Lone working is an essential part of many roles across healthcare, education, commercial, and community-based services. However, without the right safeguards in place, lone working can expose individuals and organisations to increased risk.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a lone worker is defined as “those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.” This can include people working alone in premises, working from home, operating outside normal hours, or working away from a fixed base.

For many organisations, lone working cannot be eliminated entirely. What can be done is to ensure that robust systems, procedures and security measures are in place to protect both staff and the organisation.

Who Is Considered a Lone Worker?

Lone working is more common than many people realise. Examples include:

  • Staff working alone on business premises
  • Employees working from home or remotely
  • Individuals working separately from colleagues
  • People working early mornings, evenings or overnight
  • Professionals carrying out home visits or community work
  • Out‑of‑hours clinical, facilities, or support staff

Across sectors such as healthcare, education, social care, estates management and security, lone working often forms a critical part of day‑to‑day operations.

Why Lone Working Presents Increased Risk

Without close supervision or immediate support, lone workers may be more vulnerable to:

  • Physical violence or aggression
  • Medical emergencies
  • Accidents or slips and trips
  • Delayed response in an emergency
  • Feelings of isolation or stress
  • Increased personal safety concerns

Employers have a legal duty to assess and manage these risks, ensuring that lone workers are not placed in avoidable danger.

Lone Working: Key Safety Principles
  • Clearly define when lone working applies and communicate procedures to staff
  • Assess lone working risks regularly and keep arrangements under review
  • Ensure robust contact and escalation processes, including next‑of‑kin details
  • Use appropriate monitoring or lone worker alarm systems and test them regularly
  • In workplaces, ensure security systems are in place and understood
  • In the community, plan visits carefully, stay vigilant, and have clear ways to summon help
The Role of Security Management in Lone Worker Safety

Effective lone working arrangements rely on more than policy alone. Physical security measures, monitoring systems and professional security support all play a vital role in reducing risk and ensuring rapid response when incidents occur.

A comprehensive security management approach can support organisations by:

  • Assessing risks across sites and activities
  • Implementing appropriate security systems
  • Ensuring monitoring and response arrangements are reliable
  • Supporting compliance with legal and regulatory responsibilities
  • Providing reassurance to staff working alone
How TIAA Can Support Your Organisation

At TIAA, our Security Management service is designed to help organisations identify, manage and reduce security risks, including those associated with lone working.

We work with clients across a wide range of sectors to:

  • Review current lone working and security arrangements
  • Identify potential vulnerabilities
  • Implement proportionate, effective security measures
  • Support safer working environments for staff and visitors

Through a proportionate, risk‑based approach, we support compliance with key UK legislation and standards, including:

  • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
  • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
  • Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981
  • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013
  • Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018
  • Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
  • NHS Standard Contract 2026/27

By aligning lone working arrangements with these requirements, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, reduce exposure to people risk, and strengthen overall governance and assurance.

Training Support for Lone Workers

Alongside security management and advisory support, we also deliver specialist training designed to help lone workers recognise risk, manage challenging situations and protect their personal safety.

Training courses regularly provided to lone workers include:

  • Lone Working & Personal Safety
  • Security Awareness
  • Conflict Resolution Training (CRT)

These courses equip staff with practical techniques to assess risk, de‑escalate conflict and respond effectively to incidents, while reinforcing organisational policies and procedures.

Training can be delivered as a standalone intervention or as part of a wider lone working and security strategy, helping organisations build safer, more confident workforces.

Whether you are reviewing lone working procedures, enhancing site security, or seeking expert advice, our experienced team can help you take a structured, risk‑based approach.

Find out more about our Security Management services – Security Management