Lone worker
A lone worker (LW) is an employee who performs an activity that is carried out in isolation from other workers without close or direct supervision.[1] Such staff may be exposed to risk because there is no-one to assist them and so a risk assessment may be required.[2][3][4]
Examples of lone workers
There are different types of lone workers including:
- People working at home such as telecommuters, affiliated marketers, writers
- Workers in the energy industry or oil and gas Industry including upstream workers like surveyors, land managers, drillers, and midstream or downstream workers such as refinery workers and drivers
- Construction workers
- Mobile workers such as traveling salesmen, truck drivers, health visitors, repair technicians
- People who work in any type of Manufacturing facility
- People working outside normal hours such as security guards, cleaners
- Utility workers such as meter readers or technicians
- Self-employed people
- People who work apart from their colleagues such as receptionists, retail clerks, service station attendants
Countries with lone worker legislation
The following countries have enacted lone worker legislation:
- Australia
- Canada (Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)
- France
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Spain
In Australia
Australia has legislation regarding lone workers and their employers.
- Guidance Note, Working Alone 2009[5]
In Canada
Some of the Provinces in Canada have enacted legislation regarding employer's responsibility towards Lone Workers.
Alberta
- Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety Code: An Explanation of the "Working Alone" Requirements 2009 [6]
- Working Alone (Part 28 of the Occupational Health and Safety Code) 2009[7]
Additional Province-issued documents include:
- Working Alone Safely – A Guide for Employers and Employees 2000[8]
British Columbia
- Working Alone or in Isolation Regulation 2011[9]
- WorkSafeBC OHS Regulations General Conditions Part 4 2009[10]
Manitoba
- Code of Practice for Workers Working Alone or in Isolation 2006[11]
- Workplace Health and Safety Regulation Part 9[12]
Saskatchewan
- The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 1996[13]
In France
France has enacted laws protecting lone workers.
- Code du travail - Article R4512-13 2008[14]
In Germany
Germany has codified laws mandating when it is legal to work alone and how those workers must be protected.
- § 5 Arbeitsschutzgesetz
In Spain
Spain has codified laws governing the protection of lone workers.
- La Ley 31/1995 de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales 1995[15]
In the United Kingdom
The UK has specific legislation and standards that are relevant to Lone Workers and their Employers.
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977(a) and The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996(b)
- The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
- Fire Act 2005
Managing lone workers
Common practices used by companies to manage the personal safety of their Lone Workers are:
- Conducting Risk Assessments
- Documenting a Lone Worker Policy
- Implementation of a Buddy System
- Lone Worker Training
- Conflict Management Training
- Use of monitoring systems and equipment (Panic Alarms, Mandown (fall/impact) Detectors, Pendant Trackers, GPS based Mobile Apps [16])
See also
References
- ↑ , BSIA Lone Workers guide for Employers
- ↑ Phil Hughes, Ed Ferrett (2009), "Lone workers", Introduction to Health and Safety at Work, Butterworth-Heinemann, p. 117, ISBN 978-1-85617-668-2
- ↑ , NHS Lone Working Guidance Section 3.3
- ↑ , NHS Lone Working Guidance Section 3.3
- ↑ , Guidance Note, Working Alone
- ↑ , Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety Code: An Explanation of the "Working Alone" Requirements
- ↑ , Working Alone (Part 28 of the Occupational Health and Safety Code)
- ↑ , Working Alone Safely – A Guide for Employers and Employees
- ↑ , Working Alone or in Isolation
- ↑ , WorkSafeBC OHS Regulations General Conditions Part 4
- ↑ , Code of Practice for Workers Working Alone or in Isolation
- ↑ , Workplace Health and Safety Regulation
- ↑ , The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
- ↑ , Code du travail - Article R4512-13
- ↑ , Ley 31/1995. de 8 de noviembre, de Prevencion de Riesgos Laborales
- ↑ Lone Worker Protection Mobile Application Example 1: MobileLWP http://www.crystalball.tv/lone-worker-protection/