How to Implement and Enforce a Lone Working Policy

Once your lone worker policy is finalised, you should begin implementing it right away. This should start with briefing your staff on the new policy and explaining the purpose and benefits of it being in place.

This could be done via a company-wide workshop or town hall where you openly discuss the policy. Make it clear to employees that following the rules outlined in the policy is mandatory and that your highest priority is their safety and wellbeing.

You should also make it clear that feedback is welcome as the policy is open to improvements. This will encourage employees who spot potential areas for improvement to raise this issue so that the policy can be updated and made as effective as possible.

Accessibility and Usage

For any procedures in the policy, training should be offered to ensure that all employees' knowledge is correct and up to date. The policy should be accessible to everyone in the organisation at all times. This could be by hosting on a shared drive or internal system, issuing the policy to everyone physically or via email.

It may be useful to design a checklist for your policy that lone workers are required to fill in each day before starting work to ensure they are compliant with your processes and procedures. This would check they have all of the correct PPE, that equipment is set up safely and that their lone worker device is charged and switched on.

How Often Should a Lone Worker Policy Be Updated?

While there is no set frequency for when your policy should be updated, it is recommended to review and update it at least annually to ensure it remains effective. Additionally, it should be reviewed every time there is an incident, new safety procedures are implemented or when any safety concerns are raised.

Keeping the policy up-to-date helps ensure compliance, mitigate risks and maintain a strong commitment to the safety and wellbeing of your lone workers.