The responsibilities of a lone worker

Workers often believe their employer is responsible for their health and safety at work. Although this is true, you also must take care of your own health and safety. You should cooperate with your employer and other workers to help everyone meet their duties under the law. In this blog, we are going to discuss the responsibilities of a lone worker and what you must do to keep yourself safe.

Take care of your own health and safety

As a lone working employee, you have the responsibility to look after your own health and safety. You should be aware of the risks you may face during your day and take reasonable precautions to avoid them. If you have a lone worker device, such as our KIT Device, ID badge, or lone worker app, make sure that it is fully charged and that it is always with you. The purpose of a lone worker device is to keep you safe, so if you fail to charge or carry it when you need help, you may get yourself and your employer into trouble.

Take care of the health and safety of others

Be careful not to put other people at risk by what you do or don’t do during your working day, such as fellow employees or members of the public. For example, if you work in construction, be careful around others when using machinery or potentially dangerous equipment. Check your surroundings before carrying out such tasks.

Cooperate with your employer

You must cooperate and follow any health and safety procedures set out by your employer. You should also report to your employer if you notice any health and safety hazards that may affect you or others. Don’t hesitate to seek help if you feel at risk during your day. You shouldn’t suffer in silence. 

Find out if the health and safety law applies to you if you’re self-employed

If you’re self-employed and are unsure whether the health and safety law applies to you, you can check here. It’s important to understand what your rights are as a self-employed lone working individual.

Raise concerns

You should speak with someone as soon as possible if you have any concerns about the risks to you as a lone worker. The sooner you speak up, the sooner your concerns can be resolved. Try speaking to your line manager/supervisor or health and safety representative.