests a choice. Use ‘You must’ or ‘It is a requirement that…’

Your lone working policy will be developed as an extension of your lone working risk assessment. The policy document will include your risk assessment and the lone worker procedures you have put in place to reduce or eliminate the identified risks.

Lone working procedures

A lone worker procedure refers to a series of steps that need to be followed to work alone safely. You should document your lone worker procedures in your lone worker policy document.

You may find it useful to write a number of procedures suitable for different groups of employees so that they can digest the correct information easily.

Lone working procedure examples include:

• How the lone worker should check in with their supervisor and how often
• How and when to use any lone worker solutions, such as apps or devices
• What to do in an emergency including evacuation procedures and who to contact
• What to do when a client shows signs of aggression
• What to do when unauthorized visitors attempt to enter a building where the employee is working alone

This is not an exhaustive list and many more scenarios will require a lone worker procedure. However, implementing as many procedures as necessary can save lives. This is why it is important that your procedures are made compulsory and you avoid any language that could suggest a choice such as ‘you should’ or ‘you could’.

When first introducing new work alone procedures, it is important to provide briefing and training for your lone workers so that they know exactly what is expected of them. A written step-by-step guide should be distributed for them to refer to and it may be helpful to produce a safety checklist for your lone workers to follow until procedures become routine.