Guide
Keep lone workers safe
How to protect employees who work alone or without close supervision. Covers risk assessment, control measures, communication systems, and what activities may be too dangerous for lone working. Includes sector-specific guidance for healthcare, social care, security, and delivery workers.
Many employees work alone for all or part of their working time. As an employer, you have the same duty of care for lone workers as for any other employee - you must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, their health, safety and welfare at work.
This guide explains how to identify lone working in your organisation, assess the specific risks, and put appropriate control measures in place.
What is lone working?
A lone worker is anyone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision. This includes people who:
- Work alone in fixed establishments (shop workers, petrol station attendants, warehouse staff)
- Work separately from others in the same building (cleaners, security guards, maintenance workers)
- Work away from a fixed base without colleagues (delivery drivers, home care workers, estate agents)
- Work from home with no one else present
- Work outside normal hours when others are not present
You may have lone workers without realising it. Consider whether any employees ever:
- Start early or stay late after others have left
- Work in a different part of the building from colleagues
- Travel to client sites or customer premises alone
- Work at weekends when no one else is in
- Work from home some or all of the time
Why lone workers face additional risks
Lone workers face the same hazards as any other worker, but these hazards can become more serious when there is no one nearby to help. The key issues are:
- No immediate assistance: If something goes wrong - an accident, sudden illness, or assault - there may be no one to help or raise the alarm
- Increased vulnerability: Working alone can make people more vulnerable to violence, aggression, or criminal attack
- Delayed emergency response: Without someone to call for help, emergency services may be summoned later, potentially worsening outcomes
- Isolation effects: Working alone for extended periods can affect mental health and wellbeing
- Higher-risk decisions: Without colleagues to consult, lone workers may take shortcuts or make poor judgments under pressure
Conducting a lone working risk assessment
You must include lone working in your general workplace risk assessment. For each lone working situation, assess:
1. The work environment
- Where does the lone working take place? (Fixed premises, mobile, client sites, outdoors)
- Is it a secure or controlled environment?
- Are there known hazards at the location?
- What is the mobile phone signal like? Can the worker always communicate?
- How quickly could emergency services reach the location?
2. The nature of the work
- What tasks does the lone worker perform?
- Do any tasks involve particular hazards (heights, machinery, hazardous substances)?
- Could any tasks be considered too dangerous for one person?
- What could go wrong, and what would the consequences be?
3. The individual worker
- Are they trained and competent to work alone?
- Do they have any medical conditions that could affect their safety while alone?
- Are they experienced enough to handle emergencies independently?
- Are they young, new to the role, or otherwise potentially vulnerable?
4. Third parties
- Will the worker interact with members of the public?
- Is there a foreseeable risk of violence or aggression?
- Are there known problem individuals or locations?
- Will the worker enter other people's homes?
Record keeping: If you have 5 or more employees, you must record the significant findings of your risk assessment. Even if you have fewer employees, keeping a written record is good practice and helps demonstrate compliance.
Control measures for lone workers
Based on your risk assessment, you must implement appropriate control measures. The specific controls needed depend on the risks identified, but most lone working situations require a combination of the following:
Communication systems in detail
Effective communication is the foundation of lone worker safety. You need systems that allow the worker to:
- Contact someone if they need help
- Be contacted to check they are safe
- Summon emergency assistance quickly
Options for communication include:
Mobile phones: The simplest solution for many situations. Ensure:
- The worker always has a charged phone
- They have signal coverage where they work (check this - don't assume)
- Key contact numbers are programmed in
- Someone knows to expect check-in calls
Lone worker devices: Specialist devices offering enhanced protection:
- GPS tracking - so you know where workers are
- Automatic fall detection - alerts triggered if the device detects a fall
- Man-down alerts - if the device is horizontal for too long or no movement detected
- Panic buttons/SOS - discreet buttons to summon help
- Two-way communication - speak directly with a monitoring centre
Costs for lone worker devices typically range from £15-£50 per month per device, including monitoring services. For higher-risk roles, this is a worthwhile investment.
Satellite communicators: For remote locations without mobile signal (farms, mountains, offshore):
- Work via satellite, not mobile networks
- Can send location and SOS signals from anywhere
- Essential for truly remote locations
Check-in procedures
Establish regular check-in procedures:
- Scheduled check-ins: Worker calls in at agreed times (e.g., start of day, midday, end of day)
- Location check-ins: Worker reports arrival at and departure from each location
- Automatic systems: Worker must acknowledge an alert within a set time or an alarm is raised
- Missed check-in protocol: Clear escalation procedure if a check-in is missed
Important: Someone must be responsible for receiving check-ins and acting if they are missed. An ignored check-in system provides no protection.
Training for lone workers
Lone workers need additional training beyond standard health and safety training. They must understand:
Emergency procedures
- How to summon help in different emergency situations
- First aid basics (they may need to self-treat minor injuries)
- Fire evacuation procedures for premises they work in alone
- What to do if they feel unwell
- How and when to use any lone worker devices provided
Risk awareness
- Understanding the specific risks of their role
- Recognising warning signs of dangerous situations
- Knowing when to withdraw from a situation
- Understanding that personal safety comes first
Personal safety (for workers facing violence risk)
- Conflict avoidance and de-escalation techniques
- Reading body language and warning signs
- Exit strategies and positioning
- Reporting and recording procedures
Consider specialist personal safety training for workers in high-risk roles. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provides training and resources specifically designed for lone worker safety.
Activities that may be unsuitable for lone working
Some work activities may be too dangerous to perform alone. Your risk assessment must consider whether lone working is appropriate for each task.
Making the decision
When deciding if a task is suitable for lone working, ask:
- Can the risks be adequately controlled? If not, the task should not be done alone
- Can the worker summon help? If communication is impossible, high-risk tasks should not be done alone
- Can rescue be achieved quickly enough? If emergency response would be too slow to prevent serious harm, lone working may not be appropriate
- Are there specific regulations? Some activities are legally prohibited for lone workers (e.g., certain confined space entry)
- Is the individual fit for lone work? Medical conditions may make some individuals unsuitable for specific lone working tasks
When in doubt, don't allow lone working. The cost of providing a second person is always less than the cost of a serious incident.
Emergency procedures for lone workers
Every lone worker must have access to emergency support. Your emergency procedures should cover:
Medical emergencies
- How the worker will get help if they become ill or are injured
- Location of first aid equipment
- Whether the worker has first aid training
- What medical information should be available to emergency responders
- Procedure for medication (e.g., if worker has diabetes, epilepsy, severe allergies)
Security incidents
- How to raise an alarm discreetly if threatened
- Safe areas or exit routes
- When to comply with demands vs. resist
- Post-incident reporting and support
Other emergencies
- Fire evacuation when working alone
- Equipment failure
- Vehicle breakdown in remote areas
- Severe weather
Raising the alarm
Lone workers must be able to raise an alarm quickly and effectively. Options include:
- Mobile phone call to pre-set number
- Panic button on lone worker device
- Coded phrase to alert monitoring centre
- Automatic alert if check-in missed
Test your emergency procedures regularly. A system that doesn't work when needed provides false reassurance.
Healthcare and social care workers
Healthcare and social care workers face particular lone working risks, especially when visiting patients or clients in their homes.
Key risks:
- Violence and aggression from patients, clients, or their family members
- Infection risks (especially relevant post-COVID)
- Manual handling in confined domestic spaces
- Unpredictable home environments (dogs, hoarding, drug paraphernalia)
- Emotional and psychological stress
Recommended control measures:
- Client risk assessment before first visit, updated regularly
- Information sharing about known risks (with appropriate consent)
- Mobile phone or lone worker device mandatory
- Check-in before and after each visit
- Colleague accompaniment for high-risk visits
- Personal safety training including de-escalation
- Clear policy on when to withdraw from a visit
The HSE has specific guidance for healthcare and social care workers.
Security guards and retail staff working alone
Security guards and retail staff who work alone face significant violence and aggression risks, particularly during late-night or early-morning hours.
Key risks:
- Robbery and theft
- Violence from intruders or aggressive customers
- Confrontation when challenging suspicious behaviour
- Working in isolated or poorly lit areas
Recommended control measures:
- CCTV with monitoring capability
- Panic alarms connected to monitoring centre or police
- Cash handling procedures to minimise amounts on site
- Physical security measures (screens, secure areas)
- Regular welfare checks from control room or supervisor
- Conflict management training
- Clear procedures for when not to intervene
- Post-incident support including counselling
Important: Security guards should never be expected to physically confront dangerous individuals alone. Personal safety must come before property protection.
Estate agents and property workers
Estate agents, letting agents, and property managers often meet strangers alone in empty properties - a significant personal safety risk.
Key risks:
- Meeting unknown individuals in isolated, empty buildings
- No witnesses or immediate help available
- Difficulty verifying identity of 'potential buyers' or 'tenants'
- Properties in unfamiliar or higher-crime areas
Recommended control measures:
- Verify identity before arranging viewings (photo ID, proof of address)
- Accompanied viewings wherever possible
- If alone, inform colleague of viewing details (property address, client name, expected duration)
- Check-in during and after viewings
- Lone worker device with GPS and panic button
- Know the property layout including exits before the viewing
- Position yourself between the client and the exit
- Personal safety training specific to the property industry
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust was established following the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in 1986. The Trust provides extensive resources on lone worker safety.
Delivery drivers and mobile workers
Delivery drivers, couriers, and mobile workers spend most of their working time alone, often visiting unfamiliar locations.
Key risks:
- Vehicle accidents with no one to assist
- Breakdown in remote or unfamiliar areas
- Confrontation at delivery addresses
- Fatigue from long hours driving
- Manual handling injuries when loading/unloading alone
Recommended control measures:
- Vehicle tracking with automatic alerts for stationary periods
- Regular welfare check-ins
- Mobile phone always charged and within reach
- Clear procedure for breakdowns including emergency contacts
- Route planning to avoid high-risk areas where possible
- Fatigue management including mandatory rest breaks
- Safe systems for handling parcels and goods
- Clear policy on what to do if delivery address seems unsafe
Drivers should never be pressured to make deliveries if they feel unsafe. Provide a clear reporting mechanism and support their judgment calls.
Monitoring and review
Lone working arrangements need ongoing monitoring and regular review:
Ongoing monitoring
- Check that communication systems are being used correctly
- Review check-in records for compliance
- Monitor for near-misses and incidents
- Get feedback from lone workers on whether arrangements are working
- Test emergency procedures periodically
When to review
Review your lone working risk assessment and control measures:
- At least annually as a minimum
- After any incident or near-miss involving a lone worker
- When lone working activities or locations change
- When new lone workers join or existing workers change roles
- If a worker reports concerns about their safety
- Following changes to guidance or best practice
Learning from incidents
Every incident involving lone workers should be investigated:
- What happened and why?
- Did the control measures work as intended?
- What would have happened if the worst had occurred?
- How can we prevent this happening again?
- Do we need to update our risk assessment or procedures?
Compliance checklist
Use this checklist to verify your lone working arrangements:
- Lone workers identified
- All roles involving lone working have been identified and documented
- Risk assessment completed
- Specific lone working risks assessed for each role or activity
- Control measures in place
- Communication systems, check-in procedures, and other controls implemented
- Training provided
- Lone workers trained on emergency procedures, risk awareness, and use of safety equipment
- Emergency procedures
- Clear procedures for raising alarms and responding to emergencies
- Communication systems work
- Systems tested in actual working locations (not assumed to work)
- Check-in system active
- Someone responsible for monitoring check-ins and responding to missed calls
- Prohibited activities defined
- Tasks unsuitable for lone working clearly identified and communicated
- Worker fitness considered
- Individual workers assessed for suitability to work alone
- Review scheduled
- Regular review dates set and previous reviews documented