Page 23 - BOSS Today Issue 54

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n our industry, lone workers are not No persons under the age of 18 should
Inecessarily exposed to a higher risk of be permitted to work alone, including
accidents, but injuries may still be severe apprentices whose age and lack of
– and even fatal – if not controlled knowledge and experience would add to
correctly. Working alone increases the risk levels.
vulnerability, depending on the time, When completing your lone working
nature and location of the work being assessment, follow the same five-step
conducted. approach as you would for any workplace
By law, employers must ensure that risk assessment, ie:
lone workers are no more at risk than
other employees. The Management of n Identify the hazard
Health and Safety at Work Regulations n Decide who might be harmed and how
1999 states that you must manage n Evaluate the risk and decide on The higher the risk, the greater the level
the risk to all workers, including lone precautions of supervision required. It should not be
workers. Hazards that relate specifically n Record the findings left to individuals themselves to decide
to lone workers must be assessed, with n Review whether they require assistance or not.
appropriate action taken to reduce Procedures need to be put into place to
those risks to the lowest possible level, monitor lone workers to ensure they
and consideration given to all high-risk remain safe. Protocols may include:
machinery made non-operational during
any lone working on site. n Supervisors periodically visiting and
observing lone workers or being in
regular contact by telephone.
Scenarios to consider that are often n Automated devices that operate
overlooked are: if specific signals are not received or
cancelled periodically by the absence
n Violence in the workplace of activity. Include a check that the
n Stress individual returns safely to their base.
n Mental health and wellbeing
An employer must: n An individual’s mental suitability Employers have the same health and
to work alone safety responsibilities for homeworkers
n Identify the potential hazards lone n Access to basic First Aid and, in these changing times, employers
workers are exposed to n The ability to raise an alarm are required to conduct home working
n Risk assess all activities conducted risk assessments to reduce the risk of
during lone working Lone working should be avoided accidents and injuries. This means you
n Train, monitor and supervise lone whenever possible, but managed must provide supervision, education
workers accordingly if it is unavoidable. While not and training, as well as implement
n Keep in touch with employees and all hazards can be eliminated, if suitable enough control measures to protect the
respond to any incidents control measures are in place, the risk homeworker and respond if necessary.
n Review and implement change, as and likelihood of an incident can be
appropriate reduced. For more information on lone working,
n Communicate all information to Lone workers should understand the please contact Mike Haynes, HS&E
employees hazards and risks involved in their role Adviser, at mike.haynes@bpif.org.uk.
and how to control them. Additional
training may be required to facilitate this.
Training is particularly important where
there is limited supervision to control,
guide and help in uncertain situations.

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