School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
Lone working
Introduction
This document is a supplement to the University’s Working Alone Policy [ http://dl-cfs-01.uel.ac.uk/hrservices/documents/emhandbook/working_alone.pdf ] and covers activities that are undertaken within the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience.
What is a lone worker?
A lone worker could be:
§ Any one working outside of ‘normal’ office hours i.e. hours other than 9-5 such as evenings and weekends.
§ Any one working ‘off site’ i.e. on a visit or working away from the university premises.
Practically, consideration of a lone worker should include:
§ What to do in the case that something unexpected happens (Fire, First aid, Security issues)
§ That someone knows where you are, what you are doing, the times you will be working between, etc
The Lone Worker Policy
The purpose of the lone working policy is to ensure
§ That a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is completed
§ That a safe system of work is provided
§ That appropriate information is give to staff lone working
§ That adequate first aid provision is provided
Risk Assessment
Where a decision needs to be made on whether individuals can work alone, a risk assessment needs to be completed. This would consider issues in addition to those that would normally be covered in a risk assessment such as first aid, communication difficulties, the location the work would take place. REMEMBER, lone working, apart from those highlighted in the university policy, must have an approved risk assessment completed before the work is undertaken.. More details about risk assessment and risk assessment form can be found in the “Introduction to risk assessment” document.
A risk assessment should be carried out assessing
§ The risk of the activity
§ The risk to personal safety of the individual
When completing a risk assessment the following should receive consideration, with specific identification of each issue.
The process for lone workers should cover the following points
1. Identifying a lone worker
2. Instigation of a beginning of work recording system
3. Instigation of an end of work recording system
4. Information on procedures
5. Communication
Safe system of work
The university generally considers that staff and research workers can work safely on their own in laboratories and workshops. There are specific activities that are prohibited from working alone due to an unacceptably high risk. Please see the University’s policy. When working away from the university premises, the personal safety of the individual must be considered. Simple procedures such as establishing the start and finish of a visit by telephone call should be organised and procedures for what to do if contact with lone worker cannot be made.
Undergraduate Students and lone working
In short, undergraduate students can not lone work. Other policies such as the “Laboratory Safety Code for Staff and Students” and “The Use of Human Subjects” indicate that undergraduates are required to be supervised. Whilst the definition and application of supervision may vary, it is implicit that undergraduate students cannot lone work.
Information
It is imperative that members of staff know the emergency procedures (i.e. fire, evacuation, first aid, etc). This is more difficult when staff are working away from the university premises. Hence these factors must be considered when completing the risk assessment.
First aid
It is advisable that lone workers are trained in first aid. However consideration must be given to the possibility that the lone worker may become injured and not able to administer first aid to themselves.
Procedure for Lone working within the University Premises
Complete a risk assessment form and submit it to the Dean of School for approval.
If you are working outside of normal office hours, please email Security The email should outline where you will be working, between what times, what telephone extension you will be on. When you have completed your work, you must call 7771 and report to security that you have completed and are leaving the building.
Working over a weekend need the permission of the Dean and a suitably sufficient risk assessment, for activities other than office work.
In case of emergency
Call 7771 (24hour security). The security will be able to call the local security guards. All University security guards have first-aid qualifications. However if there is an agency guard working then they may not have a first aid qualification.
In the case of fire please follow the direction outlined in the “Fire Evacuation Policy”.
Procedure for Lone working Away from the University Premises
1. A risk assessment must be completed and approved before the activity is undertaken.
2. Arrangements must be made for communication, first aid, contact details, etc. This should be made in consultation with your line manager.
Further Information
For further information or if you have any questions please contact Gary Doyle
Or visit the HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg73.pdf
Lone Worker Policy Page 3 of 3