HealthandSafetyExecutive1of7pagesWorkingaloneHealthandsafetyguidanceontherisksofloneworkingThisisaweb-friendlyversionofleafletINDG73(rev2),published09/09.IntroductionThisleafletprovidesadviceandguidanceonhowtokeeploneworkershealthyandsafe.Itisaimedatanyonewhoemploysorengagesloneworkers,andmayhelpself-employedpeoplewhoworkalonethemselves.Followingtheadviceandguidanceintheleafletisnotcompulsory,butitshouldhelpdutyholdersdecidewhattheyneedtodotocomplywiththeirlegaldutiestowardsloneworkersunder:theHealthandSafetyatWorketcAct1974;and■theManagementofHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations1999.■Isitlegaltoworkaloneandisitsafe?TheHealthandSafetyExecutive(HSE)isfrequentlyaskedthesequestions.Workingaloneisnotinitselfagainstthelaw,anditwilloftenbesafetodoso.However,thelawrequiresemployersandotherstothinkaboutanddealwithanyhealthandsafetyrisksbeforepeopleshouldbeallowedtoworkalone.Employershaveresponsibilityforthehealth,safetyandwelfareatworkofalloftheiremployees.Theyarealsoresponsibleforthehealthandsafetyofthoseaffectedbyworkactivities,forexampleanyself-employedpeopletheyengageandvisitorssuchascontractors.Theseresponsibilitiescannotbetransferredtoanyotherperson,includingthosepeoplewhoworkalone.Itistheemployer’sdutytoassessriskstoloneworkersandtakestepstoavoidorcontrolriskswherenecessary.Employeeshaveresponsibilitiestotakereasonablecareofthemselvesandotherpeopleaffectedbytheirworkactivitiesandtoco-operatewiththeiremployersinmeetingtheirlegalobligations.Whoareloneworkersandwhatjobsdotheydo?Loneworkersarethosewhoworkbythemselveswithoutcloseordirectsupervision.Theymaybefoundinawiderangeofsituations,andsomeexamplesareprovidedbelow.2of7pagesHealthandSafetyExecutiveWorkingalone:HealthandsafetyguidanceontherisksofloneworkingPeopleinfixedestablishmentsPeopleworkingaloneinpremises,eginsmallworkshops,petrolstations,kiosks■orshopsPeoplewhoworkfromhome■Peopleworkingseparatelyfromothers,eginfactories,warehouses,some■researchandtrainingestablishments,leisurecentresorfairgroundsPeopleworkingoutsidenormalhours,egcleanersandsecurity,production,■maintenanceorrepairstaffMobileworkersworkingawayfromtheirfixedbaseWorkersinvolvedinconstruction,plantinstallation,maintenanceandcleaning■work,electricalrepairs,liftrepairs,paintinganddecoratingorvehiclerecoveryAgriculturalandforestryworkers■Serviceworkers,egrentcollectors,postalstaff,socialworkers,homehelps,■doctors,districtnurses,pestcontrolworkers,drivers,engineers,architects,estateagents,salesrepresentativesandsimilarprofessionalsvisitingdomesticandcommercialpremisesHowdoweassessandcontroltherisks?Employersneedtoinvestigatethepotentialhazardsfacedbyloneworkersandassesstherisksinvolvedbothtotheloneworkerandtoanypersonwhomaybeaffectedbytheirwork.Employersshouldensurethatmeasuresareinplacetocontroloravoidsuchrisks.Whatshouldemployersdo?Employersofloneworkersshould:involve■staffortheirrepresentativeswhenundertakingtherequiredriskassessmentprocess;takestepsto■checkcontrolmeasuresareinplace(examplesofcontrolmeasuresincludeinstruction,training,supervisionandissuingprotectiveequipment);review■riskassessmentsannuallyor,asfewworkplacesstaythesame,whentherehasbeenasignificantchangeinworkingpractice;whenariskassessmentshowsitisnotpossiblefortheworktobeconducted■safelybyaloneworker,addressthatriskby,forexample,makingarrangementstoprovidehelporback-up;andwhereal...
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