What are an employer’s obligations when staff work alone?

2023-12-10

Lone working places significant responsibilities on employers. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must assess risks, implement control measures and ensure that help can be summoned quickly. Here we set out the key obligations and what they mean in practice.

Risk assessment and planning

Employers must carry out a thorough risk assessment for lone workers and identify the hazards and risks associated with working alone. The assessment must be documented and reviewed when circumstances change [1][2].

Risks that must always be considered: accidents with no means of rapid assistance, threats and violence, medical emergencies, communication failures in isolated environments.

Implementing control measures

Based on the risk assessment, employers must implement concrete control measures – appropriate equipment, conflict management training and emergency procedures [1]. Where a significant risk cannot be eliminated, lone working must not take place. Read about safety at the workplace for HR managers for practical guidance.

Communication and means of raising an alarm

There must always be an effective means for lone workers to summon help quickly – whether for an accident, threat or medical emergency. A mobile phone alone is often insufficient. Read more about lone working risks.

Support and resources

Employers must provide adequate support and resources to lone workers – appropriate equipment, access to support for psychosocial stress and a means of reporting safety concerns.

Monitoring and review

It is the employer’s responsibility to continually monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of safety measures and update the risk assessment when changes occur [1][2].

Consequences of non-compliance

Failures in employer duty can lead to serious legal consequences – from HSE enforcement notices to prosecution and unlimited fines.

A personal alarm with man-down alert increases workplace safety

Sensorem’s personal alarm is designed specifically to increase safety for lone workers. The alarm has an automatic man-down alert that calls alarm recipients via the watch’s built-in speakerphone with two-way communication. The alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning.

 

 

READ ABOUT HOW SENSOREM’S PERSONAL ALARM CAN HELP COMPANIES

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