WORKING ALONE SAFELY

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WORKING ALONE SAFELY

• SAFETY SERVICES
• MAY 2009

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Employers are responsible for

• The health, safety and welfare at work for their
  employees and those affected by the work
• Assess risks to lone workers
• Take steps to avoid or control risk where
  necessary

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Employees are responsible for

• Taking reasonable care of themselves, and other
  people who may be affected by their work
• Co-operate with their employers in meeting their
  legal obligations

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Who are Lone Workers?

• Lone workers are those who work by themselves
  without close or direct supervision
• No clear definition of lone worker but there
  are a large number of occupations that lone
  work. Egs -Doctors, district nurses, milkmen,
  salesmen, postmen, meter readers, maintenance
  workers, lorry drivers etc

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Is this man a lone worker?
NO
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Spot the Lone Worker
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There he is!
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University Lone Workers

• Will include-
• Staff working from home or alone in an office
• Security other mobile staff
• Lecturers
• Maintenance workers
• Travellers to conferences
• Cleaners
• Field workers / researchers
• Staff carrying out home visits

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Can People Legally Work Alone?

• Legislation does not prohibit lone working, but
  the duties of HASAW Act 1974, and MHSW
  Regulations 1999 apply
• These require
• Identifying the hazards of the work
• Assessing the risks involved
• Implementing measures to AVOID or CONTROL the risk

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Identifying the Hazards

• Talk to the people involved as they are a
  valuable source of information and advice. Find
  out exactly what is involved to carryout the
  task, eg-
• Does the workplace present a special hazard?
• Is the access to, or exit from the workplace
  safe?
• Is the lighting and ventilation sufficient?
• Will other adjacent processes activities
  present a risk?
• Is any equipment to be used safe regularly
  maintained?
• What risks would the worker be exposed to?

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Control Measures

• Control measures may include-
• Instruction
• Training
• Supervision
• Protective equipment
• Communication devices
• Safe working procedures
• Employers should take steps to check that control
  measures are used and review the risk assessment
  from time to time to ensure that it is still
  adequate.

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Safe Working Arrangements

• Lone workers face particular problems. Some of
  the issues which need special attention when
  planning safe working arrangements are as
  follows-

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Safe Working Arrangements The Individual

• Is the person medically fit and suitable to work
  alone?
• Check that the worker has no medical conditions
  which make them unsuitable for working alone.
• See medical advice if necessary.
• Consider both routine work and foreseeable
  emergencies which may impose additional physical
  and mental burdens on the worker.

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Safe Working Arrangements training / competency
requirements

• To avoid panic in unusual situations.
• Lone workers need to be sufficiently experienced
  and fully understand the risks and controls.
• Know the set limits of what can and cannot be
  done whilst working alone.
• To deal with situations which are new, unusual or
  unexpected and to know when to stop work and seek
  advice from a supervisor.
• Know how to handle aggression.

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Safe Working Arrangements Supervision

• Although lone workers cannot be subject to
  constant supervision, it is still an employers
  duty to ensure their health and safety at work.
  Supervision can help to ensure-
• Employees understand the risk associated with
  their work.
• That necessary safety precautions are carried
  out.

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Safe Working Arrangements Supervision contd

• Provide guidance in situations of uncertainty.
• This could be carried out when checking the
  progress and quality of the work
• It may take the form of periodic site visits
  combined with discussions in which health and
  safety issues are raised.
• Frequency would depend on
• competence experience of
• lone worker type of work

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Safe Working Arrangements the extent of
Supervision depends on

• The risks involved (from the risk assessment)
• The ability of the lone worker to identify and
  handle health and safety issues.
• The experience of the lone worker.
• Is he new to the job?
• Is it a job with special risks?
• Are there new situations?
• The competence and trustworthiness of the worker.

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Monitoring Lone Workers

• Procedures will needed to ensure they remain
  safe. These may include-
• Periodic visits supervision of lone workers
• Regular contact between the lone worker
  supervisor.
• Automatic warning devices which operate is
  specific signals are not received periodically
  from the lone worker.
• Other devices designed to raise the alarm in the
  event of an emergency which operate manually or
  automatically.
• Checks that a lone worker has returned to their
  base or home on completion of their task.

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Emergency situations

• What happens if a lone worker becomes ill, has an
  accident, or some other emergency, arises, like a
  fire?

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Emergency Procedures

• Lone workers should be capable of responding
  correctly to emergencies.
• Emergency procedures should be established and
  lone workers trained in them.
• Information about emergency procedures and danger
  areas in the workplace should be given to them.
• They should have access to adequate first-aid
  facilities.
• Mobile workers should carry a first-aid kit.
• Occasionally risk assessment may indicate that
  lone workers need training in first-aid.

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Lone Worker ChecklistWorkplace 1

• Do I need to go?
• Have I checked the file for relevant information?
• Have I told someone of my intended movements?
• Have I got means of communication?
• Have I thought trough my own what if plan?
• Do I feel confident to go?
• If the answer to any of the above is NO then
  the lone worker should speak to his/her line
  manager before continuing.

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Lone Worker ChecklistWorkplace 2

• Does the workplace present a special hazard?
• Is the access to, or exit from, the workplace
  safe?
• Is the lighting and ventilation sufficient?
• Will other adjacent processes and activities
  present a risk?
• Is equipment safe and regularly maintained?
• What risks will the worker be exposed to in the
  event of an equipment failure?
• Can substances and goods be handled safely?
• Does the worker have the appropriate PPE and are
  they trained in its use?
• Has the worker been trained to do the task
  correctly?
• Has the worker demonstrated their ability to do
  the task satisfactorily?

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Lone Worker ChecklistWorkplace 3

• Is the worker medically fit to undertake the
  task?
• Has the worker sufficient information about the
  job, equipment or substances?
• If cash is being handled, will they be at risk of
  violence?
• Is the worker known to be reliable and seek help
  when they reach the limit of their knowledge or
  experience?
• What is the appropriate level of supervision for
  the task?
• What first-aid provision is required?
• How will you communicate with the worker to
  ensure their well being?
• What are the arrangements for the worker in the
  event of an emergency?

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Tracing Systems 1 Are You Covered

• Consider the following -
• My colleagues will know where to start looking
  should I not return to base on time?
• If I decide to change my plans during the day
  someone would be aware of this?
• There is a clear procedure to follow in case
  someone does not return at the expected time?
• There is a system to raise the alarm covertly in
  case of emergency while working alone?

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Tracing Systems 2 Are You Covered

• I am confident that an appropriate person will
  pick up the phone if I call the office in an
  emergency?
• When (if) I am lone working out of office hours,
  there is a system to monitor my safety?
• There is information available so that my line
  manager could contact my partner/family (to
  ensure my safety) should I fail to return from an
  appointment?
• My partner/family have contact details of a
  colleague should I fail to return from work, even
  out of normal working hours?

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Practical Strategies for Travelling -PLAN

• PREPARATION Plan your journey, your route, take
  a personal alarm, contingency plans, etc.
• LOOK CONFIDENT Confident body language means
  you are less likely to run into trouble.
• AWARENESS Be aware of your surroundings and be
  alert to your body responses to situation.
• NEVER ASSUME ......

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Lone Worker Checklist Useful Pointers For
Managers 1

• Carry out informal inspections of the workplace
  and access on a regular basis to make sure it is
  safe, and that people are working safely.
• Ask yourself would you feel working there?
• Check equipment is being maintained correctly
  records kept.
• Ensure MSDS are available for all materials used
  and stored on the premises.
• Ensure risk assessments of all processes and
  activities are available for workers to refer to
  and the that Safe Working Procedures are
  available.
• Ensure you know workers are fully aware of local
  rules, especially those related to working out of
  normal business hours.

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Lone Worker Checklist Useful Pointers For
Managers 2

• Check the out of hours signing in book to
  ensure people are signing in and that they have
  the Head of Departments permission to work out
  of hours.
• Periodically speak to those who work alone
  informally and find out if they have any concerns
  that can be dealt with easily.
• Ensure they know you do not want them to put
  themselves at risk.
• Ask them how the job could be made safer.
• Ensure you have a reliable system for contacting
  the lone worker and establishing that they are
  free from harm.
• Consider what emergency situations could arise
  and make sure that procedures are in place to
  cover them.

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Useful Pointers For Lone Workers 1

• Ensure someone knows where you are and establish
  a contact system so that you can tell someone
  when youre at work and when youre leaving.
• Dont do anything which you feel might put you in
  danger report any dangerous incident or
  situation to your supervisor and seek advice.
• Dont cut corners or rush the work, set
  yourself a reasonable target and work towards it.

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Useful Pointers For Lone Workers 2

• If you start to feel tired either stop for a
  short break, take a walk outside in the fresh
  air, or go home after contacting your supervisor
  and/or signing out.
• Ensure you know and follow, relevant safe working
  procedures and guidelines for operating equipment
  and handling and using substances.
• If you dont know how to do something dont do
  it leave it until someone is around to help
  you.

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Useful Pointers For Lone Workers 3

• If you get injured stay calm, use your training,
  and if you need assistance contact the Emergency
  Control Centre on 0114 222 4444 or, if off
  campus, dial 999 giving clear instruction to the
  Emergency Services of where you are and the
  nature of the incident.

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Home Visits Meeting the Public 1

• Have your lone workers -
• Been fully trained in strategies for the
  prevention of violence?
• Been briefed about the areas where they work, or
  will work?
• Been made aware of attitudes, traits or
  mannerisms that can annoy clients?
• Been given all available information about the
  client from all the relevant agencies?
• Left an itinerary?
• Made plans to keep in contact with colleagues?
• The means to contact you?
• The relevant telephone numbers?
• A sound grasp of your organisations preventative
  strategy?
• Authority to arrange an accompanied visit,
  security escort, or use of a taxi?

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Home Visits Meeting the Public 2

• Do your lone workers -
• Carry forms for reporting incidents, including
  violence or threats of violence?
• Understand the importance of previewing cases?
• Appreciate the need for this procedure and use
  it?
• Know your attitude to premature termination of
  interviews?
• Know how to control and defuse potentially
  violent situations?
• Appreciate their responsibility for their own
  safety?
• Understand the provisions for support by your
  organisation?

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Lone Workers Remember!

• Greet clients politely and with eye contact.
• Be aware of body language, signs of anger,
  tension, stress, etc.
• Avoid invading other peoples personal space or
  touching them.
• If attacked your voice is your best defence,
  shout a positive command or yell loudly to
  Stop.
• Have a mobile phone for emergencies but keep it
  secure and out of sight with a number
  pre-programmed for emergency use.
• Procedures for call-in should be in place
  together with those for non-arrival.
• If using car parks in busy areas, use ones which
  are well lit at night.
• Dont leave anything visible in the car. Lock
  all doors.
• Trust your intuition, if the situation feels
  unsafe, or you feel uneasy use a plausible
  excuse and leave.
• Consider meeting clients in public places e.g.
  hotels etc