Lone Working: What Businesses Need To Know

Lone Working: What You Need To Know K9 Patrol A Security Services What is lone working? It can also include people who work antisocial hours, maintenance and repair staff, and people working offsite in construction, agriculture or forestry. may also refer to community care workers, nurses, sales reps and even postal workers, or anyone else visiting domestic or commercial It It refers to people working alone in fixed establishments These can include workshops, kiosks, home offices and even warehouses. premises. The law surrounding lone working Lone working is completely legal. However, in order for a business to employ lone workers, there are a number of considerations. Risk Assessment Control Measures Control measures that A risk assessment is necessary to identify the correct amount of supervision and back up for the work. employers should think about for lone workers include - Training - Supervision When working in confined spaces communication and rescue arrangements are always necessary. - Communication - Protective equipment & safety arrangements Control Measures for Lone Workers Communication and supervision Training Lone workers always need to be trained and prepared to understand the risks they are undertaking. These are both essential when considering whether to employ lone workers. It is the duty of employers to set limits as to what may or may not be done whilst working alone. Workers should be readily contactable at all times, be it by radio, landline, or mobile phone. A warning and alarm system should be in place should anything go wrong Emergency response Workers should be trained to respond in the event of an emergency. They should Other considerations also have access to a First Aid training kit. - Is there a risk of violence? - Can the lone worker get safely off the premises? - If you are employing young, or older workers, is it safe for them to be working alone? Sources: http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/ K9 Patrol Created by http://www.k9patrol.co.uk/ Security Services