Policy & Procedure
Langton Hotel is responsible for the Health and Safety of its employees as set out in its Health and Safety Policy, and as required by the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005.
As part of this responsibility, it is Langton Hotel’s duty to assess risks to lone workers and to take steps to avoid or control risk where possible.
Employees who work alone also have responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work.
Scope of the policy
This policy applies to all situations involving lone working arising in connection with the duties and activities of Langton Hotelemployees.
Lone working includes:
- An individual working alone in Langton Hotel
- An individual working alone and visiting another organisation’s business premises or a meeting venue
- An individual working alone and making a home visit to an individual or group of two or more people
- An individual working alone from home
Lines of responsibility
Responsibility for securing the health, safety and welfare of lone workers lies with Langton Hotel
Company management are responsible for providing resources for putting the policy into practice, and for ensuring that the effectiveness of the policy is regularly reviewed.
Langton Hotel are responsible for:
- The implementation of this policy
- Ensuring that there are arrangements for identifying, evaluating and managing risk associated with lone working and
- Ensuring that there are arrangements for monitoring incidents linked to lone working
Langton Hotel Supervisors are responsible for:
- Ensuring that staff are aware of this policy
- Taking all possible steps to avoid lone workers from being at greater risk than other employees
- Identifying situations where staff could work alone and, where possible, adopting systems to avoid those situations
- Putting procedures and safe systems of work into practice which are designed to eliminate or reduce the risks associated with working alone
- Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly
- Ensuring that staff groups and individuals identified as being at risk are given appropriate information, instruction and training, including training at induction, updating and refreshing this training as necessary
- Managing the effectiveness of preventative measures through a system of reporting, investigation and recording incidents
- Ensuring that appropriate support is given to staff involved in any incident
- Providing personal safety equipment where it is felt to be desirable
Employees are responsible for:
- Taking reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their actions
- Following guidance and procedures designed for safe working
- Reporting all incidents that may affect the health and safety of themselves or others and asking for guidance where appropriate
- Taking part in training designed to meet the requirements of the policy
- Reporting any dangers or potential dangers that they identify or any concerns they might have in respect of working alone
Guidance for risk assessments of lone working
General arrangements
- Provide adequate channels of communication in an emergency
- Identify tasks or settings which present a special risk to the lone worker
- Identify situations where there is a risk of violence
- Consider alternatives to home visits
- Arrange safe travelling between appointments
- Set up reporting and recording procedures
Specific situations
- Consider whether the employee is medically fit and suitable to work alone
- Take account of any known risk attached to a client or group.
Monitoring safety issues
Lone workers must report incidents (including near misses, accidents and verbal abuse) to their supervisor and entries should be made in the Accident and Incident Book.
Concerns about personal safety in any situation must be referred to the line manager as a matter of urgency.
Supervisors must exercise vigilance and ensure that incidents are not overlooked or ignored.
Lone Working Procedures
When making calendar entries for meetings outside Langton Hotel premises you must show
- The name(s) and phone number(s) of the person or people you are meeting
- The name of the organisation they belong to
- The full address of the meeting place unless it is a familiar location
- The start time and an estimated finishing time
If you are travelling alone, making a home visit or going to a meeting at an organisation’s premises or other venue as a lone worker you must make arrangements to confirm to a colleague that you have returned safely to your home or office.
If you are the colleague above it is your responsibility to take action if you do not receive confirmation.
If you are going to be alone in Langton Hotel premises do not hold meetings with people you don’t know unless you have verified that they work for a recognised and trusted organisation.
If you are unexpectedly alone, for example when a colleague is absent at short notice, and have arranged a meeting in Langton Hotel premises with someone you don’t know, either postpone the meeting or hold it in a public place such as a cafe.
If you are working alone in Langton Hotel premises
- Do not open the door to someone you don’t know
- Avoid making it known that you are alone
- Do not go down into the cellar
- Avoid doing any tasks involving physical risks such as going up ladders, or if unavoidable, let someone else know what you are doing and tell them when you have completed the task.
- Do not work alone with a child or an adult at risk (refer to your safeguarding policy for a definition of adult at risk).
Other considerations
If you are working alone at home make sure that you are using equipment safely.
Policy prepared: 22/2/2022
Reviewed: 22/2/2024
Next Review: 22/2/2025
Edward Langton, Director Langton Hotel