As part of December’s Hazard of the Month, Lone Working, we’re highlighting two key areas: Lone Working & Communication Skills.
Lone Working
Lone workers encounter the same workplace hazards as other workers, but these risks are heightened due to the absence of immediate assistance or support in case something goes wrong.
Lone working is generally regarded as a higher-risk activity for several reasons. For instance, lone workers may be more vulnerable to attacks as they are perceived as easy targets.
In emergencies such as accidents or other critical situations, there is no one around to provide help or call for assistance.
Additionally, without a colleague to consult, a lone worker might make poorer health and safety decisions or take greater risks.
The risks associated with lone working typically fall into three categories: people risk, environment risk or task-based risk:
- People risk – Work that involves proximity to individuals who pose potential risks
- Includes roles such as security guards, housing officers, and midwives.
- Environment risk – Risk to personal safety is posed by the working environment itself
- Includes roles such as farmers, construction workers, and maintenance workers.
- Task-based risk – Risk arises from the nature of tasks being undertaken
- Includes roles such as roofers, tree surgeons, and forklift drivers.
Learn more about improving Lone Worker safety with our Lone Working Online Training Course. Get 10% off this course with the code ‘lone10’!
Communication Skills
Workplace communication includes any interaction you have at work about work-related matters.
This includes activities such as discussing individual tasks, providing project status updates, or offering feedback to colleagues or managers.
Mastering workplace communication is essential for effective collaboration—without clear communication, you risk misunderstandings, confusion, or even unintentionally offending someone.
Workplace communication can take various forms, including face-to-face conversations, written messages, video conferencing, social media interactions, or group meetings.
It can occur in real time or asynchronously, such as through emails, recorded videos, or project management platforms.
However you are communicating, you should:
- Aim for clarity – aim to be clear and concise with your communication to minimise the risk of a misunderstanding
- Seek to resolve conflicts – focus on problem solving and collaboration
- Remember it goes both ways – effective communication in the workplace requires an exchange of information
Learn more about improving workplace communication with our Communication Skills Online Training Course. Get 10% off this course with the code ‘lone10’!
Lone Working & Communication Skills are essential tools in protecting your lone workers this holiday season.
Make sure you don’t miss out on our 10% off deal on these courses, available until the end of December. Simply enter the code ‘lone10’ at checkout to save!
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