Transcript WORKING AONE SAFELY

SAFETY SERVICES
MAY 2009
Employers are responsible for
 The health, safety and
welfare at work for their
employees and those
affected by the work
 Assess risks to lone workers
 Take steps to avoid or
control risk where necessary
Employees are responsible for
 Taking reasonable care of
themselves, and other
people who may be
affected by their work
 Co-operate with their
employers in meeting their
legal obligations
Who are Lone Workers?
 Lone workers are those who work by
themselves without close or direct supervision
 No clear definition of ‘lone worker’ but there
are a large number of occupations that “lone
work”. Eg’s :-Doctors, district nurses, milkmen,
salesmen, postmen, meter readers,
maintenance workers, lorry drivers etc
Is this man a “lone worker”?
NO
Spot the Lone Worker
There he is!
University Lone Workers
 Will include: Staff working from home or
alone in an office
 Security & other mobile staff
 Lecturers
 Maintenance workers
 Travellers to conferences
 Cleaners
 Field workers / researchers
 Staff carrying out home visits
Can People Legally Work Alone?
 Legislation does not prohibit lone working, but the
duties of HASAW Act 1974, and MHSW Regulations
1999 apply
• These require:
• Identifying the hazards of the work
 Assessing the risks involved
 Implementing measures to AVOID or CONTROL the
risk
Identifying the Hazards
 Talk to the people involved as they are a valuable source of
information and advice. Find out exactly what is involved to
carryout the task, eg: Does the workplace present a special hazard?
 Is the access to, or exit from the workplace safe?
 Is the lighting and ventilation sufficient?
 Will other adjacent processes & activities present a risk?
 Is any equipment to be used safe & regularly maintained?
 What risks would the worker be exposed to?
Control Measures
 Control measures may include: Instruction
 Training
 Supervision
 Protective equipment
 Communication devices
 Safe working procedures
 Employers should take steps to check that control
measures are used and review the risk assessment from
time to time to ensure that it is still adequate.
Safe Working Arrangements
 Lone workers face
particular problems.
Some of the issues which
need special attention
when planning safe
working arrangements are
as follows:-
Safe Working Arrangements
– The Individual
Is the person medically fit and
suitable to work alone?
• Check that the worker has no
medical conditions which make
them unsuitable for working
alone.
• See medical advice if necessary.
• Consider both routine work and
foreseeable emergencies which
may impose additional physical
and mental burdens on the
worker.
Safe Working Arrangements – training /
competency requirements
 To avoid panic in unusual situations.
 Lone workers need to be sufficiently
experienced and fully understand the
risks and controls.
 Know the set limits of what can and
cannot be done whilst working alone.
 To deal with situations which are new,
unusual or unexpected and to know
when to stop work and seek advice
from a supervisor.
 Know how to handle aggression.
Safe Working Arrangements –
Supervision
 Although lone workers cannot be
subject to constant supervision, it is
still an employer’s duty to ensure
their health and safety at work.
Supervision can help to ensure: Employees understand the risk
associated with their work.
 That necessary safety precautions
are carried out.
Safe Working Arrangements –
Supervision cont’d
 Provide guidance in situations of uncertainty.
 This could be carried out when checking the progress
and quality of the work
 It may take the form of periodic site visits combined
with discussions in which health and safety issues are
raised.
 Frequency would depend on
competence & experience of
lone worker & type of work
Safe Working Arrangements – the
extent of Supervision depends on:
 The risks involved (from the risk assessment)
 The ability of the lone worker to identify and
handle health and safety issues.
 The experience of the lone worker.
 Is he new to the job?
 Is it a job with special risks?
Are there new situations?
 The competence and trustworthiness of the
worker.
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Monitoring Lone Workers
 Procedures will needed to ensure they remain safe. These
may include: Periodic visits & supervision of lone workers
 Regular contact between the lone worker & supervisor.
 Automatic warning devices which operate is specific
signals are not received periodically from the lone worker.
 Other devices designed to raise the alarm in the event of
an emergency & which operate manually or automatically.
 Checks that a lone worker has returned to their base or
home on completion of their task.
Emergency situations
 What happens if a
lone worker
becomes ill, has
an accident, or
some other
emergency,
arises, like a fire?
Emergency Procedures
 Lone workers should be capable of responding correctly
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to emergencies.
Emergency procedures should be established and lone
workers trained in them.
Information about emergency procedures and danger
areas in the workplace should be given to them.
They should have access to adequate first-aid facilities.
Mobile workers should carry a first-aid kit.
Occasionally risk assessment may indicate that lone
workers need training in first-aid.
Lone Worker Checklist–Workplace 1
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Do I need to go?
Have I checked the file for relevant information?
Have I told someone of my intended movements?
Have I got means of communication?
Have I thought trough my own ‘what if’ plan?
Do I feel confident to go?
 If the answer to any of the above is ‘NO’ then the lone
worker should speak to his/her line manager before
continuing.
Lone Worker Checklist–Workplace 2
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Does the workplace present a special hazard?
Is the access to, or exit from, the workplace safe?
Is the lighting and ventilation sufficient?
Will other adjacent processes and activities present a risk?
Is equipment safe and regularly maintained?
What risks will the worker be exposed to in the event of an
equipment failure?
Can substances and goods be handled safely?
Does the worker have the appropriate PPE and are they
trained in its use?
Has the worker been trained to do the task correctly?
Has the worker demonstrated their ability to do the task
satisfactorily?
Lone Worker Checklist–Workplace 3
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Is the worker medically fit to undertake the task?
Has the worker sufficient information about the job,
equipment or substances?
If cash is being handled, will they be at risk of violence?
Is the worker known to be reliable and seek help when they
reach the limit of their knowledge or experience?
What is the appropriate level of supervision for the task?
What first-aid provision is required?
How will you communicate with the worker to ensure their
well being?
What are the arrangements for the worker in the event of an
emergency?
Tracing Systems 1 – Are You Covered
 Consider the following:  My colleagues will know where to start looking should
I not return to base on time?
 If I decide to change my plans during the day someone
would be aware of this?
 There is a clear procedure to follow in case someone
does not return at the expected time?
 There is a system to raise the alarm covertly in case of
emergency while working alone?
Tracing Systems 2 – Are You Covered
 I am confident that an appropriate person will pick up
the phone if I call the office in an emergency?
 When (if) I am lone working out of office hours, there is
a system to monitor my safety?
 There is information available so that my line manager
could contact my partner/family (to ensure my safety)
should I fail to return from an appointment?
 My partner/family have contact details of a colleague
should I fail to return from work, even out of normal
working hours?
Practical Strategies for Travelling PLAN
PREPARATION – Plan your journey, your route, take
a personal alarm, contingency plans, etc.
LOOK CONFIDENT – Confident body language
means you are less likely to run into trouble.
AWARENESS – Be aware of your surroundings and be
alert to your body responses to situation.
NEVER ASSUME ......
Lone Worker Checklist –
Useful Pointers For Managers 1
 Carry out informal inspections of the workplace and access on
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a regular basis to make sure it is safe, and that people are
working safely.
Ask yourself would you feel working there?
Check equipment is being maintained correctly & records kept.
Ensure MSDS are available for all materials used and stored on
the premises.
Ensure risk assessments of all processes and activities are
available for workers to refer to and the that Safe Working
Procedures are available.
Ensure you know workers are fully aware of local rules,
especially those related to working out of normal business
hours.
Lone Worker Checklist –
Useful Pointers For Managers 2
 Check the ‘out of hours’ signing in book to ensure people are
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signing in and that they have the Head of Departments
permission to work ‘out of hours’.
Periodically speak to those who work alone informally and find
out if they have any concerns that can be dealt with easily.
Ensure they know you do not want them to put themselves at
risk.
Ask them how the job could be made safer.
Ensure you have a reliable system for contacting the lone
worker and establishing that they are free from harm.
Consider what emergency situations could arise and make
sure that procedures are in place to cover them.
Useful Pointers For Lone Workers 1
 Ensure someone knows where you are and establish
a contact system so that you can tell someone when
you’re at work and when you’re leaving.
 Don’t do anything which you feel might put you in
danger – report any dangerous incident or situation
to your supervisor and seek advice.
 Don’t ‘cut corners’ or rush the work, set yourself a
reasonable target and work towards it.
Useful Pointers For Lone Workers 2
 If you start to feel tired either stop for a short break,
take a walk outside in the fresh air, or go home after
contacting your supervisor and/or signing out.
 Ensure you know and follow, relevant safe working
procedures and guidelines for operating equipment
and handling and using substances.
 If you don’t know how to do something – don’t do it
– leave it until someone is around to help you.
Useful Pointers For Lone Workers 3
 If you get injured stay calm, use your training, and if
you need assistance contact the Emergency Control
Centre on 0114 222 4444 or, if off campus, dial 999
giving clear instruction to the Emergency Services of
where you are and the nature of the incident.
Home Visits & Meeting the Public 1
 Have your lone workers:  Been fully trained in strategies for the prevention of violence?
 Been briefed about the areas where they work, or will work?
 Been made aware of attitudes, traits or mannerisms that can
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annoy clients?
Been given all available information about the client from all
the relevant agencies?
Left an itinerary?
Made plans to keep in contact with colleagues?
The means to contact you?
The relevant telephone numbers?
A sound grasp of your organisation’s preventative strategy?
Authority to arrange an accompanied visit, security escort, or
use of a taxi?
Home Visits & Meeting the Public 2
 Do your lone workers:  Carry forms for reporting incidents, including violence or
threats of violence?
 Understand the importance of previewing cases?
 Appreciate the need for this procedure and use it?
 Know your attitude to premature termination of interviews?
 Know how to control and defuse potentially violent
situations?
 Appreciate their responsibility for their own safety?
 Understand the provisions for support by your organisation?
Lone Workers – Remember!
 Greet clients politely and with eye contact.
 Be aware of body language, signs of anger, tension, stress, etc.
 Avoid invading other people’s personal space or touching them.
 If attacked your voice is your best defence, shout a positive command or yell
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loudly to ‘Stop’.
Have a mobile phone for emergencies but keep it secure and out of sight with a
number pre-programmed for emergency use.
Procedures for call-in should be in place together with those for non-arrival.
If using car parks in busy areas, use ones which are well lit at night.
Don’t leave anything visible in the car. Lock all doors.
Trust your intuition, if the situation feels unsafe, or you feel uneasy –use a
plausible excuse and leave.
Consider meeting clients in public places –e.g. hotels etc