Working alone presents employees with a number of challenges. Yet lone work is not inherently unsafe. Experts recommend the following steps to ensure the safety of lone workers:
- Assess each workspace for hazards.
- Talk with your supervisor about possible solutions to hazards.
- Whenever possible, avoid using a lone worker for high-risk tasks.
- Report to supervisors all potentially hazardous situations and near-miss incidents in which being alone emphasized the severity.
- Establish a check-in procedure and maintain regular contact with co-workers.
- Schedule higher-risk tasks during normal business hours or when another worker is available to help in the event of an emergency.