Do you work alone and want to minimize risks? Our lone working checklist provides you with specific knowledge to identify hazards in the workplace and develop emergency strategies. Employers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees and to comply with statutory occupational health and safety requirements.
This article provides guidance on how to ensure safety at individual workstations.
The most important facts in brief
✓ Creating a detailed lone working checklist that covers the working environment, activities, potential hazards and emergency procedures is essential to minimize risks and ensure compliance with legal requirements. The Health and Safety at Work Act plays a key role in ensuring that all legal requirements are met when creating the checklists.
✓ Risk assessments are of central importance for safety when working alone and must take into account individual performance, specific hazards and legal requirements, whereby technical, organizational and personal protective measures must be taken. In addition, it is necessary that first aid can be provided immediately in the event of dangerous lone working to ensure the safety of employees.
✓ Personal emergency signaling systems (PNA) are an important safety tool for lone workers, the selection, installation and maintenance of which must be carried out carefully, taking into account the hazard level and legal regulations. The use of personal emergency signaling systems is particularly important in dangerous situations in order to protect the health of employees.
When does lone working occur?
Working alone due to location
Lone working due to location occurs when a person works alone in remote or isolated workplaces. Examples include construction sites, farms, warehouses, research stations and remote areas. In such situations, there is an increased risk as the accessibility of help may be limited.
Working alone for a certain period of time
Temporary lone working refers to situations in which employees work at unusual times, e.g. during night shifts, at weekends or on public holidays. These times can be particularly risky, as fewer colleagues are available and the availability of emergency contacts may be limited. This also applies to employees working from home who work at unusual times.
Activity-related lone working
Activity-related lone working occurs when the nature of the work requires a person to work alone. Hazardous lone working poses particular risks and therefore requires specific protective measures. Examples include maintenance work on machinery, laboratory work, field work in technical areas, security services or work in hazardous environments such as chemical plants.
Risk assessment for working alone
Risk assessment is the key to the safe design of lone worker workstations. It is essential to identify all potential hazards in order to derive appropriate protective measures. This process involves the systematic identification and evaluation of all potential hazards in the workplace.
The most important steps are:
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An example of a risk checklist for working alone can be found here:
Safety measures for working alone
To ensure safety when working alone, it is important to systematically plan and implement various protective measures. The TOP principle is used here, which describes the hierarchy of protective measures: Technical, organizational and personal measures.
Technical measures (T):
Technical measures are the first stage in the TOP principle and aim to eliminate or minimize hazards at source. This includes the use of technical safety systems such as the dead man's switch on a machine or a personal emergency signaling system (PNA ).
A PNA is a life-saving device for lone workers that can trigger both manual and automatic alarms, for example in the event of inactivity or the absence of an acknowledgement and thus confirmation of well-being. By using technical safety systems, potential dangers can be detected early or emergency measures can be initiated to protect the health of employees.
What is a PNA?
A personal alarm system (PNA) is a safety system designed to protect lone workers in emergencies. It consists of portable devices that can trigger different types of alarms. These devices enable both manual alarms, which are triggered by the employees themselves, and automatic alarms, which are triggered, for example, when there is no movement. These alarms are sent to a central receiving station that is monitored by internal or external emergency contacts. Several factors must be taken into account when selecting a personal emergency signaling system (PNA):
- Risk level of the activity: The selection of the PNA should be based on a thorough risk assessment that takes into account the specific risks of working alone.
- Ease of use: The device should be easy to use and easy to carry to ensure that it can be used effectively in emergencies.
- Connection and reliability: The communication connection and the reliability of the alarm transmission are crucial for the effectiveness of the PNA.
- Additional Features: Modern, digital PNAs such as CALIMA offer additional Features, such as modern location technologies or the use of service smartphones.
Organizational measures (O):
Organizational measures in occupational health and safety refer to all regulations and precautions aimed at designing work processes in such a way that the safety and health of employees is guaranteed. These measures primarily concern the organization of work, the conduct of employees and compliance with safety regulations. They come into play when technical solutions alone are not sufficient. These measures include, for example
- Regular training and instruction: Employees should receive regular training to make them aware of potential hazards and teach them how to react correctly in emergencies.
- Establish clear communication and emergency protocols: Clear protocols for communication and behavior in emergencies should be established, including designated emergency contact persons.
- Introduction of regular check-ins and monitoring routines: Regular inspections and check-ins by supervisors or colleagues can help to ensure the safety of lone workers.
- Documentation and review of safety measures: All security measures and protocols should be documented and regularly reviewed to ensure their effectiveness and make adjustments as necessary.
Personal measures (P):
Personal measures are the third stage in the TOP principle and relate to the individual protection of employees. These include wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), individual behavior and promoting awareness of safety risks.
It is also important that lone workers receive training on how to deal with emergency situations and how to use technical aids such as the PNA. Regular checks of employees' individual performance and state of health are also part of the personal measures to ensure that they are able to cope with the demands of working alone.
Conclusion: Ensuring safe lone working
Safe lone working requires a holistic approach that includes both technical and organizational measures. By identifying hazards, selecting suitable safety devices such as personal alarm systems (PNAs) and implementing clear protocols and training, companies can minimize risks and ensure the safety of their employees.
It is not only important to comply with legal regulations, but also to promote a culture of safety in which every employee understands and implements the importance of safety measures. This not only contributes to compliance with legal requirements, but also promotes a safe and productive working environment for all employees.
