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Health and Safety Executive

Working alone

Health and safety guidance on the risks of lone working

Introduction
This leaflet provides guidance on how to keep lone workers healthy and safe. It is aimed at anyone who employs or engages lone workers, and also at self-employed people who work alone. Following the guidance in the leaflet is not compulsory, but it should help employers understand what they need to do to comply with their legal duties towards lone workers under:
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the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

This is a web-friendly version of leaflet INDG73(rev3), published 05/13

Is it legal to work alone and is it safe?
Working alone is not in itself against the law and it will often be safe to do so. However, the law requires employers to consider carefully, and then deal with, any health and safety risks for people working alone. Employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare at work of all their workers. They also have responsibility for the health and safety of any contractors or self-employed people doing work for them. These responsibilities cannot be transferred to any other person, including those people who work alone. Workers have responsibilities to take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work activities and to co-operate with their employers in meeting their legal obligations.

Who are lone workers and what jobs do they do?
Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision, for example: In fixed establishments
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A person working alone in a small workshop, petrol station, kiosk or shop People who work from home other than in low-risk, office-type work (separate guidance covers homeworkers doing low-risk work – see the end of the leaflet for details) People working alone for

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