Barrington Parish Council
Lone Working Policy
1. Introduction
Barrington Parish Council recognises that staff are required to work by themselves in the community
without close or direct supervision, sometimes in isolated work areas or out of office hours.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 Barrington Parish Council has a legal obligation to look after the health, safety and
welfare of their employees and contractors. However, employees have responsibilities to take
reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work.
This policy will be reviewed and form part of the annual appraisal.
2. Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to all situations involving lone working arising in connection with the duties and
activities of Barrington Parish Council staff.
Lone workers include those working at their main place of work where:
• Only one person is working on the premises
• People work separately from each other, eg in different locations.
• People are working outside normal office hours It also includes those working away from their
fixed base where one worker is visiting another premises or meeting venue; one worker is making a
home visit to an individual; one worker is working from their own home.
3. Aims of the Policy The aim of the policy is to:
• Increase employee awareness of safety issues relating to lone working.
• Ensure that the risk of lone working is assessed in a systematic and ongoing way, and that safe
systems and methods of work are put in place to reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.
• Ensure that appropriate training is available so that employees are able to recognise risk and to
provide practical advice of safety when working alone.
• Encourage full reporting and recording of any incidents relating to lone working.
• Reduce the number of incidents and injuries to staff related to lone working.
4. Responsibilities – Barrington Parish Council is responsible for:
• Ensuring that there are arrangements for identifying, evaluating and managing risk associated with
lone working.
• Providing resources for putting the policy into practice.
• Ensuring that there are arrangements for monitoring incidents linked to lone working and that
they regularly review the effectiveness of the policy.
• Ensuring that all employees are aware of this policy Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out
and reviewed regularly, putting procedures and safe systems into practice which are designed to
eliminate or reduce risks associated with working alone.
• Managing the effectiveness of preventative measures through an effective system of reporting,
investigating and recording incidents.
• Ensuring that appropriate support and equipment is given to staff involved in any incident.
Employees are responsible for:
• Taking reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their actions.
• Following guidance and procedures designed for safe working.
• Reporting all incidents that may affect the health and safety of themselves or others and asking for
guidance as appropriate.
• Taking part in any training designed to meet the requirements of the policy.
• Reporting any dangers or potential dangers they identify or any concerns they might have in
respect of working alone.
5. Guidance for Risk Assessment of Lone Working
• Is the person fit and suitable to work alone?
• Are there adequate channels of communication?
• Does the workplace or task present a special risk to the lone worker?
• Is there a risk of violence?
• Travelling to site or meetings – what procedures are in place?
• Is the equipment safe for individual use?
6. Good Practice for Lone Workers
During work hours, all staff leaving the workplace (or home) should leave the details of where they
are going and their estimated time of arrival back with another party.
If, during the trip away, any plans change significantly this should be communicated back to the
other party.
When meeting with contractors arrangements must be made to meet in a public place and not in
their home.
If a visit is being made to a member of the public in their home a Councillor must be informed of the
visit and the approximate times.
Lone workers should have access to adequate first aid facilities and mobile workers should carry a
first aid kit suitable for treating minor injuries with them.
Lone workers should have a mobile phone and other personal safety equipment where this is
necessary.
All incidents must be reported to the Council. Employees / Members should ensure that all incidents,
where they feel threatened or unsafe, are reported. This includes incidents of verbal abuse. If
emergency assistance is required whilst out and about all employees should dial 999.
A Member of Staff is at liberty to refuse to meet with a Council Member, Contractor, Member of the
Public alone, if they feel threatened or feel it would be inappropriate.
Whilst the Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer’s main place of work is their home, this is a private residence and, under no circumstances, should Councillors or Members of the Public attend the premises without prior agreement from the relevant staff member.
A risk assessment will be carried out for both the Clerk and RFO and be reviewed annually at their respective appraisal.
Adopted April 2021
Amended May 2022