When do you need a lone working system? Our organisation has a few staff members who must meet clients outside of the office environment. Should we introduce a “lone working system” for these employees?
Put simply, Yes. As lone workers are defined as those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision either working in fixed establishments or mobile away from a fixed base, you would need to implement a lone working system.
There are no general legal prohibitions on working alone, but the broad duties of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations apply and require the employer to identify hazards of the work, assessing the risks involved, and putting measures in place to avoid or control the risks.
Arrangements for managing lone working activities can range from low technology (such as a diary or whiteboard system) to high technology (using mobiles, radios, lone working devices and even tracking devices).
The suitability of the arrangements should be reflective of the level of risk associated with the activities and should be identified in your Health and Safety policy, or a standalone policy. Further these arrangements should be monitored for their continued effectiveness and implementation.
