This guidance is designed to advise healthcare organisations and their staff on developing, implementing and disseminating local policies and procedures that address the needs of, and minimise the risks faced by, the many different groups of staff that may have to work alone in a diverse range of environments. It also provides lone workers and their line managers with practical advice to assist in preparing for a lone worker situation.
Finally, this guidance will assist both the NHS and private employers and their staff in meeting their legislative responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Guidance on this legislation is available from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website, www.hse.gov.uk
The purpose of this module is to raise staff awareness of safety issues relating to lone working and to:
- ensure that lone working is risk-assessed in an appropriate and dynamic way, and that safe systems and methods are put in place to reduce the risk, so far as is reasonably practicable
- encourage full reporting and recording of any adverse incidents relating to lone working
- reduce the incidents of violence and abuse and injuries to staff related to lone working
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
➢ Know what is meant by lone working
➢ Identify the duties and responsibilities your employer has to you, and be aware of your responsibilities as a Lone Worker
➢ Recognise the process of risk assessment of people’s roles and be aware of how to identify potential risks that exist from lone working
➢ Identify the precautionary measures that should be implemented in order to reduce exposure to the risks of lone working
