CEPU Logo Occupational Health & Safety Resource Kit.
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Working alone - a risky life
Working alone - a risky life
Although there is no general legal prohibition on working alone, the broad duties of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (2000) and the Regulations (2001) still apply. They require employers to assess and identify the hazards of the work, assessing the risks involved and putting measures in place to avoid or control those risks.

For employers to establish safe working conditions for lone workers is no different from organising the safety of other employees.

Employers' concerns should include:
  • can the risks of the job be adequately controlled by one person?
  • is there a risk of violence?
  • are women especially at risk if they work alone?
  • are young workers especially at risk if they work alone?
  • is the person medically fit and suitable to work alone?
  • what training is required to ensure competency in safety matters?
  • how will the person be supervised?
  • what happens if a person becomes ill, has an accident, or there is an emergency.

Even though the loneworker's place of work may be an ill-defined one an employer must continue
to abide by the provisions of the legislation by providing a safe work environment, access to workplace safety reps and committees and access to amenities such as a sick room and first aid. Lone workers, just because they are on their own should not be required to lift heavy weights nor forego recreational and rest breaks.

Loneworkers should record all accidents and injuries and near misses.

Some additional safeguards can include:
  • using a buddy system whereby a second person is assigned to work with the first when the job cannot be done safely alone.
  • mobile communications (either phones or walkietalkies) must always be available in an industry where such equipment is readily available.
  • a range of emergency, personal distress and violent attack alarms could be made available.
  • ensure that workplace risk assessments identify lone working on and off site and all potential hazards.
  • people should work in pairs at difficult or out of the way sites
  • records of staff whereabouts should be kept.
  • information on high risk geographical areas or jobs should be given to staff, particularly new members.
Lady walking alone