What is a lone worker?
Many employees and self-employed people are lone workers - at least part of the time, here are definitions the types of a lone worker, and some examples.
A lone worker is anyone who works alone. Lone workers can include:
- Self-employed people.
- Employees who work away from their business' base. This occurs in a wide range of business activities such as transport, painting and decorating and electrical and other repair work.
- People working outside normal hours - such as factory security staff or a night cleaner in an office block.
- Mobile workers who may be on their own for long periods of their working day, eg sales people.
- People who work from home.
Small businesses often use lone workers. For example, a shop might be staffed by just one worker at any given time.
Employed lone workers
If you employ lone workers, you have the same responsibilities for their health and safety as for any other employees. You may, however, need to take extra precautions to ensure that lone workers are at no greater risk than your other employees. See your legal responsibilities for lone workers health and safety.
Self-employed lone workers
If you're self-employed you have a duty to protect your own health and safety. If you're self-employed and you work alone, you must identify and minimise any risks that working alone involves.