Employers have legal and moral responsibilities to protect lone workers. But what should you do to stay safe if you’re a one-person contracting business or an operator who works alone? Whether you’re operating a digger or working at your desk, here are some simple things you can do to stay safe and healthy at work.

Rick Crinklaw knows how accidents at work can affect friends and family.  If an employee is seriously injured at work, it’s Rick’s responsibility to tell their loved ones.

“To see the damage, the fear and the concern of the employees and their families in a moment like that, it takes a personal toll and it’s one of those things that you never ever want to have to do in your career,” said Rick, general manager for Lane Electric Cooperative.

Hopefully you’ve never had a major incident at work. But no one who works alone should be complacent. If you’ve ever had even a small accident or near-miss, you can’t afford to ignore it.

“You may not be concerned about minor injuries or accidents, but if you’re having a lot of those they build up to something big,” said Rick.

Make sure you catch any risks or hazards early. Simple actions today could save you - and your loved ones - from pain in the future.

How to stay safe as a lone worker

• Always look out for hazards in your workplace. Is there anything that could cause harm to you or someone else? Take action and report any risks to your manager or site manager.
• If you work for yourself, make sure you think about risks to your safety at work. Would you know what to do if you had an accident? Do you know how to get help if you feel unwell and don’t have phone signal? Plan ahead and consider getting expert advice or training to ensure you’re prepared. Read this first aid advice for lone workers from the British Red Cross.
• Remember the basics. Wear Personal Protective Equipment and know where the first aid kit is stored. Charge your phone and check your equipment regularly. Check out this safety advice, which you can tailor to your work.
• Research what apps and tools can support you to stay safe. For example, Caterpillar makes a hard-duty smartphone that is designed to cope with being dropped, getting wet and working outdoors. The battery can last for 44 days and you can charge other devices off it. There are also many lone worker apps you can download to help people stay safe.
• It’s vital to stay vigilant. It can be easy to relax if you’ve been doing similar work for a long time, but that’s when accidents can happen.
• Check the legislation and official guidance to make sure your business is doing what’s legally required to keep you and any colleagues safe.

Share your safety tips for lone workers with #LetsDoTheWork. 

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