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An estimated 8 million people are lone workers in the UK, accounting for around one-fifth to 22% of the working population. Lone workers work in isolation or without any direct supervision, which puts them at a higher risk of being in an unsafe work environment.
When it comes to learning about lone working and workplace incidents, you may want to know about how many lone workers are attacked every day in the UK. The daily incidents of violence or aggression against lone workers are estimated to be around 150. They are highly vulnerable to workplace hazards.
In our informational guide, you will get insights into the approximate estimations and reports on workplace violence or incidents of lone workers. Scroll down to find out more.
What Is Lone Working?
Lone working refers to the type of work where an employee or worker carries out their job responsibilities alone, without any direct supervision or close interaction with coworkers. Individuals who are doing lone work are known as lone workers.
Understanding lone working and the risks that come with it can help comprehend measures that will protect them from workplace violence or incidents. Adopting effective measures to ensure their safety should be of paramount importance in today’s world.
Ensuring occupational health and safety is a crucial matter for everyone. Learn more about lone working and understand it before you work alone.
What Is Lone Working in Health and Safety?
In health and safety, lone working refers to situations where an employee performs their duties without being in sight or earshot of any other employer or employee. Lone workers in health and safety face specific risks, challenges, and hazards on a regular basis.
For example, in psychiatric hospitals, employees are more vulnerable to workplace violence, aggression, or verbal abuse from patients or their families. Another example can be the lone workers in construction, who face workplace hazards, like falls and equipment failures, every day.
Who Qualifies as a Lone Worker?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a lone worker is anyone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision. Security guards, delivery drivers, retail workers, cleaners, health and social workers, engineers, sales representatives, remote field workers, real estate workers, etc., are some suitable examples of lone workers.
Some of the key characteristics that qualify individuals as lone workers are:
- No Direct Supervision or Immediate Assistance
They work in environments where they carry out challenges without any direct supervision or immediate assistance. They work in an unsafe and unhealthy environment where the working conditions are also health hazards.
- Unsafe Work Environments (Workplace Risks, Hazards, and Incidents)
They are at a greater risk of being victims of workplace risks, violence, aggression, abuse, and potential hazards. Employees who work at construction sites are more vulnerable to workplace accidents. In workplaces that use hazardous substances, employees are at a higher risk of being exposed to such substances.
- Physical Health Hazards and Risks
Lone workers become victims of workplace violence and accidents frequently. It causes severe health damage to them, such as critical injuries, fatal diseases, chronic illnesses, major health issues, and even death. According to the surveys done across the UK, the lone worker fatalities are estimated to be around 44,850 to 74,750 annually.
- Mental Health Hazards and Risks
Not only do they face severe damage to physical health, but they also feel stressed out. Their mental health is put in jeopardy because of such workplace incidents. Verbal abuse is a contributing factor to such workplace aggression. Along with physical health issues, mental health issues are also of major concern.
- Working Remotely or in Isolation
Lone workers often work remotely or in isolation, where they don’t get immediate support or assistance from their employers or other employees. Employees who work from home or in remote fields are also exposed to workplace hazards and incidents.
What Are Some Lone Working Examples?
Lone working is predominant in many industries, and the responsibilities of lone workers vary widely. Let’s have a look at some of the most suitable examples of lone working!
- Healthcare and Social Services
Nurses in psychiatric hospitals and general medical facilities. Social workers visit service users’ homes in the community.
- Transport and Construction
Delivery drivers, taxi and bus drivers, construction workers, etc.
- Retail and Hospitality
Shop assistants, sales representatives, petrol station attendants, or kiosk operators.
- Security and Cleaning Maintenance
Security guards, watchmen, janitors, and cleaning staff. Other than that, safety officers and firefighters are also known as lone workers.
- Trades and Maintenance
Plumbers, electricians, and decorators working alone on client premises. Maintenance personnel working in isolated or remote areas.
- Remote and Hybrid Field Work
Agricultural and forestry workers. Field-based engineers, inspectors, and scientists. Chemical engineers or workers in nuclear power plants, etc.
- Manufacturing & Warehousing
Technicians, laboratory employees, factory or warehouse workers, etc., working in specific areas.
- Real Estate Workers
Real estate workers or agents are also part of lone working. The nature of real estate work involves tasks like showing properties, visiting sites, and meeting clients without a manager or colleague present.
Other than that, some remote jobs are considered a type of lone working where risk factors are minimal compared to other remote jobs.
Why Are Lone Workers at Risk of Workplace Violence?
Lone working is not always at a higher risk of workplace violence or hazards, but it has a higher vulnerability to exposure to such violence and aggression. Workplace incidents occur on a frequent basis in lone working across the UK. The range keeps varying widely.
What Are Some Contributing Risk Factors?
There are some contributing factors that work as a primary cause for lone workers to be vulnerable to workplace incidents and threats. Let’s take a look at these!
| The Risks of Working Alone | Risk Factors |
| Physical Attacks | Working in areas that have higher crime rates has a higher chance of physical attacks. |
| Mental Health Issues | Stress, loneliness, and other mental health issues for working in isolation and due to the lack of support or interaction with colleagues. |
| Violence | Working in remote fields that are prone to violence and other crimes, such as homicides. Working alone at night can be another factor. |
| Aggression/Threats | Some lone workers have work environments where violence or physical attacks are not predominant, but aggression, hostile behaviour, and threatening attitudes can be contributing factors. |
| Verbal Abuse | Lone workers also have work environments where employers are verbally abusive to their employees. |
| Workplace Hazards/Risks | The primary factors for workplace hazards, risks, and potential hazards are a lack of supervision and immediate assistance, negligence, etc. |
As you can see, the risks of working alone and without any close or direct supervision can cause many health and other risks. It also affects the mental health of employees due to their lack of interaction with other employees.
These risk factors are what we should work towards minimising to ensure lone worker safety.
How Many Lone Workers Are Attacked Every Day in the UK?
According to the British Crime Survey (BCS), there are between 123 and 205 assaults or attacks every day in the UK on lone workers. To be precise, the number is around 150 and keeps varying widely across the UK.
Lone workers are attacked physically or verbally on a daily basis, which is now a major concern for lone worker safety. Based on an older survey from 2018, there are roughly 54,750 workplace incidents per year in lone working.
Recent reports from sources like the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show a much higher incidence of workplace violence in lone working. According to the HSE, the number is around 649,000. Another survey reports that around 36% of lone workers have reported to their employers about workplace hazards.
According to an ‘Impact Report 2014’ revealed by the SoloProject, there was a 132% increase in physical attacks and a 104% increase in weapon-related attacks against lone workers over the past three years across the UK.
Let’s have a look at the significant number of attacks happening on lone workers every day in the UK from different industries!
| Types of Lone Workers | Attacks/Assaults |
| Retail Workers | 455 incidents of violence and/or abuse |
| National Health and Safety (NHS) Staff | 14.5% physical violence and 33.4% workplace violence |
| Security Staff | 26% physical attacks per week |
| Police Officers | Over 55,000 assaults per year |
| Social Workers | Over 40% abuse, 13% verbal abuse, 2% physical abuse |
Other than these, lone workers are being attacked every day across different industries in the UK. There are effective measures that the UK legislation should prioritise to prevent such workplace incidents/abuse and secure lone workers a safe working environment.
How to Protect the Lone Workers?
As conscious citizens, it should be our collective responsibility to protect workers and secure them a safe work environment. Lone workers are more in need of protection for their own health and safety. There are many effective measures we can take to ensure lone worker safety.
Let’s take a look at these measures!
- Implementing a lone worker policy
Implementing a lone worker policy can be the first effective step towards protecting the health and safety of lone workers. The lone worker policy should be relevant and adequate for employees, ensuring them healthy work conditions and a safe work environment.
The safety procedures should define the roles and responsibilities of lone working and clear response protocols for emergency situations.
- Conducting risk assessments
Conducting risk assessments includes identifying potential workplace hazards, lone working practices, work environments, etc. It will help employers understand the challenges of their employees and how to minimise such hazards.
Risk assessments are a significant part of every type of work, where assessing workplace risks and hazards can also lead to effective control measures.
- Implementing monitoring systems
Implementing systems that are reliable for monitoring the health and safety of lone workers can play a vital role in ensuring lone worker safety. These monitoring systems can keep track of their tasks and other duties on a regular basis. It can help employers review the overall result and make updates accordingly.
- Maintaining communication and other follow-ups
Establishing an effective communication system is also important. Workplaces where employees can communicate and voice their workplace issues without any barriers can enhance the overall lone worker safety.
Providing lone workers with essential equipment such as GPS tracking, an emergency button, automatic ‘man down’ detection, etc., will get them immediate assistance and aid.
- Providing lone workers with effective training
There are many training courses available online for lone workers that are fit for their roles. The lone worker training can help them gain the required skills they must have to fulfil their duties efficiently. Such adequate skills will also protect them from workplace risks and other potential hazards.
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It’s our duty to ensure the safety of lone workers since they are more prone to workplace incidents and hazards. The UK laws have emphasised minimising their safety hazards and securing them a safe work culture.
Laws that Regulate Lone Working
Lone working is not against the law and has legal obligations to fulfil in order to secure the health and safety of employees. Lone working varies across a wide range of industries and is predominant in some of them. Every lone working industry must follow and comply with the UK legislation.
Let’s take a quick glance at the UK laws that regulate lone working and work towards protecting the health and safety of lone workers.
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
- Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023
- Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
In cases when a workplace incident occurs due to a violation of certain health and safety regulations, employers can be subjected to criminal prosecution and penalties of up to £10 million by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Ensuring compliance with the occupational health and safety regulations should be our collective responsibility. You, as a conscious citizen, can learn and create awareness about lone working and work towards the safety of lone workers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In which industries is lone working predominant?
Lone working comes with unique safety challenges. It is increasing in modern workplaces, particularly in industries like healthcare, construction, transportation, retail, agriculture, forestry, utilities, infrastructure, security, etc. Workers in lone working come from diverse backgrounds and roles and operate without close or direct supervision or support.
What industry has the highest rate of workplace violence?
The healthcare and social assistance industry has the highest rates of workplace violence, where violence from patients and their families is a primary cause. In psychiatric hospitals, general medical facilities, and protective service jobs, we can see extremely increased incident rates. Such industries also have the highest potential for workplace violence.
Can you take training for lone working?
There are training programs available for lone working, which is legal but needs careful planning and risk assessment. Lone working training is for individuals who perform challenging tasks without close or direct supervision. It will teach workers how to identify potential hazards and take preventive measures to tackle these challenges.
Conclusion
In modern industries, hiring lone workers is a sound business strategy; supporting them can become an ethical responsibility here. Lone workers are tackling challenges across many settings and face a high level of risks on a daily basis.
How many lone workers are attacked every day in the UK is a concerning question when it comes to protecting lone workers. The UK legislation and occupational health and safety regulations must adapt to effective measures that will reduce their chance of getting attacked every day.
It’s a collective responsibility of everyone to ensure a safe work environment for lone workers or employees. Every employer should make this a priority and provide adequate support and assistance to their employees.
Essential Safety Training
At Essential Safety Training, we deliver a blend of online courses on safety and compliance. As a top-notch award-winning platform in the UK, we value learners and keep our commitment by creating more accessible, expertly crafted courses.
