Lone worker Legislation

Laws, rules, European regulations : there are several lone working legislations to protect the growing number of lone workers worldwide. What are the employer responsabilities and legal obligations ? Discover everything you must know here!

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lone worker app, lone worker legislation, legislation for lone workers

Definition of a Lone Worker

A lone worker is an employee who performs their job duties in isolation from other workers, often without direct supervision. This can occur in various environments such as remote locations, outside of regular business hours, or in specific roles like security personnel, maintenance workers, or delivery drivers.

Ensuring the safety of lone workers is crucial, as they are more vulnerable to risks and emergencies. Employers must implement effective communication systems, provide comprehensive training, and establish robust safety protocols to protect lone workers and ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.

By understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by lone workers, businesses can create a safer and more productive work environment.

What are the risks that lone workers face?

Lone working does not represent a risk in itself but can increase the probability of accident. The speed of intervention can be decisive for the survival of an accident's victim.

The lone worker is exposed to multiple types of risks: 

 

Psychosocial risks (PSR)

psycho

Lone workers are exposed to PSR. These PSR concern for example stress or violence and can be the cause of anxiety, exhaustion or illness.

 

Physical risks

noun-violence-3883535

In a lone working situation, the employee may face external violence without anyone being able to come to his aid. In particular, he or she may be the victim of verbal or physical aggression. This can cause trauma but also physical injuries.

 

Medical risks

outil-medical

Some people may have pathologies that cause sudden symptoms: dizziness, anxiety attacks, epileptic seizures... These symptoms may then require special assistance, lone working should be avoided.

 
53M

lone workers in Europe, USA and Canada in 2015*, including around 8 millions in the UK

*Berg Insight study

15%

of all employees can be considered as lone workers 

*Berg Insight "Lone Worker Safety Solution", First Edition 2021

1,1M

lone workers using a safety solution in Europe and North America in 2020

*Berg Insight study

What is the legislation relevant to lone working?

flèche 3The employer responsabilities 

Employers must ensure the safety of their employees, regardless of the company's sector of activity. He must do everything that is possible to limit the risk of accidents for his employees. If lone working can't be avoided, the employee must be given a way to be rescued in case of danger.

2 solutions :

- An active human surveillance
- Indirect surveillance (this is where Beepiz comes in!)

 

EuropeEUROPEAN LEGISLATION

 

Directive 2007/30/EC of the European Parliament and the Council amending Council Directive 89/391/EEC.

European countries must take the necessary measures to comply with this directive regarding the improvement of the health and safety of employees. 

International legislation : Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Portugal...

 
Royaume-Uni
ENGLISH LEGISLATION

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably praticable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

 

Management of Health & Safety at Work 1999

"Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work"

Belgique
BELGIAN LEGISLATION

General regulations for the protection of work Title II / Chapter I / Section IX / Article  54ter

"Any worker employed in isolation has the appropriate means of alarm in the circumstances. No work to be performed in hazardous conditions should be entrusted to a lone worker. The presence of another person who can quickly give the alarm is necessary."

Suisse
SWISS LEGISLATION

According to the SECO*: "For each person working alone, it is necessary to create the possibility of calling for help in case of need near their workstation, either using a phone, a device, a cable or radio alarm or even through a monitoring system. "

*State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
allemagne
GERMAN LEGISLATION

The lone worker safety regulations are based on the current legal and occupational requirements (Rules 112-139 of the German Social Accident Insurance).

esp
SPANISH LEGISLATION

The NTP 344, takes into account lone workers situation:
"The company must put in place systems that provide faster and more efficient assistance for people who work alone."

Suède
SWEDISH LEGISLATION

According to Article 29(1), "if an employee works alone and as a result the work entails evident hazards or risks to the employee’s safety or health, the employer shall ensure that the hazard or risk is avoided or minimized while the employee is working alone."

portugal
PORTUGUESE LEGISLATION

The law n°102/2009 (10th September) adapts the directive 2007/30/EC about health and safety at work.

Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURGISH LEGISLATION

"The STM: (Multisectoral Occupational Health Service) is a public establishment whose responsibility comes from the Luxembourg Minister of Health. It takes care of governing the various rules so that a lone worker can be comfortable in his mission and therefore feel protected:The employer must ensure the safety of his employee.It must also prevent the risk of accidents. "

Lone working : what measures can be taken?

A safety solution for all lone workers

If an employee cannot be rescued quickly (direct supervision), the employer must provide an "indirect supervision". In this case, a lone worker app can be the solution.

A lone worker safety device is an alarm device made for lone workers. It aims at ensuring their safety by sending an alert to the emergency services if needed.

The purpose of this device is to send an alert in case of a critical situation encountered by the lone worker. The alarm can be triggered automatically in case of a fall or dizzy spell, for example, or manually by a lone worker who believes he is in danger. Following the triggering and reception of the alert, a defined procedure can be applied in order to contact the emergency services or provide assistance to the individual.
 
 
HOW IT WORKS?

 

Lone worker policy 

To ensure its employees safety, employers can have a lone worker policy in their company. It is a written document that presents the good practices and safety measures that both the employer and employee must follow to avoid accidents. 

 

app Beepiz EN Iphone 12pro min

 

 

Beepiz respects the GDPR!

Pictogramme RGPDRespecting the privacy of one of our priorities. The Beepiz device respects the privacy requirements of the EU GDPR.

 
FAQs

More questions about lone worker legislation

Can an employee refuse lone working? ⚠️

Lone working is completely legal and is necessary in some cases. Refusing to work in a lone working situation if there is no danger, for an employee, could be deemed as failure to carry out their role. However, employers have legal duties regarding the safety of the employees and particularly the safety of lone workers. They have to prove that they have taken the proper measures to assure their safety.

Can remote workers be considered as lone workers? 🏠

When he works from home, the employee can be considered as a lone worker if he/she works alone at home and cannot be seen or heard in case of an accident.

As for any other lone worker, the employer must take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the employee.

Is it possible to be sendentary (work in an office) and be a lone worker? 💼

Although lone working generally concerns more mobile workers or outdoor workers (technicians, security guards, maintenance, workers, site managers, etc.), sedentary workers can also be concerned. If the employee works in an individual office, he/she can be a lone worker as soon as he/she is out of sight and voice of another employee.

In an open space, for example, it may happen that some employees come earlier (or stay later): they will be isolated during this time.

 

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