2.2.4 Lone working |
Contents
1. Process
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to have safe systems of work, and to provide information and training to staff.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, an obligation is placed on employers to carry out an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of staff at work - this includes both on-site and off-site activities.
Although working alone may not introduce any new hazards, the level of risk may increase significantly when a task is undertaken unaccompanied. Should an assessment already exist for an activity which is usually conducted with others present, this assessment must be reviewed before allowing the same activity to be undertaken unaccompanied.
The reasons for assessing the risks of working alone are to establish:
- Whether the activity can be undertaken safely unaccompanied.
- The safe working measures and arrangements that should be implemented to ensure that an employee working alone is not exposed to greater risks than staff that work together.
The process of conducting a risk assessment for lone working is no different to that followed when assessing any other activity. The important point is to carry out the assessment systematically, considering the following:
- Identify the hazards associated with the work that is carried out unaccompanied
- Assess the risks associated with the work, ensuring that staff are involved in the process and decide on the safe working measures and arrangements to control the risk, including the physical controls, training, supervision and monitoring and contact arrangements.
- The limits on what an employee can and cannot do whilst working alone.
- Record the findings of the assessment.
- Monitor and review the safe working measures and arrangements.
- Ensure that the information is shared with all relevant staff.
- Ensure that the assessment is signed and dated by the manager and the date of the last review is recorded on the assessment.
2. Factors to Consider
The Playcentre lone worker policy, guidelines and risk assessment must consider the factors detailed below as a minimum standard:
- The knowledge of a medical condition of the lone worker that would increase the risk.
- The length of time the person may be working alone.
- The time of day or night when a person may work alone.
- Methods of communication.
- The location of the work and if travel is involved.
- The nature of the work, also considering the equipment to be used.
- The risk of violence to staff, verbal and physical.
- Are young staff or new and inexperienced staff at risk?
- Are there any gender issues such as female staff or new and expectant mothers being especially at risk?
- Has adequate training been received to ensure competency?
- Supervisors periodically visiting and observing the lone worker.
- Regular contact between the lone worker and supervisor or "buddy" and supervision using telecommunication systems (mobile phones) or radios.
- Automatic warning devices, which operate if specific signals or codes are not received periodically from the lone worker e.g. manual or automatic personal alarms, fixed transmitters, portable safety systems.
- Ensuring that the lone worker has returned to base or home on completion of the task.
The risk assessment will identify the necessary training, instruction and supervision that must be delivered to all staff to ensure that if they are working alone, they are aware of the procedures to be followed.
3. Safe Working Measures and Arrangements
Controlling the risks associated with lone working will also include the relevant training, information, instruction, supervision and possible protective equipment etc.
The risk assessment will have identified the safe working measures, controls, training and supervision requirements to ensure the safety of lone workers. These will need to be implemented by the Playcentre in a structured way before the lone working situation can commence.
4. Monitor and Review
Once safe working measures and arrangements have been implemented, they need to be regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure that they remain effective. Monitoring the way in which staff are working is a day-to-day management function.
Staff should be encouraged to report any accidents/incidents, which could affect their safety, to allow a proper review of the adequacy of the working arrangements.
All risk assessments should be reviewed at least annually, following an accident/incident or where there is evidence that the existing measures are no longer suitable. A record must be maintained of every review undertaken.
5. Home Visits
5.1 Preparation for a home visit
It is important that parents understand the purpose of a home visit. Although staff may make initial contact by letter, parents should be contacted either by telephone or face to face at the Playcentre to confirm all details.
Staff should agree with Parents, when they will arrive, how long the visit will take, what will happen, what kind of questions the staff will ask and what information staff will bring with them.
Staff should ask parents what information they may need from the Playcentre.
5.2 Staff Personal Safety
If a potential risk is identified from a home visit the Playcentre Manager must provide staff with guidance and instructions on how to manage the risk, for example, leaving the home if the parent becomes agitated.
Considering potential risks arising from home visits should result in the Playcentre having clear guidance for staff to follow.
Staff should have knowledge of the area they are visiting, and they should leave at school details of:
- their mobile telephone phone number (if they have one)
- the registration number of their car (if they are driving)
- the name, address and telephone number of the child's home
- the approximate arrival time and estimated length of their visit.
If there is a change of plan after leaving the Playcentre or the child's home, the Playcentre should be informed.
If staff feel uncomfortable in the child's home, they should leave immediately.
If staff are visiting a location which may pose a risk to their personal safety, they should arrange either to telephone the Playcentre after the visit to confirm their safe exit, or they should arrange for someone to telephone them during the visit to check their well being. Each completed visit should be reported.
If a member of staff fails to return to work (or reach home) at the designated time, an emergency procedure should be in place for action to be taken, this should be in the risk assessment.
All incidents occurring during home visits should be recorded in writing as soon as possible, while events are still fresh in people's memories.
It is important that staff receive training in strategies to prevent violence. This should result in a greater understanding of the potential risks involved in home visits, and an increased confidence in diffusing difficult situations.
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