Preparing for safer working

We can prepare for safer working.  For example, when working in in environments with little or no access to immediate support, it makes sense to manage and reduce risks to our personal safety and security.

Risks to safety often occur through accident, ill health, or encountering a challenging situation or workplace conflict.  Of course, the risks to lone workers are also risks that are present outside work as well.  For example when we are socialising.  Everyone has the right to be safe whatever we are doing.  Preparing for safer working, making lone working safety preparations and giving thought to our personal safety when out and about generally really does make sense.

The vast majority of us go happily about life without incident.  Thankfully, many of us don’t experience significant risks however; some do encounter difficult situations.  These articles are designed to help.

The following tips are aimed at preparing you if you are lone working, working where there is limited access to immediate support or, when you are ‘out and about’ working or not, in any environment.

Preparing for safer working (or other activities) can be separated out to the following points:

What’s the activity or type of work you intend to do?

• do you okay about, or fit enough for, the activity you are about to carry out?
• where are you going? – is it a busy or isolated place?  Inside a private building and out of sight of others, or not?
• who is likely to be there?
• who else may turn up?
• are there risks you need to do something about?  For example you going into a hazardous area such as a confined space?  If so, have you got the right equipment and support, and can you easily exit the area safely if needed?
• have you told someone where you are going and what you are doing?
• if you change your plans, do you need to let someone know that you are and where you are now going?
• do you need to let someone know you have completed the activity and are safe?

What information do you need, or should you know?

• what are you expected to do?
• how are you going to get there and back?
• are you going alone or should you take someone else with you
• is there anything that you should know about the area you are going into?
• what about who you might meet – what do you know about them?  Is there anything else you should know about them?
• do you know exactly where you are going?  If not, should you?
• what information sources or systems can you check to find about about the area/person you are visiting.  If preparing for lone working, you may have access to lots of information within your organisation, or partner organisations.
• if you are going into a private address or business, who else is likely to be there?
• do you need to record where you are going?
• do you know who you are meeting?  If this is your first meeting with them –
  • should you be meeting them where you are?
  • have you checked that they are who they say they are?
  • do you have their contact details and have you checked that these are genuine?
  • have you left these details with a friend or colleague?

Accessing support

• if you needed  support, how would you access it?
  • do you have a means of communication? phone, alarm system etc. and is it fully charged etc.
• how long would support take to arrive
• if you couldn’t summon support, how long would it be before someone noticed you were missing?
• what would a colleague/friend be expected to do if you were overdue or uncontactable?  Have you discussed this with them so that they will do what you expect them to?
• are your contact details up to date? and does your support network have it?
• are you where they expect you to be or have you gone somewhere that your support network doesn’t know about?

Please take whatever tips you feel are relevant to you and use them if you wish.  Whether you are lone working or, otherwise concerned for your safety and security, there are more tips in related articles by following the personal safety tips tag.  Alternatively, contact us for more information.