Lone Worker Policy Writers
Lone worker policies outline how businesses protect employees who work alone without direct supervision, either on-site or off-site.
These HR policies help manage the specific risks faced by lone workers and ensure legal compliance with health and safety duties.
What Do Lone Worker Policies Cover?
A lone worker policy typically includes:
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Definition of lone working and roles it applies to
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Risk assessments and safety measures
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Communication procedures and emergency contacts
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Use of lone worker monitoring systems or apps
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Training and supervision requirements
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Reporting procedures for incidents or concerns
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Responsibilities of both managers and employees
Under UK health and safety law, employers have a duty to assess and control risks to lone workers. This includes physical safety, mental wellbeing, and access to support in case of emergency.
A clear policy helps reduce liability, reassure staff, and ensure that those working alone do so in a safe and supported way.
What the Law Says
There is no UK statute that bans lone working, but several put significant duties on employers. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 add a duty to assess risks to lone workers specifically.
The HSE's Working Alone (INDG73) guidance sets out the practical expectations: a documented risk assessment, controls to reduce or remove risks, communication procedures, and training.
Personal injury claims and HSE prosecutions in this area routinely turn on whether the employer can produce contemporaneous risk-assessment evidence.
Common Compliance Gaps
- Generic policy with no role-specific risk assessment.
- No check-in or buddy system for high-risk roles such as community care, security, or remote engineering.
- Reliance on personal mobile phones with no escalation procedure when contact is lost.
- No training on de-escalation, first-aid for solo workers, or incident reporting.
- Drivers and visiting staff treated as "office-based" because their HR record says so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person legally work alone in the UK?
Yes, in most roles. Some activities are restricted: confined-space entry usually needs at least two people, and certain electrical and lifting operations require a competent second person.
Otherwise, lone working is lawful provided the employer has assessed the risks and put suitable controls in place.
Do remote workers count as lone workers?
Yes. Remote and hybrid workers fall within the lone-working definition for the purposes of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Employers should ensure the home-working risk assessment covers display screen equipment, mental health, fire safety and emergency contact.
What does a lone-worker check-in system look like?
Most employers use scheduled check-ins by phone, app, or dedicated lone-worker device with GPS, panic button and overdue-check escalation. The choice depends on risk: a community nurse needs more than a desk-based home worker.
What Policy Pros Delivers
Our Lone Worker Policy package includes the main policy, role-specific risk assessment templates, a check-in procedure, an incident reporting procedure, training matrix, and a manager briefing pack.
The policy integrates with home-working, remote-working and personal safety policies.
