Why Protect Lone Workers?

Lone working presents serious health, safety, and legal challenges for UK employers. This guide explains the risks of lone working, why protection is essential, and what steps organisations can take to fulfil their legal duty of care.

What Is a Lone Worker?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines a lone worker as “someone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision.”

This could include people working:

Remotely or from home
In isolation within a building
In community-based roles
Outside normal hours
On the move between sites

You can find out more about this here: What is a lone worker?

The Risks Lone Workers Face

According to the HSE, 142 workers were killed at work and over 440,000 sustained non-fatal injuries. Additionally, 649,000 incidents of workplace violence were reported, with lone workers particularly vulnerable.

Key risks include:

Social risk – violence, abuse, and intimidation
Environmental hazards – slips, trips, falls, machinery accidents
Medical emergencies – with no one nearby to assist

Lone working increases the severity of incidents because no colleagues are available to call for help or provide support.

Take a look at our blog: How many lone workers are attacked every day?

It’s important to note that it’s not just social risks that lone workers face (e.g. violence, abuse and aggression), some face environmental hazards such as working at height or working with machinery.

Whatever the hazards workers face, employers have a duty to include lone working in a thorough Risk Assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and to implement measures to control or minimise lone working risks.

But, however rigorous your risk assessments and health and safety policies and procedures, accidents at work will always happen. Just consider how much worse an accident can be if a worker is on their own, with no colleagues available to assist them or call for help.

What Happens If You Don’t Protect Lone Workers?

Failing to protect lone workers can have serious consequences:

Legal action and fines – £26.9 million issued in fines in the last year
Imprisonment for responsible individuals
Brand damage that affects recruitment, revenue, and reputation
Increased insurance premiums and sick leave
Loss of workforce trust

Business Benefits of Lone Worker Protection

Other than giving lone workers peace of mind that they can quickly call for help in an emergency, there are many business benefits of implementing a lone worker solution including:

Reduce legal risk and demonstrate duty of care
Improve recruitment and retention by building trust
Lower insurance costs and improve compliance
Minimise business disruption and reputational damage
Deliver operational visibility and faster decision-making
Increase workforce morale, productivity, and engagement

Read: Business Case for Investing in a Lone Worker Solution

How Employers Can Protect Lone Workers

While some companies rely on buddy systems, these can be inconsistent and emotionally burdensome for staff. A more robust approach is a lone worker protection solution, like:

SoloProtect Devices – discreet wearables with emergency alert buttons
SoloProtect Mobile App – personal safety app with location tracking
24/7 Monitoring – manned Alarm Receiving Centre
Man Down Alert – automatic incapacitation detection

These tools empower workers to get help quickly and provide managers with full visibility and real-time support options.

Compare Our Lone Worker Devices

Take the Team Assessment

Not sure if your team needs a lone worker solution?

Take our free Lone Worker Team Assessment →

FAQs About Lone Worker Protection

Is lone worker protection a legal requirement in the UK?

‍While there is no law specifically about lone working, UK employers must protect all employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Who is considered a lone worker?

‍Anyone working without close or direct supervision, such as delivery drivers, carers, cleaners, tradespeople, or home workers.

What are the best ways to protect lone workers?

‍Provide a dedicated lone worker solution including risk assessments, training, monitoring, and access to safety devices or apps.

What is a Red Alert?

‍A Red Alert is an emergency alarm raised by a lone worker via their safety device or app, triggering immediate help from an Alarm Receiving Centre.

Next Steps & Contact

If you’d like to discuss how a lone worker safety solution can help you to protect your lone or remote working colleagues:

Book a free demo, request a quote, or get answers to your questions: