This is a matter that needs more exposure. According to Health & Safety Executive, we can say that lone workers are "those who work alone without direct or close supervision. Any employee who works alone is classed as a lone worker, and this includes contractors, self-employed people and employees”.

How can employers guarantee the safety and health of their lone workers?

Lone workers face dangers and hazards. Those who work alongside others cannot even imagine these risks. Their safety and health – including self-employed workers – is actually covered by law, even though it can often be overlooked. They are usually out of sight, and consequently out of mind, and employers may mistakenly believe that the self-employed staffs are responsible for their own safety.

Why a proper policy is vital

An adequate lone working policy sets your business out as a responsible company, one that cares for its workers. Having in place a lone working policy encourages a safety culture, as well as healthy attitudes towards security and safety from your workers when it is put together with care. Taking the necessary time to highlight give significance to the policy and discuss it with lone workers as well as with their managers will keep security, safety and lone working a current and never overlooked matter.

A great policy will also be a guide for your personnel. It can actually be something scary being a lone worker, and thus, having a policy document that employees can refer back to is a safety net and comfort. Something along the lines of a lone worker alarm, it acts as a kind of a security blanket.

Lone worker policies can keep them safe and protect their wellbeing

Your lone worker policy needs to cover all the situations where a lone worker could run into, a set of procedures can help coach workers become confident in their roles, as well as facing hazards.

What is actually a lone worker policy?

A lone working policy is nothing else than a practical guide aimed to outline hazards and establish procedures for the safety of lone workers.

Employees must be able to apply the policy to their own role, so the lone worker policy of your company will be unique to your organisation, depending on the challenges your personnel come up against and what alternatives you select to protect them.

Many businesses in the United Kingdom draft comprehensive and clear lone worker policies to enforce specific safety measures for lone workers and their supervisors. The lone worker policy is a formally written document that tells the entire team the safety gear, procedures and precautions to take while working alone.

A lone worker policy is just the standard written document a company and its lone workers need to follow every day to adhere to specific safety precautions.

Lone worker policies can keep them safe and protect their wellbeing

Because lone workers spend time away from other colleagues and team members, it is essential to create systems for protecting these lone workers while they are on the job.

So do I need a lone working policy?

Ask yourself: do my employees work alone? Even on an occasional basis? If the answer is positive, then your answer is: Yes, you need a lone working policy within your organisation.