TG - Working Alone

A BARBOUR GUIDE
Working AIone
Current Position
01
should lnclude the allocatlon of responslbllltles and
arrangements for puttlng the pollcy lnto enect. All of the thls type ls commonly referred to as 'Planned Preventlve
"
"
Technological improvements continue to reduce the
number of labour intensive tasks in the workplace
with the result that the number of people working
alone is increasing. In addition, increased mobility
and the development of interactive communication
technologies serve to encourage the development
of one-person operations. Developments in fexible
working also mean that home-working/teleworking has
become a realistic option for some.
There is general acceptance that working alone does
increase the vulnerability of workers and that the
degree of vulnerability depends on the type of situation
in which the lone work is being carried out. Persons
working alone may be particularly susceptible to stress
and violence.
In most circumstances there are no specifc legal duties
on employers in relation to lone working; however, the
general duty of employers to maintain safe working
arrangements under the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act 1974 applies. There is an obligation to conduct a risk
assessment before introducing a policy of working alone
and this process is designed to ensure that the selected
work activities can be undertaken safely, by one person
working on their own.
There are some circumstances in which it is too
dangerous for a person to work alone and the
Government has recognised and legislated for these
activities eg, diving and working in confned spaces.
Employers must also accept that their own risk
assessments may identify an unacceptable level of risk
associated with persons working alone on particular
tasks, in which case working alone should not be
introduced.
Legal Requirements
There are no specifc legal duties on employers in
relation to lone working; however the general duty
of employers to maintain safe working arrangements
under the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974
applies.
Employers Duties
If you employ lone workers, you have the same
responsibilities for their health and safety as for any
other employees. You may, however, need to take
extra precautions to ensure that lone workers are at no
greater risk than your other employees.
Working Alone > 01

TEXT ABSTRACT
There
is general
acceptance that
working alone
does increase the
vulnerability of
workers
"
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defnes lone workers as those who work by themselves
without close or direct supervision. Such people tend to be those who are:
working alone on site - for all or just some of the time, both regularly and/or permanently
working remote from their normal workplace - eg, contractors, district nurses
homeworkers - persons working from home for an employer.
There is no set duration that establishes someone as a lone worker; a person can be a lone
worker for any period of time. Working alone does not necessarily mean an individual is the
only employee on the premises; for example, it may include a situation where an individual
works at an isolated worksite within a large, well-populated ofce building. However, this
categorisation would not usually apply when someone was working alone in a room but
colleagues were in a room nearby.
PAGE 1 BARBOUR SAFE IN OUR KNOWLEDGE
d. Control of Contractors
dutles. Notl6able pro[ects are those whlch lnvolve more
than 30 days, or more than 500 person days of con -
structlon work. Purther detalls are avallable wlthln 8arbour
Gulde 'CDM and Constructlon Slte Safety'.
"
"
PAGE 3 > BARBOUR ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH & SAFETY

TEXT ABSTRACT

"

TEXT ABSTRACT
Employees
are responsible
for taking
reasonable
care of
themselves
and must also
co-operate with
their employers
regarding health
and safety
issues
"
Working Alone
> 01 PAGE 2 BARBOUR SAFE IN OUR KNOWLEDGE
Under Section 2(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act 1974, employers must supply adequate information,
instruction, training and supervision to ensure, so far as is
reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of
all employees.
Employers are also responsible for the health and safety
of others afected by work, such as visitors and members
of the public.
Employers are under an obligation to provide:
facilities for frst aid under the Health and Safety (First
Aid) Regulations 1981. In practice, those working alone
are likely to be given their own frst aid materials, eg for
mobile workers a frst aid box for their vehicle
welfare under the Workplace (Health, Safety and
Welfare) Regulations 1992. The provision of adequate
breaks and rest facilities can be an area of difculty
where staf are working alone
suitable equipment and training in its use under
the Provision and Use of Work Equipment (PUWER)
Regulations 1998 and the Lifting Operations and Lifting
Equipment (LOLER) Regulations 1998. Inappropriate
selection and use of equipment is a major source
of accidents. Working alone will not normally be
appropriate where hazardous machinery is in use. In
the case of heavy lifting, working alone may only be
practical if the worker can make use of mechanical
lifting aids. It is essential that all equipment is suitable
for the lone working task and well maintained
regular checks on portable electrical equipment to
comply with the duties under the Electricity at Work
Regulations 1989. Where equipment is issued, records
of such issue and subsequent testing must be kept.
Employers also have duties under the Reporting
of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 to report and record
certain accidents, injuries and violent incidents should
they occur. Reports made by the lone worker to their
employer of accidents, damage or near misses might
indicate that an activity is too dangerous to be carried
out by one person on their own.
Restrictions on Working Alone
In general, there are no specifc prohibitions regarding
working alone, but there is a legal requirement to have
more than one worker for certain activities which are
judged too dangerous for one person eg:
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
2002 regulations. Certain fumigation work and other
work with substances hazardous to health
Diving at Work Regulations 1997. Supervision of diving
operations
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Work at, or
near, a live electrical conductor plus certain activities
may require accompaniment, if this can contribute
signifcantly to the risk being reduced
Confned Spaces Regulations 1997. Entry into a confned
space, for example, sewers or tanks
Road Trafc (Carriage of Explosives) Regulations 1989.
Supervision of vehicles conveying certain explosives.
Consulting with Employees
The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees
Regulations 1977
1
(as amended) and the Health and
Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations
1996
2
(as amended) require employers to consult with
employees and their representatives on health and safety
matters. Plans to introduce or modify a policy on working
alone should be discussed with employees and their
representatives before being introduced.
Employees Duties
Employees are responsible for taking reasonable care of
themselves and must also co-operate with their employers
regarding health and safety issues. Where specifc
legal requirements apply, employers must ensure that
adequate equipment, information, instruction, training
and supervision are provided. Employees should use the
equipment provided for their health and safety and comply
with any information and instruction given to them.
Self-Employed Persons Duties
Self-employed persons must carry out their work so as to
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that they and
others who may be afected are not exposed to risks to
their health and safety. They must also provide persons,
who may be afected, with information about their health
and safety. At the time of writing, there is a proposal to
restrict the application of these requirements so they
would not apply to self employed persons engaged in low
risk activities, whose work would not put others at risk.
1
Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations
1977 - the applicable legislation governing consultation
matters where the employer recognises a trade union
2
The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees)
Regulations 1996 - specifc consultation requirements
where employees are not unionised or there are groups of
employees who are not represented by a trade union.
"
"

TEXT ABSTRACT

"

TEXT ABSTRACT
The obligation
on the employer
is to make
improvements
at least as far
as is reasonably
practicable
to eliminate
or adequately
control the risk
"
Working Alone
> 01
Information
What is Working Alone or Lone
Working?
British legislation does not contain a defnition of
working alone, a term that has the same meaning in the
context of this guide as lone working; however, there
is general acceptance that it means working in an area,
or in circumstances, where there are no other workers
present. Thus, in the event of an emergency there is no
one to give assistance, or summon help. There is no time
limit attached to working alone - it may be for the whole
work period, or only for a few minutes.
Canadian legislation, however, does provide a defnition
of working alone although these vary between states.
For example the Saskatchewan Occupational Health and
safety Regulations state that to work alone means to
work at a worksite as the only worker of the employer
or contractor at that worksite, in circumstances where
assistance is not readily available to the worker in the
event of injury, ill health or emergency.
Who Works Alone?
The nature of the job may involve working alone, but
as downsizing increases, and resources decrease, the
number of lone workers tends to expand. Lone working
may attract higher wages, thereby enhancing the
attractiveness of the job. Examples of jobs that involve
working alone include:
cab drivers
cleaners
community nurses
computer-room operators
construction workers
delivery drivers
doctors on call
health and safety ofcers
insurance agents
laboratory staf
lorry drivers
maintenance staf
painters/decorators
pest controllers
postmen
sales staf
security staf
service engineers
social workers
surveyors
window cleaners
workers in kiosks, petrol stations and small shops.
Regardless of the reasons for working alone, steps must be
taken to ensure that hazards are eliminated, or if it is not
reasonably practicable to do so, minimised.
Risk Management
Employers are required by law to assess and manage
health and safety risks in their workplace. The Management
of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW)
require risk assessments to be undertaken. The fve step
risk-assessment process requires employers to:
1. identify the hazards
2. decide who may be harmed and how
3. evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
4. record the risk assessment fndings and implement them
5. review the assessment, as required, and update when
necessary.
The obligation on the employer is to as far as is reasonably
practicable eliminate or adequately control the risk.
Reasonably practicable allows the employer to fnd a
balance between the cost, time and trouble of making
a job safe and the likelihood of the job causing injury
or illness. However, to discharge the duty, the employer
has to be in a position to prove that to take any further
action to reduce or eliminate the risk would be grossly
disproportionate to the risk avoided.
Be aware that some tasks may be too difcult or dangerous
to be carried out by an unaccompanied worker.
Where a review of the relevant risk assessment reveals
that the hazards can no longer be efectively controlled,
then the practice of working alone must cease. Similarly,
investigations of accidents, near-misses and dangerous
occurrences may lead management to conclude that lone
working is inappropriate and cause them to review their
working alone policy.
where posslble, access restrlctlons should lnvolve the
Smoke Control'.
work should always be used ln the exceptlonal
clrcumstance that 'llve' worklng cannot be avolded.
Permlts should also be used for work lnvolvlng lsolatlon
at a polnt remote from the place where the work ls taklng
|n any case, sockets wlthln workshops
should be protected wlth resldual current devlces
(PCDs). Plxed workshop machlnes such as plllar drllls
and abraslve wheels should be bolted down, lnclude
accesslble emergency stop devlces and be connected
vla a no volt release devlce.
Purther detalls are avallable wlthln 8arbour Gulde
'Llectrlcal Servlces and Plxed Lqulpment'.
Portable electrlcal equlpment should also be lnspected
and tested ln accordance wlth a schedule devlsed by a
competent person. Portable power tools should ldeally
be battery powered or ll0v CTL, supplled vla a
transformer. where 240v tools are necessary, they
should be used only ln dry condltlons and supplled vla a
resldual current devlce.
'Llectrlcal Lqulpment: Portable'.
l. Chemlcals and Plammable
Substances
Hazardous and nammable substances are frequently used
for malntenance actlvltles eg palnts, thlnners, adheslves,
LPG. There are also chemlcals used ln powered
equlpment eg lubrlcants and water treatment chemlcals.
8aslc prlnclples should be applled le: the storage and use
of only those substances requlred, substances selected to
be the lowest hazard alternatlve posslble, kept securely ln
a mlnlmum quantlty and used by authorlsed and tralned
persons only, who are properly equlpped wlth carefully
selected personal protectlve equlpment. Plammable
llqulds should be kept ln a bespoke
PAGE 4 > BARBOUR ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH & SAFETY Working Alone
> 01
What Should the Risk Assessment
Address?
Diferent working environments/activities/industries will
present diferent hazards, ranging from low to high risks,
and each situation may require diferent levels of control
measures.
Activities which may present high risk include:
access to and from the workplace - can a person
working alone safely use the access equipment
provided
entry into confned spaces, for example silos, deep
inspection pits, drains or sewers
handling biological substances, for example human
waste
handling fammable substances, for example organic
solvents
handling valuables
lone occupation of rooms ftted with gaseous
automatic fre protection systems
travelling home alone late at night
women working alone and directly with members of
the public
visiting clients or customers at their premises where
there is a risk of violence
work with high pressure systems, for example steam
boilers and pipelines
work with toxic substances, for example cyanides,
fumigants
working in high temperatures, for example stripping/
applying insulation in boiler rooms
working outdoors in extreme weather conditions.
Activities which may present lower risks include:
cleaning duties as part of a team
working alone out of hours in an ofce occupation
home working
static security work, for example monitoring a CCTV
system.
Once the risks have been assessed, a safe system of work
should be developed and ideally, written down. This
should contain as much relevant information as possible,
both for the lone workers and their supervisors. The
statement should build on the general company health-
and-safety policy, and should refect all potential types of
lone working roles. The statement should contain details
of:
emergency procedures
name, address and workplace location
risks faced by each lone worker
suitable control measures
type of undertaking.
The policy should be updated, as necessary, and all lone
workers and supervisors should be provided with a copy
of the policy and trained/instructed on its content.
Hazards Encountered by Lone Workers
The hazards faced by lone workers are not unique to this
category of worker but their potential severity is increased
by the absence of co-workers or supervisors. Potential
hazards include:
violence and robbery
abusive customers
extreme weather
back injury due to heavy or awkward lifting
electric shock
smoke, gases and other inhalation hazards
falls
burns
chemical over exposure
explosion
animal bites
biohazards
falling asleep at the wheel of a vehicle
trafc hazards.
"
"

TEXT ABSTRACT

"

TEXT ABSTRACT
All lone
workers should
be aware of the
relevant health
and safety
procedures, and
should know
what to do in
the case of an
emergency
"
Working Alone
> 01
Table 1: Common hazards and some of their control
measures
Potential hazard Control measure(s)
Manual handling lone workers must be able to
seek assistance from others, as
required
provision of lifting and
handling aids
Violence against
the person
training in difusing
confrontation, negotiation etc
reducing the need for cash
handling
varying driving routes for
vehicles carrying cash
provision of personal alarms
and efective means of two-
way communication
panic buttons in confdential
interview rooms
PPE eg, stab-proof vests
(where relevant)
Breaking down in
a vehicle
provision of reliable and well
maintained vehicles
membership of a road-side
rescue organisation
Fire fre precautions must be
sufcient for the job
Home-Working
Please see the Barbour Guide Homeworking for specifc
information on this aspect of working alone.
Safe Working Methods
In the frst instance consideration should be given to
working in pairs. If this is not appropriate then to ensure
lone workers are protected, safe working procedures
should be designed, implemented and monitored.
Regular checks should be made on those working
alone and this may involve regular visits by a supervisor,
another employer or other designated person, or a
system whereby workers are required to check in at
regular intervals. Where personal checks are used the
duration between these checks should be based on the
estimated hazard of the job. Periodic telephone contact
may be adequate for low-risk working alone situations.
Whatever system is adopted, it must be possible for the
worker and their manager/colleagues to contact each
other at certain points throughout the working period.
All lone workers should be aware of the relevant health
and safety procedures, and should know what to do
in the case of an emergency. In addition, procedures
should be in place to avoid unnecessary risks.
Examples of easy-to-implement measures are:
carry an alarm at all times, and keep it handy
do not carry valuables unless necessary; carry a 10
note to satisfy muggers
ensure someone knows where you are
ensure you park in a well lit place, preferably in a public
place
if you alter your plans, ensure someone is told
prior to meeting a client, check him/her out for
example, are they who they claim to be?
agree a code word which can be used during a telephone
conversation with colleagues to indicate that all is not
well.
Buddy Systems
The buddy system is a procedure in which two people,
the buddies, operate together as a single unit so that they
are able to monitor and help each other. In the workplace,
where the buddies are often equals, the main beneft of
the system is improved safety: each may be able to prevent
the other becoming a casualty or rescue the other in a
crisis.
This system is required when, for example, workers enter
confned spaces, as well as, adequate rescue arrangements
being provided. Confned spaces are areas that have
restricted access or egress, and where a danger of
accumulation of hazardous gases, vapours, mists or lack of
oxygen exists. Other circumstances where a buddy system
might be appropriate include, law enforcement, cash
collection and security work.
Violence
When employees work alone, the potential for violence
exists, and employers should have a policy to deal with
such an eventuality. The HSE advises employers to work
with their employees to develop a plan of action, and
recommends the following steps:
decide if a problem exists
record all incidents
classify all incidents
identify preventive measures
decide what to do
implement preventive measures
review/monitor the measures.
Women may be at a higher risk from violent attacks when
working alone in certain occupations. However, although
the perception is that women are at increased risk,
accident statistics suggest that overall, men are more likely
to be assaulted than women.
Smoke Control'.
Substances
Working Alone
> 01
Employers should ensure that all staf who work alone
and who have been identifed as being at risk from
violence are trained in preventing and dealing with
such an attack. Preferably, there should be regular
contact by supervisors. They should be provided
with any special equipment, as identifed by the risk
assessment. Examples of equipment include alarms
and mobile telephones. It may be necessary to provide
transport eg taxis for work at night to improve safety.
Key Actions
Employers have a responsibility to ensure that the
potential hazards of working alone have been properly
considered and that implementing a policy of lone
working does not put employees at undue risk.
The practical actions that need to be managed in
relation to working alone can be summarised as follows:
1. conduct risk assessments for those activities that
involve lone working, both on and of site
2. design and implement policies and procedures to
protect those who work alone.
In practice this means:
consulting with employees and/or their
representatives about any planned policy on working
alone
compiling and maintaining a database of locations/
persons that should never be visited at any time by just
one worker. This information MUST be communicated
to all employees, contractors and sub-contractors
providing suitable and sufcient information,
instruction training and supervision for lone workers
on health and safety matters
issuing lone workers with all necessary communication
measures (eg, personal alarms, mobile phones, walkie-
talkies, personal GPS) and ensuring that appropriate
training is given in the use of such devices
maintaining accurate records of the location of lone
workers (ie, via a diary, white board or personal GPS)
requiring lone workers to regularly report in to their
ofce base or to a co-worker
establishing and initiating an appropriate course of
action to check on a lone worker who fails to report in
using the accepted procedure
introducing a policy of no out-of-hours/evening visits
if appropriate or adopting a stafng system which can
accommodate any such necessary visits being made
by two persons
instructing staf that they must immediately leave any
situation in which they feel uncomfortable or at risk and
that such action has the support of management
providing lone workers with appropriate tailored skills
training (eg, aggression management, assertiveness and
negotiation)
requiring lone workers to report problems/incidents and
ensuring the organisation takes appropriate action (ie,
amend procedures and/or report to the Police)
ascertaining the medical history/ftness of potential
lone workers if their activities are likely to impose extra
demands on their physical or mental stamina
establishing procedures to be followed in the event of
serious and imminent danger
eliminating cash handling in the organisation as far as is
reasonably practicable
deploying building security where appropriate in the case
of out of hours working
ensuring the workplace is appropriate, ie:
o suitable and sufcient lighting, ventilation and
heating
o all equipment is provided and is safe to use by lone
workers
o lifting operations can be performed safely by one
person
o means of access and egress are suitable
o fre precautions are sufcient
o mechanism exists for efectively communicating
with supervisors and co-workers
o a check in system exists
arranging for supervisors to periodically visit and observe
people working alone and maintaining regular contact
between the lone worker and their supervisor
documenting safe working methods
monitoring working procedures to ensure lone workers
remain safe and that the working alone policy continues
to refect acceptable practice.
Smoke Control'.
Substances
> 01
Key Terms
Buddy system: a procedure in which two people,
the buddies, operate together as a single unit so that
they are able to monitor and help each other. The
main beneft of the system is improved safety: each
person may be able to prevent the other becoming a
casualty or rescue the other in a crisis
Global Positioning System (GPS): a satellite-based
navigation system that allows the user to determine
their exact location at all times and in all weather
conditions
Homeworker and Teleworking (these words are
interchangeable): they describe arrangements
where employees work at home on a regular basis
rather than at the employers premises. In the case of
teleworking, the work tasks require use of a computer
Lone worker: someone who works by themselves
without close or direct supervision
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): specialised
clothing or equipment worn by employees for
protection against health and safety hazards. Personal
protective equipment is designed to protect many
parts of the body, ie, eyes, head, face, hands, feet, and
ears
Working Alone: working without close or direct
supervision. The terms lone worker and working
alone are interchangeable.
Related Documents
Hazards at Work: Organizing for Safe and Healthy
Workplaces (TUC)
Working Alone in Safety: Controlling Risks of Solitary
Work (INDG73 rev 2) HSE
Lone Working Members Guide Prospect 2011
Personal Safety for Lone workers CSP 2005
Working Alone: Health and Safety Guide on Lone
Working for Safety Representatives UNISON
Lone Working: Guide for Safety Representatives TUC
2009
Further Information
and References
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has a dedicated
page on its website that covers work-related violence as
the issue relates to the lone worker http://www.hse.gov.uk/
violence/loneworkers.htm
Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
BS8484 2011 Code of Practice for Provision of Lone Worker
Device (LWD) Services
Date of Review: November 2012
Smoke Control'.
Substances
> 01
Disclaimer
Barbour is a trading division and trading name of UBM
Information Limited (UBMi). It has published this Guide
in order to help the promotion of good practice amongst
knowledgeable and competent specialists in the subject
covered by this Guide. By using this Guide, the user
acknowledges, accepts and agrees to the following:
UBMi does not give any condition, warranty or other term,
or accept any duty of care or liability, in connection with
the quality or ftness for purpose of this Guide, or any loss
or damage resulting from reliance on it, and it excludes all
these.
When deciding whether or how to act, the user should
always obtain appropriate professional advice and should
not rely on any information, advice or recommendation
in this Guide, however it has been expressed. The user
is responsible for obtaining professional advice, and
acknowledges that any defects in this Guide would be
detected by a knowledgeable and competent specialist
providing that advice.
Any use of this Guide by any person is subject to UBMis
user terms for Barbour services, and by using it the user is
accepting those terms, and agreeing to be bound by them,
on behalf of the user and all other persons for whom the
user undertakes any work.
The user waives (and agrees to waive) all claims for loss or
damage which it might otherwise have against UBMi in
connection with this Guide other than those arising out of a
liability which UBMi has for personal injury (whether fatal or
otherwise) resulting from negligence.

TG - Working Alone

Transféré par

Informations du document

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

TG - Working Alone

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

A BARBOUR GUIDE

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi