Personal Safety and Lone Working
Definitions
Personal Safety - an individual’s ability to go about their everyday life free from threat or fear of psychological, emotional or physical harm from others.
Lone Working - work that is intended to be carried out alone, without direct supervision or immediate access to another person for assistance for a short period of their working day (a particular task), carrying out shift work alone, on a temporary or ongoing basis.
Work Related Violence and Agression - any incident or set of behaviours in which an employee is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.
The University has a zero tolerance approach to violent and aggressive behaviour towards anyone within their community.
Risk Assessment
Personal safety and lone working are covered under the process of competent risk assessment from the legislation below, rather than their own specific legislation.
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
The risk assessment process will determine the level of risk presented and may identify certain circumstances where the risks involved cannot be adequately controlled and where lone working is unacceptable.
Staff can use the General Risk Assessment Template for completing a personal safety and lone working risk assessment, or include the hazards as part of a wider risk assessment if appropriate.
Useful resources
- HS G022 Guidance on Lone and Out of Hours Working
- Staff Wellbeing Hub is a useful tool for staff affected by this topic and seeking further support. Staff Wellbeing Hub : Business Services and Resourcing Team : Human Resources : University of Sussex
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has specific guidance regarding Protecting Lone Workers.
- The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is a charity is a UK charity that supports victims of stalking and harassment and campaigns for better prevention and response. It has lots of useful resources for your work and personal life in regards to personal safety- Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Training
Personal Safety Training is delivered by the Health and Safety Team and available to book via Learn Upon. For more information on Personal Safety Training see the Training webpages.
Facilitators on this course have completed the Suzy Lamplugh Trust Train the Trainer in personal safety.