The two items of legislation that govern the legal requirements for lone working are The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999). Working alone is not in itself against the law and it will often be safe to do so. However, the law requires employers to consider carefully, and then deal with, any health and safety risks for people working alone. Employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare at work of all their workers. They also have responsibility for the health and safety of any contractors or self-employed people doing work for them. These responsibilities cannot be transferred to any other person, including those people who work alone. Workers have responsibilities to take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work activities and to co-operate with their employers in meeting their legal obligations.

Employers have a duty to assess risks to lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risks where necessary. This must include

Involving workers when considering potential risks and measures to control them

Taking steps to ensure risks are removed where possible, or putting in place control measures, e.g. carefully selecting work equipment to ensure the worker is able to perform the required tasks in safety

Instruction, training and supervision

Reviewing risk assessments periodically or when there has been a significant change in working practice. This may include being aware that some tasks may be too difficult or dangerous to be carried out by an unaccompanied worker

Where a lone worker is working at another employer’s workplace, informing that other employer of the risks and the required control measures

When a risk assessment shows it is not possible for the work to be conducted safely by a lone worker, addressing that risk by making arrangements to provide help or back-up.

Ref. INDG73