Working Alone

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines lone workers as ‘those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.’ Such people tend to be those who are:

• working alone on site - for all or just some of the time, both regularly and/or permanently
• working remote from their normal workplace - eg, contractors, district nurses
• homeworkers - persons working from home for an employer.

There is no set duration that establishes someone as a lone worker; a person can be a lone worker for any period of time.

Technological improvements continue to reduce the number of labour intensive tasks in the workplace with the result that the number of people working alone is increasing. In addition, increased mobility and the development of interactive communication technologies serve to encourage the development of one-person operations. Developments in flexible working also mean that home-working/teleworking has become a realistic option for some.

There is general acceptance that working alone does increase the vulnerability of workers and that the degree of vulnerability depends on the type of situation in which the lone work is being carried out. Persons working alone may be particularly susceptible to stress and violence.

Legal Requirements

There are no specific legal duties on employers in relation to lone working; however the general duty of employers to maintain safe working arrangements under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work etc Act applies.

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