Lone Worker Risk Assessment: Complete Guide + PDF Template

Free Lone Worker Risk Assessment Template

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Lone working is often an unavoidable part of rural businesses. If you frequently rely on lone workers, you should have systems in place for maintaining their safety.

One of the most important parts of having lone workers in your business is conducting an appropriate risk assessment. A dedicated lone worker risk assessment helps to ensure that you have an understanding of all the relevant hazards they can face.

In this guide, we'll provide an overview of lone worker risk assessments. We'll address how to go about creating a lone worker risk assessment and the key areas to cover in your assessment.

Use our lone worker risk assessment PDF template to make maximising the safety of lone workers on your property even easier.

Please keep in mind this is a general template, and may not include everything needed for a legally compliant risk assessment for your specific business.

What is a lone worker risk assessment?

A lone worker risk assessment is a specific kind of risk assessment which specifically addresses hazards that apply to lone workers.

Like other kinds of risk assessments, a lone worker risk assessment will cover the following key elements:

Risks: A risk assessment must include a comprehensive overview of the key hazards that can affect lone workers.
Control measures: Risk assessments must address the specific steps that need to be taken to mitigate the levels of risk specific hazards pose. These are control measures.
Risk levels: Risk assessments should also categorise risks based on the level of danger they pose. Often, risks are labelled as "low", "medium" or "high". A risk assessment should explain the level of risk that a hazard poses before control measures are in place, and afterwards.
Roles and responsibilities: A risk assessment should also explain the roles and responsibilities of individuals within your team when it comes to enacting control measures within your risk assessment.

Why is a lone worker risk assessment important?

Lone working risk assessments are important for identifying the specific hazards that can impact lone workers. When lone workers are on your property, certain risks are heightened because of how difficult it is for lone workers to receive assistance.

For instance, injuries sustained from falls, equipment or animals can present a greater-than-usual risk for lone workers with no one around to provide immediate help.

Lone working can also present entirely unique risks that you may not have ever considered before. For example, employees or contractors working in isolation for long periods may require special mental health consideration.

Conducting a lone worker risk assessment allows you to understand all of these hazards and more. Then, you can put the proper control measures in place to ensure that these risks are reduced to the lowest possible level. You may also identify certain tasks that lone workers should never perform themselves.

Lone worker risk assessments: Hazards to look for

Here are some of the key hazards you will need to consider when creating a lone worker risk assessment. When creating your own lone worker risk assessment, remember to consider the specific conditions and needs of your business.

Falls

Falls are a significant hazard on many rural properties. For lone workers, they can be particularly dangerous. If a lone worker experiences a serious fall, there is no way for them to receive immediate assistance.

They may rely on contacting colleagues or managers who are not working with them at the time, or on reaching emergency services. If they are unable to use a phone or another lone working device to contact someone, medical assistance could be severely delayed.

Consider disallowing lone workers from working at heights. If this is unavoidable on your property, consider these additional control measures:

Fall protection equipment: Acquire and establish processes for the use of fall protection equipment when lone workers are performing tasks at heights. This can include harnesses, guardrails and safety nets.
Regular inspections: Regular inspections are essential for reducing the risk of falls on your rural property. Inspect ladders, elevated platforms and guardrails and ensure they are fit for any work they are required for.
Communication devices: While you should aim to mitigate all risk of falls occurring, you must provide lone workers with communication devices which can be used for emergency alerts. This can include satellite communication devices, wearable buttons and farm health and safety apps like Onside.

Equipment and machinery

Equipment and machinery is the lifeblood of your business. However, when used by unsupervised lone workers, these tools and systems can present unique risks.

Equipment may malfunction on your farm, resulting in cuts, burns or crushing injuries. The key unique risk for lone workers is the fact that they cannot receive prompt assistance.

Vehicles can also pose a major risk to lone workers on your farm. For example, a vehicle starting up unexpectedly can cause serious injuries to a lone worker.

Here are some control measures for equipment and machinery on your farm when it comes to lone workers:

Maintenance checks: Regular maintenance checks are critical for safe operation of equipment and machinery on your farm. Ensure equipment and machinery are functioning as intended, and promptly replace any malfunctioning parts.
Training: It's important to provide extensive training for lone workers on your property. Ensure that they know exactly how to safely use equipment and machinery on your farm.
Emergency stops: Emergency stop mechanisms are crucial safety features, especially for lone workers. Ensure these systems are installed on appropriate pieces of machinery, and check them during your maintenance procedures.

Animals

Animals are often a major uncontrolled variable in agriculture. The behaviour of animals on your property can be unpredictable, meaning you need to make special safety accommodations.

Animals can injure lone workers through bites, kicks and even trampling. As with other hazards, the key issue for lone workers is the inability to receive swift medical attention.

Here are some control measures to implement for animals on your property:

Personal protective equipment (PPE): PPE like gloves and boots can provide a significant amount of protection from animal injury. If there is a greater level of risk, you might also mandate the use of PPE like safety glasses and helmets.
Training: Training is once again key for managing this lone worker risk. In particular, make sure your lone workers know how to identify signs of stress and agitation in animals on your property. They should also understand the correct processes for animal handling and how to react to injuries.
Handling and safety equipment: You should have robust processes in place for using equipment to handle animals on your property. For example, you should have effective enclosures and restraining equipment for livestock, which lone workers know how to use.

Chemicals

Chemicals serve an essential role on many rural properties. However, improper use and accidental exposure can create serious hazards on your property.

When using chemicals, lone workers risk burns, poisoning and respiratory issues. The implications of these issues can be lifelong and even fatal.

To avoid these risks, it's important to put significant control measures in place on your property. Some control measures you might implement include:

Labelling and storage: Chemicals on your property should be subject to strict labelling and storage procedures. This minimises the risk of lone workers getting confused about which chemicals are located where. Proper storage also reduces the risk of exposure.
Signage: Chemicals that have already been sprayed on your property can also present health risks for lone workers. Ensure that areas with sprayed chemicals are clearly labelled. This helps lone workers to be aware of areas they must avoid.
PPE: Proper PPE procedures are critical when it comes to safe chemical usage. Lone workers should be equipped with, and trained on the use of, gloves, aprons, goggles and respirators.

Electrical hazards

Electrical hazards can arise from faulty wiring, exposed live parts, or malfunctioning equipment. Electric shocks, burns and electrocution can be potentially life-threatening.

Electrical hazards on rural properties can be unique in a number of ways. Tools and systems often operate in exposed, outdoor environments, heightening the risk of some electrical faults.

Here are some control measures you can use to mitigate the risks posed by electrical hazards for lone workers:

Inspections and maintenance: Any electrical system on your property should be regularly inspected to identify potential damage before accidents occur. Establish standard operating procedures to ensure these inspections are highly effective.
Residual current devices (RCDs): RCDs are used to shut down electrical systems very quickly when faults occur. When properly installed, these can seriously reduce the risk of severe shocks.
Training: Ensure lone workers have the proper training to recognise potential electrical risks, safely handle equipment and enact emergency procedures.

Mental health hazards

One of the most unique hazards that you need to consider when it comes to lone workers is mental health hazards. While this should be a consistent point of emphasis in your business, lone workers present unique challenges when it comes to mental health.

Working in isolation can put lone workers at greater risk of experiencing mental health issues. This is especially true for lone workers operating in isolation for long periods of time.

Consider the following methods to manage this lone working hazard:

Regular check-ins: As part of your monitoring and supervision protocols, make sure you are regularly checking in with regard to a lone worker's mental health. Ask questions to identify potential mental health hazards early.
Family contact: Enabling lone workers to stay in contact with their family is crucial for their mental health. For lone workers isolated for long periods, considering facilitating family visits.
Culture: Ensure that your business has established a culture where mental health is an open discussion point. Educate your staff on the signs of mental health hazards and empower them to speak up about their experiences.

Weather conditions

Weather events like storms, heatwaves or floods can pose significant risks for lone workers. Lone working heightens the potential danger of these hazards with limited access to medical attention.

Weather events can lead to injuries or lone workers being stranded in unsafe conditions. To avoid these hazards, consider the following control measures:

Scheduling: Schedule activities for lone workers with an awareness of weather conditions. Don't put lone workers in situations where they are highly exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Emergency plans: Have in-depth emergency plans for lone workers to follow. Let them know how to deal with extreme weather when working in the field and how to manage injuries. Plus, let workers know what to do if entry and exit points on the property have been blocked.
Clothing and PPE: Establish processes for lone workers to use clothing and PPE to protect themselves from weather events. Workers should have adequate protection for cold environments and appropriate lighter-weight clothing for hot environments.

Confined spaces

Lone workers may be required to work in confined spaces like silos, storage tanks or tunnels. These spaces have restricted access, limited mobility and atmospheric hazards.

Here are some control measures you can implement to mitigate this risk for lone workers:

Ventilation: Use atmospheric testing to find out if there is enough oxygen in confined spaces where lone workers might be. Implement new ventilation systems as required.
Monitoring and communication: As part of your supervision protocols, managers should have oversight over lone workers heading into confined spaces. When you are aware of lone workers being in confined spaces, you will be able to swiftly react to potential emergencies.
Maintenance: Ensure that confined spaces on your property are properly maintained to reduce safety concerns. Address structural integrity issues and ensure access points are in proper working order.

Fatigue

Fatigue is another critical hazard for lone workers. Fatigue impairs judgement and lowers reaction times. This can increase the likelihood of errors or accidents.

Lone workers can often be overworked, increasing the risk of fatigue. Plus, with no colleagues around, there's no one to help lone workers identify the signs of fatigue.

Here are some control measures to manage the risk of fatigue for lone workers:

Rest breaks: Adhere to your local regulations for providing rest breaks to your lone workers. Consider providing additional breaks where necessary to reduce the risk of fatigue affecting lone workers.
Training: Train lone workers to identify the signs of fatigue. These include constant yawning, poor decision making and slowed reflexes. Lone workers should be empowered to remove themselves from work if they feel the signs of fatigue.
Shift planning: It's important to take an intelligent approach to planning shifts for lone workers. A single shift should not consist solely of extremely fatiguing activities, as this will present major hazards toward the end of the shift.

How to conduct a lone worker risk assessment

Here's how you can conduct a lone worker risk assessment on your farm:

Prepare and define scope: Determine the goals and boundaries of your lone worker risk assessment. Understand the activities on your property that involve lone workers that must be addressed in your risk assessment.
Review legal responsibilities: Before conducting your assessment, make sure you have a comprehensive understanding of the laws that go into lone working. Consider things like rest breaks as well as your legal responsibilities for safeguarding lone workers.
Engage relevant stakeholders: Involve the key individuals in your risk assessment. This includes managers, supervisors, safety officers and lone workers themselves. Collect the input of all stakeholders before conducting the assessment.
Identify and assess hazards: Prepare a risk assessment document and begin identifying relevant hazards on your farm. Then, assess the level of risk they pose to lone workers. If certain hazards have an unacceptable level of risk, consider whether they should simply not be conducted by lone workers.
Identify control measures: Once you have identified and assessed lone worker hazards, decide on the control measures you will use. Assess how the level of risk will change with proper control measures in place.
Implement, monitor and review: Implement your control measures. Carefully monitor lone working procedures on your property over time. Get further feedback from stakeholders and regularly review your risk assessment, making any necessary updates.

Three tips to improve lone worker safety on your farm

Here are three ways to help keep lone workers safe on your farm:

Create a lone worker policy: A lone worker policy is an important document which helps your business to define all the processes that go into having lone workers safely operate on your property.
Use checklists: Checklists can go a long way to helping keep lone workers safe on your farm. They're the perfect way to ensure you don't miss anything when it comes to protecting lone workers. Some important checklists you can use include lone worker safety checklists and farm induction checklists.
Use a farm management app: Farm management apps like Onside can be extremely significant when it comes to protecting lone workers. You can use check in features to identify when employees do not check in or out as expected. This can alert you to potential emergencies. Onside also has a range of health and safety features including emergency contacts, hazard mapping and much more.