Lone working: definition, risks & UK employer responsibilities

Hiring lone workers comes with a big responsibility: keeping them safe. And in 2025, this issue is becoming harder to ignore. From workplace violence and delayed emergency response times to rising stress levels, employers are under growing pressure to meet safety and compliance standards.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlights just how serious the risks are: the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) recorded 642,000 incidents of workplace violence in 2023/24 and a large share of these involved lone workers. For small businesses, that’s a wake-up call. Even with just a handful of staff, the duty of care is the same: making sure every employee can do their job without unnecessary risk.

But here’s the challenge: in smaller teams, lone working often feels unavoidable. Whether it’s a delivery driver out on the road, a shop assistant opening early, or a field engineer visiting customer sites, many SMEs rely on staff who spend stretches of time working alone. That doesn’t make you a bad employer, it makes you the same as thousands of other small businesses across the UK.

What it does mean is that you need clear processes in place. Lone workers don’t have colleagues nearby to step in if something goes wrong. Without planning, even a minor incident can quickly escalate whether that’s a fall in the stockroom, a customer confrontation, or simply feeling isolated and under pressure.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) emphasises that employers

• Identify hazards

• Implement controls

• Train staff

• Maintain contact

 The good news? Protecting lone workers isn’t about expensive tech or red tape. It’s about awareness, simple systems, and making safety part of everyday work life. In this guide, we’ll break down what lone working really means for SMEs, the risks you need to watch out for, and the practical steps you can take to keep your people safe and your business compliant.

Our Health and safety software helps SMEs stay compliant and protected, whether you’re conducting risk assessments for lone working, delivering training or managing incidents.

What is Lone Working?

The HSE defines a lone worker as “anyone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision.” This can include a wide range of situations:

• Mobile staff: Delivery drivers, engineers, home healthcare workers, sales representatives, and estate agents who visit customers' premises.

• Premises-based staff: Cleaners, security guards, or maintenance workers who work alone during off-peak hours. It also includes retail workers in small shops or petrol stations.

• Out of sight or earshot: An employee who is part of a larger team but works in a separate part of a building or site, out of immediate contact.

• Home workers: Employees who work from home, whether full-time or occasionally. 

Example of lone working roles

Common examples include.

• delivery drivers

• health and social care workers

• engineers

• security staff

• cleaners

• warehouse and petrol station staff+

• people working at home

DID YOU KNOW?

Trade bodies such as the BSIA estimate that up to 8 million people in the UK (roughly 20–22% of the workforce) can be classified as lone worker

Lone working vs remote working

While both involve working away from a traditional office, lone working specifically refers to being physically isolated without colleagues or supervisors nearby.

Why Lone Working Matters in 2025

• Lone working is increasing across sectors like delivery, care, and engineering.

• Lone workers are more exposed to violence, stress, and environmental hazards.

• Employers face growing compliance pressure under HSE rules.

• HSE’s Management Standards for stress require businesses to assess demands, control, support, and change management for lone workers.

Lone Working Risks Employers Must Consider.

Since lone workers often lack immediate support, the following risks become more critical:

Violence and aggression from the public

HSE defines work-related violence as incidents where staff are threatened or assaulted. In 2023/24, there were over 600,000 such incidents.

Accidents with delayed response

Without colleagues nearby, falls and other workplace injuries  can escalate. Often without an immediate response. Your risk assessments must consider how help will be accessed and how emergencies are to be handled.

Stress, isolation and mental health

Lone workers may feel disconnected. HSE stresses that employers must evaluate and manage work-related stress.

Employer Responsibilities Under UK Law

Lone working is legal in the UK, but your obligations remain clear and enforceable. The following employment laws and regulations apply to all employers:

1. Health and Safety at work Act 1974 (HASAWA): Mandates employers to ensure employees’ safety “so far as it is reasonably practicable.”

2. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Requires risk assessments, training, and emergency procedures.

3. HSE Lone Working Guidance: Emphasises hazard identification, training, and emergency procedures.

4. RIDDOR Reporting:

• Over-7-day injuries must be reported to HSE.

• Over-3-day injuries must be recorded internally, even if not reportable.

How to Protect Lone Workers Effectively as an Employer

Here’s how employers can meet legal obligations and improve safety in accordance with Health and safety regulations.

Conduct a lone working risk assessment:

Lone working presents unique safety challenges and it's a legal requirement under UK Health and Safety Law to assess and manage these risks effectively. Whether your staff are visiting client homes, locking up retail premises, working late shifts, or travelling alone, your duty of care remains the same.

Here’s how to carry out a thorough Lone Working Risk Assessment to help prevent harm, meet your legal obligations, and foster a culture of safety.

Our Health and safety platform offers 600+ risk assessment templates aligned with HSE standards to help employers identify hazards and lone working risks.

Train staff and set up clear procedures:

To keep your lone workers safe and compliant with UK health and safety law, it’s essential to provide ongoing, scenario-based training that covers all aspects of personal safety and incident management. Employers should ensure that all staff especially those working alone or in high-risk roles are trained in the following critical areas:

• Dynamic risk assessment

• De-escalation techniques

• Emergency response

• Reporting (including RIDDOR thresholds)

We offers a suite of RoSPA-accredited e-learning courses, including a dedicated module on lone working to help employers deliver CPD-accredited training to their employees.

Implement monitoring and check-ins

One of the most critical aspects of lone worker safety is ensuring that employees who operate alone are not truly “invisible” to the organisation. Monitoring and check-in systems create a virtual safety net offering real-time visibility and a structured way to respond if something goes wrong.

The UK Health and Safety Executive warns that lone workers face higher risks from:

• Accidents or sudden medical emergencies

• Violence or aggression from the public

• Environmental hazards in remote or high-risk areas

• Psychological stress from isolation

Practical decision rules:

• Low-risk roles: start/end shift check-in.

• Medium risk: 90–120 min interval check-ins + location.

• High risk: 30–60 min intervals + man-down alarm + escalation.

Even tasks that seem routine can turn tragic if help is delayed. Consider the case of Claudiu-Carol Kondor, a delivery driver in Leeds, who died after his van was stolen and he was dragged for half a mile while trying to stop the theft with no backup or rapid assistance available. A well-designed monitoring system mitigates this by ensuring the worker is checked on, traceable, and supported, especially in emergencies.

Our Health and Safety software helps employers set up automated check-in workflows to ensure you never miss a safety task.

Enable proactive hazard reporting and documentation

One of the most effective ways to reduce incidents especially for lone workers, is by enabling and encouraging early hazard reporting. When employees can easily identify and report risks before an incident occurs, employers gain critical visibility and the opportunity to intervene proactively.

Proactive reporting isn’t just good practice, it’s a cornerstone of legal compliance and continuous improvement.

Make hazard reporting instant, trackable, and compliant with our Health and Safety software. Empower your lone workers to report risks in real time and take action before incidents happen.

Role-by-Role Hazards & Controls

Lone Working Policy Checklist

Ready to strengthen your Lone worker safety strategy?

Lone working doesn’t have to mean complexity or risk. With BrightSafe, our Health and safety software, you can access expert health & safety advice anytime, and ensure your lone working policies meet the mark, comply confidently with HSE standards while you focus on your business.

Lone working FAQs

What counts as lone working in the UK?

Anybody working without close or direct supervision, including delivery drives, engineers, social workers, cleaners, security, and remote or home-based employees.

What are the biggest risks associated with lone working?

Key risks include violence from the public, delayed emergency response to accidents, and mental health impacts like stress and isolation.

What does UK law require from employers regarding lone working?

You must comply with the HSWA 1974 and MHSWR 1999, conduct risk assessment, implement controls, train staff, and establish emergency procedures.

How can BrightSafe help protect lone workers?

BrightSafe offers 600+ risk-assessment template, RoSPA- accredited e-learning, responsibility tracking, mobile reporting, and 24/7 expert advice.