Draft BS 8484 Provision of Lone Worker Services – Code of Practice

This Draft British Standard provides recommendations for lone worker services (LWSs) for those who have identified a level of risk to their lone workers (LWs). In addition to individuals working alone, customers can consider the provision of LWS to pairs of individuals or small groups working away from other colleagues.

It recognises two broad categories of risk that affect LWs: environmental risk and people risk.

Considering employee safety, wellbeing and security at a strategic level leads to a culture of safety at work at the operational level. LW protection might be a consideration for both safety and security strategies. It contributes to the organization's governance, management of risk and compliance with both company policies and legal obligations.

Matters for consideration in LW employee protection strategies can include:

1. How to establish a culture of safety so that employee protection becomes an integral part of daily operational activities.

2. Assessing risk, both anticipated risk and dynamic risk.

3. Creating and reviewing LW protection policy, including management responsibilities.

A policy can include:

1. Establishing which employees are LWs, either occasionally or for the majority of their employment.

2. Conferring with LWs.

3. Devising appropriate procedures to protect employees when they are away from direct supervision.

4. The pro-active consideration of risks and sharing that risk knowledge with LWs where appropriate.

These procedures are directed towards:

1. Avoiding incidents (dynamic risk assessments).

2. Managing incidents.

3. Calling for help when necessary.

4. Training.

5. Management of LWs.

Implementing such procedures results in embedding LW safety in an organisation’s operations.

The Standard gives recommendations for the provision of safety and security for employees in a lone working scenario where the customer’s risk profile identifies the need for an LWS.

It also gives recommendations for the provision of LWSs to help control and manage identified LW risks. Such services consist of an LWD (Lone Worker Device) and/or an LWA (lone worker application), monitoring, training, management information and response options.

This British Standard also gives recommendations for the following:

• Minimising false alarms.

• Managing low level genuine incidents that do not require an immediate physical response such that they are treated accordingly.

• Maximising continual engagement from customers and lone workers of the LWS.

Comments on this Draft must be sent 3 January 2022. It is available here.

British Standards Institute November 2021