Lone worker: can you refuse to work alone?

Reminder: Who can be considered as a lone worker?

A lone worker is commonly defined as an employee who works alone without close physical or verbal contact with colleagues (out of their sight or hearing range), regardless of how long the isolation lasts. It is the employer’s (or the person responsible for health and safety) duty to identify situations where an employee may be considered a lone worker. 

Sectors where lone working is frequent include, among others: cleaning/maintenance staff, home-care workers, hospitality staff, long-distance drivers, as well as other roles involving solitary tasks. The precise classification of “lone work” will depend on the specifics of each job and the associated risks.

What are the risks when working alone?

Working alone carries inherent risks that can affect both productivity and the wellbeing of the worker. Social isolation is a major concern, potentially leading to reduced motivation, feelings of loneliness, and even mental health issues such as stress or depression. 

 Without immediate colleagues, accidents may become more severe, because help may take longer to arrive. Lone workers are more vulnerable to physical hazards like falls, injuries, or occupational illness when no one else is present to assist. 

 It is therefore essential to have proper safety measures: clear emergency procedures, reliable communication methods, and support systems to reduce risks and safeguard the wellbeing of lone workers.

➡️WHAT ARE THE RISKS FOR LONE WORKERS ?

Can an employee refuse to work if a situation is dangerous? 

 Yes. While UK law doesn’t consider it as a formal “right of withdrawal” like some other countries, the combination of HASAWA and companion regulations gives employees the right and even duty to avoid or refuse work that poses serious and imminent danger to their health or safety. 

Employees must also take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who might be affected by their work. 

When is lone working prohibited or particularly restricted? 

There is no blanket ban on lone working, but some high-risk tasks are generally considered unsuitable for solo execution. As guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) notes:

• Work in confined spaces requiring rescue readiness;
• Work near exposed live electricity (electrical work under live or potentially live conditions);
• Work involving heavy lifting or use of lifting equipment;
• Dangerous tasks such as fumigation, work with explosives, diving operations, or other operations where an immediate rescue or backup is essential.

In any case, it’s the employer’s duty to assess whether lone working is safe in a given context and to prohibit it if risks cannot reasonably be controlled.

⏳ IN SHORT⌛

Lone working can pose real hazards for health, safety and mental wellbeing. Employers in the UK must:

• Identify and assess situations where an employee might be working alone;
• Implement appropriate preventive and protective measures (training, communication, supervision, emergency protocols, etc.);
• Prohibit lone working when risk assessments show the task cannot be safely done solo;
• Ensure support and regular contact, particularly for tasks with mental-health or violence risk.

Employees, for their part, have a responsibility to follow procedures, report hazards, and, if necessary, refuse work presenting serious and imminent danger.