Safer lone working: assessing the risk to health professionals

Lone working is increasing in the UK, as care delivery aims to keep people at home. This means that the relative safety of a hospital or clinic with colleagues present is increasingly being replaced by isolated workers in unfamiliar and potentially dangerous situations. Lone workers should be as safe and protected as colleagues who work in a shared base and employers have a legal responsibility to protect lone workers and minimize the risks which may have traditionally been viewed as occupational hazards. This article sets out a rapid risk assessment tool that employees can use to assess the risk of a lone visit on a case-by-case basis, and take precautions accordingly.