Lone working: protect those working alone

Lone workers can be at greater risk of harm as they may not have anyone to help or support them if things go wrong.

Employers must manage the risks to anyone working alone, including contractors and self-employed people.

HSE's lone working webpages have advice on: 

• managing the risks that particularly affect lone workers
• training, supervision and monitoring
• guidance for lone workers themselves
  
  

For further information you can:

• download our free leaflet Protecting lone workers: How to manage the risks of working alone
• watch our lone workers video 
  
  

Company fined after apprentice died while working alone

The company was fined £50,000 and its director handed a suspended sentence

The apprentice joiner was working alone at a property undergoing renovation, when a stack of wooden board material fell on her, causing fatal injuries.

HSE’s investigation found the company had:

• failed to provide safe systems of work, adequate information, instruction, training and supervision
• no suitable lone working policy or procedure
• no suitable policy or procedure for the storage of board materials
• an inadequate risk assessment prior to the incident
  
  

Read more about the incident in our press release: Company fined and director handed suspended sentence after death of apprentice.

Training courses from HSE

HSE's training is delivered by experts to help organisations comply with the law and keep workforces healthy and safe.

These upcoming courses are designed to increase delegates' confidence and competence in managing health and safety in the workplace:

• NEBOSH HSE certificate in managing stress at work
  23 September, HSE Science and Research Centre, Buxton
  7 to 8 October, live online (part-days)
• Display screen equipment (DSE) risk management
  30 September, HSE Science and Research Centre, Buxton
  
  

Working in high temperatures

Employers must ensure workers are protected during hot weather.

There's no law for maximum working temperature, or when it's too hot to work, because every workplace is different.

No meaningful upper limit can be imposed as many indoor workplaces have high temperatures that are not seasonal but created by work activity, for example in bakeries or foundries.

HSE's website has guidance on temperature in the workplace.