Tips for Creating an Effective Lone Working Policy

Tips for creating an effective lone working policy

Getting your lone workers on board and making your policy a part of your company culture can be challenging, but these tips can help to streamline the process.

Keep it simple

To ensure your employees understand the policy, you should avoid jargon, complex language and unnecessary details. Try and keep it easy to understand for all employees and outline expectations as clearly as possible as this will aid compliance.

Involve employees

Involve lone workers in the policy development and review process. Seek their feedback and insights, as they can offer valuable perspectives on the practical aspects of the policy. This could be done through an employee forum or an anonymous survey. You should also ask them to suggest ways you could make them feel safer so that the policy can make a meaningful impact.

Be direct

Your policy should make it clear that employee adoption of your processes and procedures is mandatory. Avoid using suggestive language such as ‘you should’ ‘you could’ or ‘you may’. Instead, use ‘you must’ or ‘it is required’.

Lead by Example

Leadership plays a crucial role in setting the tone for policy compliance. Ensure that managers and supervisors model the behaviour expected of lone workers and consistently follow safety protocols.

Managers should be especially clear on the benefits of the policy so that they can address concerns and manage compliance within their teams.

Celebrate Success

Celebrate successes in lone worker safety. Share stories of how the policy has protected employees and contributed to their wellbeing as this will help colleagues to see the tangible benefits.