Department of Biology
Lone Working
Identification of Prohibited Lone Working Activities or
Those Requiring Special Arrangements
It is important that all lone working activities (typically those activities taking place outside the normal
working hours of 8.00 – 18.00) are managed appropriately to minimise risk to workers. The safety of
all workers must be carefully considered in these situations, since other colleagues are unlikely to be
present in the event of an emergency. Lone working activities should be restricted, where
possible, to activities presenting a low risk even if control measures fail. The following
form should be used by groups to identify those higher risk activities which a) may require special
arrangements to be in place to ensure the safety of lone workers, or b) to identify those activities
which must not be performed by lone workers.
Name of Group or Facility:
Location:
Lone Working Activities Requiring Special Arrangements
Identify any activity requiring special arrangements which are considered necessary to monitor the
safety of a lone worker. Special arrangements must be considered for all activities where it is
judged that the risk cannot be adequately controlled by one person.
Examples of activities requiring special arrangements include those presenting a security risk,
activities that take place in remote locations, activities undertaken by inexperienced individuals, or
those with a medical condition. Note: existing procedures are already in place to consider all out-of
hours activities undertaken by Undergraduate and MRes project students.
Does your Group undertake any out-of-hours / lone working activities requiring special
arrangements? Yes / No
If yes, provide details of each below:
For each activity describe: a) the nature of the activity, b) the risks to lone workers, and c) measures required to
monitor the safety of the lone worker. Arrangements could include, for example: a) periodic monitoring of
workers by the supervisor or other colleague, b) logging in and out with the Security Centre (extn. 3333), and c)
use of automatic warning devices which alarm in the event of an emergency.
Description of Activity and
Hazard Identification
Particular Risk(s) to
Lone Workers
Control Measures / Special
Arrangements for Lone Workers
Prohibited Lone Working Activities
Document all high risk activities that MUST NOT be carried out by lone workers in YOUR GROUP.
High risk activities include all those activities where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk that the
work might result in an accident which could be sufficiently serious to require a second person to be
available to summon help.
Examples include:
 the use of machinery that could result in serious injury in the event of an accident
 the use of some hazardous substances that present a risk of serious acute health effects in the
event of exposure (e.g. hydrofluoric acid)
 the use of high energy ‘open-source’ stock radioisotopes such as 32P or 1251
 decanting liquid nitrogen from high pressure vessels should also be avoided by the out of hours
lone worker.
Are there any activities that must not be undertaken by lone workers in your Group?
Yes / No
If yes, list the activities below:
Group Leader / Facility Manager
I have considered all activities that are likely to be undertaken by workers in my group and, where
appropriate, introduced special arrangements to monitor the safety of the lone worker, or prohibited
the lone working activity. All workers will be made aware of any restrictions on lone working activities,
and any arrangements considered necessary to monitor the safety of lone workers.
Name:
Signature:
Date:
Dates Reviewed: (document each time the form is reviewed; should be at least every 2 years or whenever
a significant change occurs)