Working alone is perfectly legal, as long as you take steps to reduce the risk and manage any hazards associated with being alone or unsupervised.

First2HelpYou have created this handy infographic to help you identify which sort of job roles are most vulnerable when working alone.

Who Works Alone?

When we think of lone workers, it is easy to imagine a person who is entirely isolated for most of their shift, such as field scientists, tree surgeons, or cleaners. Whilst these are indeed classed as working alone it is important to remember that lone workers don’t have to be isolated.

But those lone workers who are isolated are at risk not only from being injured and unable to call for help, but from being taken ill, or getting lost or stranded.

It also counts as lone working if the employee is out of the direct supervision of their manager. For example, a construction worker might be on the same site as their foreman but separate and not within earshot if they are injured. Lorry drivers would also fall into this category. These types of lone workers are at risk of injury and illness, as well as their environment. For example, a lorry driver is surrounded by potential accidents as a result of his environment.

And then there are those who are working alone but are surrounded by service users, clients, and customers. These people are at risk of illness and injury, as the other two types of lone workers, but also from their service users or customers. People who work in retail, healthcare, or social housing would fall into this category.

Have a look at our handy matrix below to see the risk profile for some types of lone worker.

Are You Working Alone?

If you are worried about how to protect your staff when they are working alone, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on sales@first2helpyou.co.uk or fill in our contact form.

We are always on hand to give our friendly advice. Or, if you know you want a lone worker device, have a look at our products.