Lone working presents risks that require planning and precautions. It is defined as working without close supervision, and includes those in fixed workplaces alone, mobile workers, and people working outside normal hours. Risks include tasks requiring more than one person, emergencies where assistance is needed, and potential assaults from clients. However, lone working can also have benefits like fewer distractions. Safety involves assessing the person, location, tasks, tools, and foreseeable problems to ensure all aspects are suitable to do alone. Precautions include telling someone your plans and contact details in case of an emergency.

1. 1
Lone WorkingLone Working
Toolbox Talk
This document is made available on the condition that it is used solely to assist you in the preparation of your own safety training
material. Use for resale or similar commercial activity to third parties is strictly forbidden. This document was produced for our
internal use only, and therefore it may not be suitable or sufficient for your purposes. No guarantees whatsoever can be given as to
their legal compliance or comprehensiveness, and you are responsible for obtaining professional advice and verification as to the
correctness or suitability of any training or documents which you produce which are based wholly or in part on these. No liabilities
whatsoever are accepted. It has been made available purely for information to others who may find them useful when formulating
their own safety training and procedures.
© A. Groves & Océ (UK) Ltd

2. 2
Lone WorkingLone Working
 HSE definition::
 “Those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision”
People in fixed establishments
 Only one person works on the premises
(eg shops, fuel stations, home-workers)
 People who work separately from others
(eg anyone in a one-person office or workshop, home-workers etc)
 People who work outside normal hours, inc the first person to
arrive & the last one to leave each day
(also cleaners, security, maintenance staff etc)
Mobile workers
 Construction, maintenance and cleaning workers
(eg builders, painters, electricians, window cleaners etc)
 Agricultural and forestry workers
 Service workers (eg postmen, social workers, estate agents, service
techs, salespeople, also car, taxi, van, lorry & train drivers)

3. 3
Lone workingLone working
 If other people are present
(eg clients, customers, public):
 Major risk may be assault
(e.g. robbery, mugging, sexual, deranged)
 Other risks include interference, obstruction, tasks which require
2 people
 If no-one else is within aural or visual range,
risks include:
 Tasks which require 2 people
 Action in an emergency:
To oneself (first-aid, rescue etc)
To the workplace or equipment (fire, spillage, security etc)



4. 4
Lone WorkingLone Working
 Lone working is not in itself unlawful, it is unsafe only if:
 an unsafe situation is allowed to arise.
 the person does an unsafe act.
 Lone working can have a positive effect:
 greater concentration from less chatter or background noise.
 less / no interruptions from colleagues, visitors, telephone etc if
out of office hours.
 fewer distractions.

5. 5
Safety while working aloneSafety while working alone
 Check that there is nothing unsafe nor unsuitable about:
 The person (their physical, mental, medical & emotional condition)
 The location and environment
 The tools, equipment and materials
 The tasks
 Plan the activity to ensure that every part of it is safe and
suitable to do on your own.
 Consider normal work and foreseeable problems / emergencies
A few high-risk activities have specific regulations which require 2
people (eg diving, some confined spaces etc)
 This also applies in your private life at home or elsewhere,
whether doing everyday tasks or DIY etc.
Many adults live on their own or do lone leisure activities
(eg fishing, running, surfing, swimming, wind-surfing etc)

6. 6
Safety while working aloneSafety while working alone
 Consider action in an emergency
 Who to contact and how
a person elsewhere in the building (eg security guard?).
a person elsewhere on the site.
a person elsewhere (eg family).
the emergency services.
 If you are likely to be alone for a significant time:
 tell someone where you are and what you are doing.
 arrange to call them at an agreed time.
 arrange that if you don't phone them by an agreed time, they will
phone you (give them your contact number!).
 you should tell them what action to take if they don't get an answer.

7. 7
P.A.U.S.E.P.A.U.S.E.
P.A.U.S.E.
for thought
 PPlan each task
 AAnalyse what might happen
 UUnexpected - be prepared
 SSlipping, tripping & sprains
 EEntanglement
P.A.U.S.E. for thought ... think safety
A millisecond makes all the
difference

8. 8
To concludeTo conclude
 Please think about what you have seen in this
presentation.
 Injuries hurt. Pain isn’t pleasant.
 Safety = 100%
concentration
100%
of the time
 You have choices about your life.