Introduction

Within the University there are many areas where employees, students, visitors or contractors work alone because of working hours, remote locations or methods of working. Whether lone workers are required to do so or chose to work alone, they must not be exposed to any greater residual risk than other employees.

The legislation

There is no specific legislation covering lone working, however duties imposed by the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) still apply. Employers (including line managers) cannot transfer those duties imposed by regulations to lone workers. It is therefore the employer’s duty to assess risks to lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risks. Furthermore, a wide range of additional legislation may be relevant depending on the nature of the work being undertaken. There are also specific regulations that prohibit certain lone working activities; these include: