Lone Worker Checklist: Ensure Safety

Why Every Employer Needs a Lone Worker Safety Plan

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, UK employers must ensure the health, safety and welfare of their staff. This duty extends to employees who work alone — technicians, drivers, cleaners, surveyors, and remote workers.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires companies to assess lone-working risks and put control measures in place. Yet many organisations stop at providing a device or mobile app without defining a full response protocol.

The Neovigie Lone Worker Safety Checklist was created to help safety officers and managers structure a comprehensive programme — from hazard identification to emergency response — and to demonstrate HSE compliance through clear, auditable actions.

Building a Structured and Compliant Programme

The checklist guides you through 11 practical steps that turn legal obligations into day-to-day procedures:

1. Identify lone workers – who works without direct supervision or support.
2. Analyse the hazards – for each task or location (height, chemicals, violence risk, road travel, confined spaces).
3. Assess and prioritise risks based on likelihood and severity.
4. Define operational requirements – fall detection, motion monitoring, SOS button, GPS or indoor location, loss-of-signal alerts.
5. Select appropriate safety devices – wearables, smartphones or satellite links, tested for reliability.
6. Check connectivity in all work zones.
7. Plan phased deployment and IT validation.
8. Establish clear response protocols – who receives the alarm, escalation levels, external emergency contacts.
9. Train employees and supervisors on device use and procedures.
10. Inform and reassure staff about data use and monitoring limits.
11. Review and update – regular testing, maintenance and policy revision.

Following these steps provides the documentation needed for internal audits or external inspections.

From Equipment to Real-World Readiness

Technology alone does not guarantee safety. An effective programme connects devices with human action — ensuring every alarm triggers the right response within seconds.
The Neovigie checklist helps you bridge that gap, mapping each alert type to a verified response chain and ensuring accountability at every level.

It also supports integration with control rooms or monitoring partners, helping organisations meet HSE INDG73 and Lone Working Guidance recommendations on communication, supervision, and emergency planning.

Practical Uses for Safety and Facilities Managers

The checklist can serve as:

• an internal audit tool – to evaluate existing lone-worker arrangements;
• a procurement guide – when choosing a new supplier or device;
• a training reference – for onboarding new safety personnel.

Sectors such as utilities, local authorities, logistics, construction, and healthcare can use it to document compliance and demonstrate proactive duty of care.

Driving Continuous Improvement

Good lone-worker management is a continuous process. The checklist encourages yearly reviews of equipment reliability, incident feedback, and training effectiveness.
By formalising these reviews, organisations move from minimal compliance to genuine prevention culture — reducing incident rates and improving worker confidence.

Download the Complete Lone Worker Safety Checklist

Ensure your organisation meets HSE lone-working standards with a structured, practical framework.
Download Neovigie’s free checklist to:

• Identify and assess lone-working situations.
• Define clear communication and response procedures.
• Strengthen compliance and workplace safety culture.

👉 Download the complete Lone Worker Safety Checklist

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