Working alone can increase the risk to the health and safety of any employee due to a lack of supervision and longer response times to potential emergencies.
In an industry like transportation, where workers already have a high risk profile, lone working can exacerbate existing risks and introduce new ones.
What are the risk for lone workers in the transportation sector?
There are several risks for lone workers working in the transportation sector, these include:
Road Traffic Accidents – This is possibly the main issue for the transportation sector as it has the potential to hurt members of the public as well as the employee.
Driver Fatigue – Working for too long can cause fatigue and leads to an increased risk of an accident occurring.
Vehicle Breakdown – If a vehicle breaks down whilst out on the road it can leave the driver stranded and in significant danger.
Assault/Robbery – An increased interaction with the public can put transportation workers at risk of an attack.
Stops – Some long-distance drivers may need to stop and rest part-way through travelling, this can also happen at night, increasing risk.
Deliveries – Handling heavy goods alone can increase the risk of injury.
Slips, trips and falls – Slips, trips and falls can be especially dangerous when lone working as they could cause injuries that limit the ability to get help.
Though this list is not exhaustive, most of these risks, if not all can be reduced by introducing controls to combat them.
How can you keep transportation sector lone workers safe?
Introducing a lone working policy can help keep lone workers in the transportation industry safer by advising employees what to do in different circumstances. This is usually done after the risks have been assessed and controls have been put in place to mitigate the risks. Some of those controls could be:
- Training – This can range from basic vehicle maintenance to first aid training, to self-defence training.
- Alarms – Personal safety devices and alarms can provide a sense of security when lone working.
- Rest Breaks – This will allow the driver a respite and decrease the risk of driver fatigue.
- Communication – Keeping in contact and check in procedures ensure someone knows your location.
- Occupational Health Surveillance – This allows employers to understand whether the control measures in place are suitable and adjust accordingly if they are not.
What are lone worker employers’ responsibilities?
Employers are responsible for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all their employees. This includes managing the risks that come with lone working.
To help with this, employers can plan and manage lone workers journeys so that they can ensure the safety of the driver.
They can also do occupational health surveillance, this allows employers to monitor workers health, to help understand the employees needs and assess the best way forward.
How can WA Management help?
WA Management offer a Lone Working online training course which is suitable for managers or any employees who will be involved in lone working, as well as a offer a Driving Safely online training course.
Driving Safely Awareness and Lone Working training courses are essential tools in protecting those who drive for work. Make sure you don’t miss out on our 10% off deal on these courses, available until the end of April. Simply enter the code ‘transport10’ at checkout to save!
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