Lone Working

Please select a letter from the A-Z list below:

Is it legal to work alone and is it safe?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is frequently asked these questions. Working alone is not in itself against the law, and it will often be quite safe to do so. However, the law requires employers and others to think about and deal with any health and safety risks before people should be allowed to work alone. Employers have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare at work of all of their employees. They are also responsible for the health and safety of others who may be on their premises, for example any self-employed people they engage, and for visitors such as contractors.

Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision and at the University this could apply to quite a number of staff either on an occasional or a regular basis. As a result we have agreed a Lone Working Policy and associated guidance for staff and managers on the reasonable and practicable steps which we can and should take to minimise any health or safety hazards from ‘Lone Working’

Read the following for additional information:

HSE offer information on Lone Working
HSE web leaflet 'Out of Hours Working'