This post is about conflict management | personal safety | dynamis training. “Thank you again for such an informative and practical couple of days learning about working alone in safety, which I feel has really benefited my learning and ability to face certain situations. I really feel it is the best training I have ever had and I hope my feedback reflects that.”
Adult Social Work Professional, Peterborough City Council — October 2017
Working alone is not in itself against the law — and it will often be safe to do so. But the law requires employers to consider carefully, and then deal with, any health and safety risks for people working alone.
Employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare at work of all their workers. They also have responsibility for the health and safety of any contractors or self-employed people doing work for them.
These responsibilities cannot be transferred to any other person, including those people who work alone. Workers must take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their work activities — and co-operate with their employers in meeting legal obligations.
Employers have a duty to assess risks to lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risks where necessary. This must include:
⚠️ Important: Some lone working tasks may be too difficult or dangerous to be carried out by an unaccompanied worker. Where a risk assessment shows work cannot be conducted safely by a lone worker, employers must address that risk by making arrangements to provide help or back-up.
Where a lone worker is working at another employer’s workplace, that other employer must be informed of the risks and the required control measures.
Risk assessments should help employers decide on the right level of supervision. There are some high-risk activities where at least one other person may need to be present:
Employers who have five or more employees must record the significant findings of all working-alone risk assessments.
💡 Key takeaway: Employers need to be aware of any specific law that prohibits lone working in their industry. Examples include supervision in diving operations, vehicles carrying explosives, and fumigation work. Further guidance can be found on the HSE website.
“I really feel it is the best training I have ever had.”
Adult Social Work Professional, Peterborough City Council
Our Lone Worker Personal Safety Training course equips staff with the practical skills and confidence to work safely when alone. Participants learn to assess dynamic risk, de-escalate confrontational situations, and apply personal safety strategies grounded in real-world scenarios.
Learn more about our Lone Worker Training Course →
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