Step-by-Step Guide to Lone Working Risk Assessments for UK Companies

A lone worker is employed by a business that provides several facilities, ranging from security night watchmen to field technicians and delivery drivers. However, this form of work carries many risks that must be confronted daily.

A lone working risk assessment is not only a requirement of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 but is also a method of caring for employees and ensuring smoother working operations.

Imagine a security officer who patrols a huge industrial premise alone. If they are injured or have?a health emergency, who is there to assist them? Risk assessment comes into play in situations like these. ?

Amid this guide, we will take you through the step-by-step procedures of assessing and controlling the risks of lone workers.?

Step 1: Identify Lone Workers in Your Business

First, determine whether a potential lone worker qualifies to be in said position?in an organization. In basic terms, a lone worker is one who conducts work without direct supervision or even without being close with colleagues. Following are some examples:?

• Security patrolling in a place. ?

• A technician attends to a customer on the customer's site. ?

• Delivery drivers on the road. ?

• Cleaning staff working outside regular hours. ?

Understanding the terms of the assignment and the scope of the responsibilities of your lone workers helps to make the risk assessments more specific to them.?

Step 2: Recognize Potential Hazards

One thing that risk assessment must always include is the identification of hazards. The nature of work and the surrounding environment determine the hazards. The most likely?hazards are as follows:

• Physical Hazards: Slips, trips, falls, and injuries from equipment malfunction. ?

• Environmental Hazards: Harsh weather, heat waves, and icy roads for delivery drivers. ?

• Personal Safety Risks: Violence or abuse from the public, mostly for security personnel.?

• Health Emergencies: Medical conditions that are going to happen without immediate support. ?

For instance, a security guard working overnight may have the dual risk of personal safety threats and limited access to emergency medical care.?

Step 3: Evaluate Existing Controls

Assess the controls you have established to manage these risks after determining them. For example: ?

• Do your employees have access to personal protective equipment (PPE)? ?

• Do your employees communicate with portable telephones or two-way radios? ?

• Is there an established protocol for emergencies? ?

If the current control measures are inadequate, indicate what needs to be improved upon.?

Step 4: Engage with Employees?

Employees themselves provide useful information about the risks they face and the controls they need from the employer. Conduct interviews or surveys with them or hold team meetings for them to come in and speak. ?

For example, a delivery driver would inform about areas that are poorly lit and what that poses or the presence of aggressive dogs. Involve your employees in the process and you will be gaining all the benefits of this practical knowledge and at the same time involving them in a culture of safety and building together.??

Step 5: Develop and Implement Control Measures?

While putting practical solutions in place based on your finding on minimizing risks, some of the suggested options: ?

Technology Solutions: Provide lone workers with GPS tracking devices and panic alarms, such as what can be achieved with Smart Workforce’s automated check-in system which ensures communication with lone workers throughout their shifts.?

Training Programs: Conflict Resolution, First Aid, and Safe Work Practices Training. ?

Policies and Procedures: Establish reporting and response protocols regarding emergencies and incidents.?

Step 6: Regularly Monitor and Review Assessments?

Risk assessments are not a one-time exercise. They should be reviewed and updated regularly for new work environments, new employee roles, and forms of hazards that emerge. ?

For instance, when a new location is added into the route of security patrol, risk assessment would follow the same principle: "New Building Site Risk Assessment." It should also be done at certain intervals with quite a spell to keep ensuring all control measures are effective.?

Step 7: Ensure Compliance with UK Laws?

It is the UK law that employers must ensure the health and safety of their employees. This also includes protection for lone workers. Some of the major legislation for this include:?

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. ?

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.?

A breach in any of these will result into punishments, fines, and sometimes just mere defeat reputationally. Carrying out extensive risk assessments means demonstrating oneself towards legal obligations and well-being of the employee.?

Step 8: Use?Technology for Lone Worker Safety?

Modern technology has stuck its feet in how companies have turned around innovations to treat lone worker safety. Today, there are automated incident reporting systems, geofencing, and real-time alerts that just ensure monitoring 24/7 and have the whole action only at the time when it is needed. ?

For example, Smart Workforce provides you with an end-to-end solution that has automated call-check-ins, instant missed check-ins alert, and seamless reporting, all of which can be accessed in one go on a single platform.?

A Safer Future for Lone Workers?

Lone worker risk assessments are an important step toward a safer, more productive workplace. By following these steps—identifying lone workers, recognizing hazards, engaging employees, and adopting?technology—you can minimize risks and empower your team to work confidently.?

So, are you ready to transform the security of lone workers? Then contact Smart Workforce now to book a free demo on how our innovative solutions can augment your efforts at risk management.?