Staying safe

When working alone your safety is important.  The following guidance has been put together to help you stay safe whilst on property or on site.

• If you are working in the office on your own out of hours make sure someone knows where you are.  Where possible arrange to check in with someone at regular intervals. If they don’t hear from you at a particular time, agree for them to contact you on a set number.
• When working in the office alone out of hours make sure the building is secured.  Keep some lights on so people know the building is in use.
• If you are going to be working on a client’s site after hours make sure someone knows you are there.  Try to give an estimated time you will be there for and check in with someone on a regular basis in case something happens.  Make sure you are aware of any emergency exits in case you need to evacuate the building/site in an emergency.  Familiarise yourself with their lone worker risk assessments and H&S policies: the client also has an obligation to make sure you are safe and working in a safe manner whilst on their site.
• Make sure your work area is accident free – keep the area clean and tidy, free of slip and trip hazards and do not attempt to complete any manual handling that would normally involve two people on your own.
• If there is any equipment being used that could be dangerous for one person to operate a specific risk assessment should be completed. 
• Have any electrical equipment you may use regularly tested to ensure it is fit for purpose and not a fire risk.
• In case of fire raise the alarm, secure the location where the fire is and evacuate the building as quickly as possible.  Follow all normal fire evacuation procedures.
• Keep a phone near you at all times so that in case of emergency you can call for help.
• Make a director aware of any health issues you may have that could make it unsafe for you to work alone.  All lone night workers should complete a health questionnaire every 3 months so One Degree North can ensure they are putting appropriate measures in place to safeguard your wellbeing.
• Make sure you know a safe way in and out of the building that is well lit at night.
• When leaving the building, if you leave before anyone else comes in, make sure the building is locked and secured.

If you have any questions regards this policy please speak with a director who will be happy to help.