Updated: March 2026 • Based on UK Law
What Is a Lone Worker Policy?
A lone worker policy is a written document setting out how an employer will protect employees who work alone — without close or direct supervision. It covers risk assessment, communication procedures, emergency protocols, and training requirements under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
This guide covers UK lone working rules, the three categories of lone workers, what a policy must include, and violence statistics.
An estimated 8 million people in the UK work alone. That’s roughly one in four of the working population — and every one of them is entitled to the same level of protection as any other employee.
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What Is Lone Working in the UK?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines lone workers as “those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.”
This covers a far wider group than most employers realise. It includes:
- People who work alone on a fixed site — shop workers during quiet periods, security guards, cleaners, receptionists
- People who work away from a fixed base — delivery drivers, care workers doing home visits, sales reps, engineers
- People who work from home — remote employees, freelancers, home-based teleworkers
A person doesn’t need to be alone all day to count as a lone worker. If they carry out tasks without direct supervision for any significant period, lone working rules apply.
Is It Legal for One Person to Work Alone in the UK?
Yes. There is no law that prohibits working alone in the UK.
However, employers still have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of lone workers — the same duty they owe to any other employee.
The HSE is clear: “Working alone is not in itself against the law, and it will often be safe to do so.” But the employer must assess the risks first and put appropriate measures in place.
There are some situations where lone working is not permitted. For example, certain work in confined spaces and some electrical work require at least two people to be present.
Beyond those specific exceptions, the question is not “can they work alone?” but “have you assessed the risks and put controls in place?”
What Are the Rules on Lone Working in the UK?
There is no single “lone working law” in the UK. Instead, lone worker protection falls under two main pieces of legislation:
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 — Section 2 places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees.
This includes lone workers.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 — Regulation 3 requires employers to carry out a “suitable and sufficient” risk assessment covering all employees.
Lone workers must be specifically considered.
Together, these laws require employers to:
- Assess the risks specific to lone working before allowing it
- Implement control measures to reduce those risks
- Provide training on lone working procedures and emergency response
- Establish communication systems so lone workers can raise the alarm
- Set up emergency procedures — including how to get help if injured, threatened, or unwell
- Monitor and supervise at a level appropriate to the risk
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 also applies.
If a lone worker dies due to a gross failure in health and safety management, the organisation can face prosecution for corporate manslaughter.
What Are the Three Categories of Lone Workers?
Lone workers are generally grouped into three categories based on where and how they work:
1. Fixed-site lone workers.
People who work alone at a fixed location — a shop, office, warehouse, factory, or petrol station.
They may be the only person on site, or the only person in a particular area of a larger workplace.
2. Mobile or peripatetic lone workers.
People who travel between locations as part of their job — care workers doing home visits, delivery drivers, estate agents showing properties, engineers attending call-outs.
These workers face additional risks from travel, unfamiliar environments, and meeting people they don’t know.
3. Home-based lone workers.
People who work from home — either full-time or as part of a hybrid arrangement.
The employer still has a duty to assess risks in the home working environment, including workstation setup, mental health, and isolation.
Each category carries different risks. Your lone working policy should identify which categories apply to your workforce and address the specific hazards for each.
What Should a Lone Working Policy Include?
A comprehensive lone working policy should cover:
- Scope and definition — who counts as a lone worker in your organisation and which roles are covered
- Risk assessment procedures — how you identify and evaluate the risks specific to lone working
- Control measures — what steps you take to reduce risks, including check-in systems, buddy systems, and restricted activities
- Communication protocols — how lone workers stay in contact with their employer or supervisor, including check-in schedules and escalation procedures
- Emergency procedures — what to do if a lone worker is injured, threatened, becomes unwell, or fails to check in
- Violence and aggression — procedures for workers who interact with the public, including de-escalation training and incident reporting
- Training requirements — what training lone workers and their supervisors must complete
- Monitoring and supervision — the level of supervision appropriate to the risk, and how it will be maintained
- Incident reporting — how to report accidents, near misses, threats, and violent incidents
- Review and update schedule — when the policy will be reviewed and who is responsible
Does a Lone Working Policy Need to Be Written Down?
There is no specific legal requirement for a standalone “lone working policy” document.
However, the practical reality is that you almost certainly need one in writing:
- If you employ five or more people, you must have a written health and safety policy (HSWA 1974, Section 2(3)). Lone working arrangements should form part of this.
- Risk assessments must be recorded if you employ five or more people (MHSWR 1999, Regulation 3(6)). Your lone working risk assessment is part of this obligation.
- Evidence of due diligence — if a lone worker is injured and you cannot produce a written policy or risk assessment, defending yourself against prosecution or a civil claim becomes extremely difficult.
Even if you employ fewer than five people, the HSE recommends documenting your lone working procedures.
How Many Lone Workers Are Assaulted in the UK?
The figures are significant — and likely underreported.
The HSE’s Violence at Work statistics for 2024/25 estimated 689,000 incidents of violence at work in the UK — comprising 370,000 physical assaults and 319,000 threats.
Of those, an estimated 150 lone workers are attacked every day — around 54,750 per year — according to the British Crime Survey.
This includes both physical and verbal attacks.
More recent data suggests the true figure is far higher.
SoloProtect’s 2024 Impact Report found a 132% increase in physical attacks and a 104% rise in weapon-related incidents against lone workers over the previous three years.
The highest-risk sectors for lone worker violence include:
- Healthcare and social care — NHS staff, home carers, community nurses
- Retail — 475,000 incidents of violence and abuse reported in 2022/23 (British Retail Consortium)
- Protective services — security guards, police officers (highest assault rate at 11.4%)
- Transport and delivery — drivers, couriers, mobile engineers
- Local government — council workers in public-facing roles
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OSHA equivalent for lone workers in the UK?
OSHA is the US workplace safety regulator. The UK equivalent is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The US does not have a specific lone worker standard under OSHA.
The UK also has no standalone lone working law — but the HSE publishes detailed guidance (INDG73) on managing lone worker risks under the HSWA 1974 and MHSWR 1999.
Can my employer force me to work alone?
An employer can ask you to work alone — but only after assessing the risks and putting appropriate controls in place.
If the risk assessment shows that the work cannot be done safely alone, the employer must either provide a second person or find an alternative way to carry out the task.
Do I need a separate risk assessment for lone workers?
Not necessarily. You can address lone working risks within your general workplace risk assessment.
However, the MHSWR 1999 requires that the specific risks of lone working are identified and assessed.
Many employers find it clearer to produce a separate lone working risk assessment, particularly if they have multiple lone working roles.
What technology should I provide for lone workers?
The technology depends on the level of risk. Options include mobile phones with GPS tracking, lone worker apps with check-in timers, personal safety alarms, man-down detection devices, and two-way radios.
The HSE does not mandate any specific technology — but your risk assessment must identify how lone workers will communicate and raise the alarm in an emergency.
What happens if a lone worker is injured and I don’t have a policy?
Without a documented policy or risk assessment, the employer faces serious legal exposure. The HSE can prosecute under the HSWA 1974 — with unlimited fines and up to two years’ imprisonment.
The injured worker can also bring a civil claim for compensation. The absence of a written policy makes it very difficult to demonstrate that reasonable precautions were taken.
The Truth About “Free” Legal Template Sites (What You’re Really Signing Up For)
Most websites offering a “free legal template” follow the same pattern:
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This isn’t a free template – it’s a subscription service. Many people only realise after being charged £300–£400 over the year.
Why These “Free” Templates Are a Legal Risk
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One incorrect clause can weaken or invalidate the entire document.
Hidden Problem: Many “Free Template” Sites Aren’t Even UK-Based
Another major issue is that many free or auto-subscription template sites operate outside the UK and use documents originally drafted for the US legal system. These are then loosely adapted for “international use,” which creates serious problems:
- Incorrect terminology: taken from US contract law
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Last updated: March 2026
Disclaimer: This guide provides general UK legal information, not legal advice. Laws are current as of March 2026.
