Lone Working: Safety, security and wellbeing in unprecedented times Nicole Vazquez - IOSH

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Lone Working:
Safety, security and wellbeing in unprecedented times
                                           Nicole Vazquez

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Almost 25 years…

   Lone working definition has not
    changed but lone working has

   Greater awareness of the impact
    lone working has on safety,
    security and wellbeing

   Changes to risk management
    and controls available

   Then along came Covid…

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‘An individual working without
close or direct supervision’
HSE INDG73(rev 4) 03/20

•   Fixed base
•   Work separately
•   Remote
•   Work at Home

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‘An individual working without
close or direct supervision’
HSE INDG73(rev 4) 03/20

• Health and Safety
• Work-related Violence
• Mental Health and Wellbeing

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You are responsible for the health, safety and
welfare at work of all your workers, and this
applies to any contractors, volunteers or
self-employed people.

These responsibilities cannot be transferred
to any other person, including to those
people who work alone.

It will often be safe to work alone. However,
the law requires you to think about and deal
with any health and safety risks before
people are allowed to do so.

Health and Safety Executive 03/20 INDG73 (REV4)

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Assess The Risks

There is no legal requirement to conduct a
specific, separate risk assessment for lone
workers.

However, you have a duty to include risks to
lone workers in your general risk
assessment and take steps to avoid
or control risks where necessary.

Health and Safety Executive 03/20 INDG73 (REV4)

Lone Working – it is not the task nor the risk, but it can
increase the likelihood and or severity of the following:

   Road traffic incident when travelling long distance/late/early
   Illness/medical emergency
   Theft/robbery
   Slips, trips, falls (from height)
   Violence and Aggression
   Sexual harassment/inappropriate behavior/accusations
   Manual handling injuries
   Work-related stress/Mental Health Concerns

Unprecedented Times
Increase in:
•  home working
•  remote working
•  workers with no experience
   of lone working
•  aggression and violence
•  isolation and associated
   wellbeing concerns
Change in:
•  planning for activities
•  risks
•  appropriate controls

Home Working

Challenges with:
• Contact with Team and Manager
• Guidance and support
• Workstation/ domestic environment
• Longer hours/blurred boundaries
• Lack of physical activity
• Increased work-related stress
• Isolation/loneliness

Remote Working

                 Challenges:
                 • How do your people acquire
                   knowledge and experience?
                 • How is decision making managed?
                 • What do you really want me to do?
                 • How do you know what I am doing?

Utilities Workers

“ Our existing control mechanisms may not work”

                             Managers asked to consider specifically:
                             • existing medical conditions
                             • slips, trips and falls
                             • stress and isolation
                             • use of equipment/machinery
                             • journey from home and back

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Utilities Workers

Clarify ‘Stopping Rules’

Reduce activities as far as is possible

Put in place extra communication measures

Provide equipment to raise the alarm or
call for assistance in an emergency

Medical and Emergency Staff assaults
Aggression and     50 assaults/abuse prosecuted each day
Violence           (during lockdown 1.0)

                 Railways Workers and BTP assaults
                    County Lines, challenging journey purpose,
                    face coverings, etc.

                 Third of retail workers have been threatened
                 or abused
                    Connected with social distancing measures,
                    face coverings and purchase limits

                 Volunteers verbally abused
                    Queue jumping and spreading virus

Aggression and Violence

• design of the environment
• limit responsibilities
• skills and strategies to avoid or
  manage conflict situations
• support and back up for incidents

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Regular Contact
    Professional (task orientated, safety
    conversations, welfare check)
    Personal (what have you been up to?,
    catch up times, virtual coffee)

Set the expectations (and boundaries)
     Workloads
     Hours
     Risk appetite (and stopping rules)

Provide guidance and encouragement
    Workplace controls
    Decision making
    Wellbeing

Offer support services
     Technology where appropriate
     Train lone workers
     Train Managers

The only UK event dedicated to
the safety, security and wellbeing
of lone workers

                                  13th October 2021
                                    Lord’s Cricket Ground
                                                   London
                              www.loneworkersafetylive.com
                      DACBConference = Extra 10% off delegate rate

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    Thank you for your time!
    nicole@worthwhiletraining.com