Lone workers face unique and increased risks because of the isolated nature of their work. They must be able to manage situations independently and without immediate backup or emergency assistance when something goes wrong.
Employers have a legal duty to properly assess and control the risks their lone workers face. As part of this duty, employers must provide suitable information, instruction and training to their lone working staff that covers hazards and safeguards specific to isolated work.
Training supports employers in meeting these duties and enables lone workers to protect themselves more effectively.
Are You Aware of Your Responsibilities?
Under Great Britain’s health and safety law, employers must protect staff from the risks of working alone. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to:
- Identify the hazards lone workers face
- Assess the level of risk involved in working alone
- Put suitable controls in place to manage that risk
- Provide information, instruction and training relevant to lone working
- Monitor and review lone working arrangements regularly
HSE guidance INDG73 sets out what this looks like in practice.
Lone workers also have duties. They must follow safe working procedures, use the controls provided and report safety concerns promptly.
When responsibilities are unclear, workers may take on tasks they cannot manage safely on their own. Training helps both employers and staff understand what the law requires and how to meet those duties in everyday work.
About This Course
According to the British Safety Council, it is estimated that one-fifth of the UK working population are lone workers. This figure includes workers in security, construction and retail – all industries where lone workers consistently face high levels of risk.
This online awareness-level Lone Worker training course is designed for lone workers in any sector. It makes users aware of lone working hazards and measures to reduce or eliminate risk. It also looks at conducting dynamic risk assessments to identify and control hazards unique to the user’s work environment and duties.
How Lone Worker Safety Training Helps Your Organisation
This course helps organisations:
- Improve worker awareness of the hazards of working alone
- Support more informed lone worker risk assessments
- Support compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
- Reinforce safe working procedures for staff operating without direct supervision
- Reduce the risk of incidents involving lone workers going unreported or escalating
By improving workers’ understanding of lone working hazards and controls, this training supports more consistent management of risk wherever staff work alone.