Lone Worker Legislation in Ireland

Established in 1989 under the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act, Ireland's Health and Safety Authority (HAS) defines lone workers as, "those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. Anybody who works alone, including contractors, self-employed people, and employees, is classed as a lone worker."

According to the HAS, lone workers include:

• people in fixed establishments where only one person works on the premises, e.g. in small workshops, kiosks, petrol stations, shops, and home-workers
• people work separately from others, e.g. in factories, warehouses, some research and training establishments, leisure centers, or fairgrounds
• agricultural and forestry workers
• service workers, e.g. rent collectors, postal staff, social workers, home helps, district nurses, pest control workers, drivers, engineers, architects, estate agents, sales representatives and similar professionals visiting domestic and commercial premises

RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL MEASURES

The HSA states that under section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 , employers are required to perform a risk assessment. The risk assessment should prescribe control measures to be implemented in order to eliminate/minimize the identified risks. These control measures may include:

• communication: mobile phone, telephone, radio, or automated services like SafetyLine
• controlled periodic checks
• automatic warning devices, e.g. panic alarms, no movement alarms, automatic distress message systems like SafetyLine, i.e. pre-recorded message sent if not actively canceled by the operative, etc.
• instruction and training in proper procedures, e.g. code words for potentially violent situations when combined with mobile phone communication.
• use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• health surveillance
• first-aid kits and training
• implementing standard operating procedures (SOP's)
• locking and securing a place of work
• implementing correct incident reporting procedures
• provision of counseling

SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE AT WORK ACT 2005

"Workstations shall be designed and constructed according to ergonomic principles taking into account the need for employees to carry out operations safely and without risk to health at their workstations.

Where workstations are occupied by lone employees, the necessary supervision or means of communication shall be provided."

EMERGENCY PROVISIONS FOR LONE WORKERS

The HSA recommends the following provisions for lone workers in the case of an emergency:

• Lone workers should be capable of responding correctly to emergencies. Risk assessment should identify foreseeable events.
• Emergency procedures should be established and employees trained in them.
• Information about emergency procedures and danger areas should be given to lone workers who visit your premises.
• Lone workers should have access to adequate first-aid facilities and mobile workers should carry a first-aid kit suitable for treating minor injuries.
• Occasionally, the risk assessment may indicate that lone workers need training in first aid.