Types of Lone Worker

Could you or someone you employ be classed as a ‘lone worker’? From care to construction, agriculture to retail, nearly every sector hires lone workers.

Could you or someone you employ be classed as a ‘lone worker’? From care to construction, agriculture to retail, nearly every sector hires lone workers. Employers have unique legal obligations to those that work alone, so it’s important to identify them correctly.

What is lone working?
A lone worker is defined as “those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision”. Lone workers might operate in a remote location, in isolated areas, or they may be surrounded by people, but not by their team.

Why is lone working dangerous?
Even though some lone workers may work in very low-risk roles, working without close or direct supervision comes with an inherently higher risk. Should a lone worker be injured, it is more likely that no one would know about it.

Lone workers types

#1 Lone working in remote locations
Lone working can be particularly risky when combined with working in geographically remote locations. Workers in agriculture, environmental protection, energy, and offshore sectors are common examples of workers who may be frequently isolated. In these roles, the risks of dangerous terrain, unpredictable working conditions, and environmental factors can add to the lack of supervision.

#2 Those that work with the public
For those that work with or around the public or who work in people’s homes, lone working can come with its own risks. Working with the public can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous. In fact, around 150 lone workers are physically or verbally attacked every day in the UK. Common sectors include property and real estate, construction and maintenance, retail, security, health and social care, logistics, and public defence.

#3 Non-traditional employees, including part-time, zero-hour and gig-economy workers
The face of work is changing and increasingly on-demand staff, zero-hour and gig-economy workers need to be protected. These types of workers may work inconsistent hours and may not visit a central office. If these types of workers were to be injured, it may take longer for their absence to be noticed.

Lone working can affect all industries. And as an employer, it’s essential to identify lone workers and to take precautions to keep them safe.

If you want to know more about lone workers and how to protect them, book a demo with us.