The Importance of Risk Assessments for Lone Workers in Construction

The Importance of Risk Assessments for Lone Workers in Construction

The construction industry is a high-risk sector, but improvements to safety equipment and practices have reduced the rates of accidental injury significantly. Still, there are a lot of hazards in this type of work that need to be considered.

lone worker safety devices australia A lone worker is any person who works by themselves, without any close supervision or support from their employer. These could include people who are working outside of normal hours (plumbers, electricians or joiners making house visits, for example), on site installations or in isolation in a remote outdoor area.

Lone workers are particularly vulnerable as they may not be able to request help in the event of an accident, which can make them more likely to suffer an injury. That is why it is essential to have a dedicated lone worker policy and a range of tools to ensure safety.

Identifying the risks involved in your work is the first step to developing a robust and effective lone worker policy. Your company needs a thorough, written risk assessment and comprehensive lone worker policies that outline common and potential risks and provide clear safety instructions to lone workers.

Risk assessments are a great way to keep track of all lone worker incidents, which can be used for future hazard identification and prevention. They can also be useful for recording any new lone worker solutions and training that you introduce.

The key to ensuring a safe workplace is to constantly review all hazards and procedures, taking note of any changes that have occurred or which are likely to occur in the future. This will allow you to build in new precautions that will ensure all employees are safe, both on-site and off.