Lone working policy template

£14.99

UK-specific • Editable • Instant download • 12 months' updates

Our Lone Working Policy Template promotes safety and sets guidelines for employees working alone, ensuring their well-being and minimising risks.

Lone working policy template
2026 Reviewed
Specifications
Access 12 months (includes updates)
Length 3 pages • 967 words
Jurisdiction England, Wales and Scotland
Based on UK employment law, ACAS guidance
Last review 01/09/2026
Next review 01/03/2027
Delivery Instant download
Formats .doc · .txt · email

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Lone working policy

1   Overview

1.1   This policy explains how [Company] will protect their staff as far as is reasonably practicable from the risks of lone working.

2   Scope

2.1   All workers of [Company].

2.2   This policy applies to all situations involving Lone Workers arising in connection with their duties and work activities.

3   Principles

3.1   Policy Statement

3.1.1   Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, every employer and employee has rights and responsibilities, to ensure the provision of a safe working environment supported by safe systems of working.

3.1.2   [Company] is committed to providing a safe working environment as far as reasonably practical that meets the needs of its workers. Consideration shall therefore be given to the health and safety implications in respect of lone working.

3.1.3   While [Company] will endeavour to reduce any instances of Lone Working where practicable, working alone is not in itself against the law and it will often be safe to do so. The law requires employers to consider carefully, and then deal with any health and safety risks for people working alone.

3.2   Definition of Lone Working

3.2.1   Individuals are alone at work when they are on their own, they cannot be seen or heard by another worker, cannot expect a visit from another worker for some time and/or where assistance is not readily available when needed. Therefore, lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. This includes establishments where:

  • Only one person works on the premises

  • One person works separately from others

  • One person works outside normal hours

3.3   Responsibilities

3.3.1   Line Managers

  • Ensure that workers comply with this policy

  • Ensure their workers work in a safe environment

  • Ensure that workers do not suffer from undue stress as a consequence of lone

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What is a lone working policy?

Lone working policy template preview

A Lone Working Policy is a document that outlines how an organisation manages and mitigates the risks associated with employees working alone.

It sets out the responsibilities of both the employer and employees to ensure safety, compliance with legal requirements, and appropriate procedures in case of emergencies.

HR considerations

UK employment law and best practice

This template is designed to support the process, but the document should be used alongside the relevant HR procedure and applied to the circumstances of the individual case.

Although not a legal requirement, an effective policy can help to promote a strong safety culture among employees, keeping them safe and reducing the risk of legal issues.

Your lone working policy should be a document that is accessible and easy to understand.

Lone workers and their managers should be familiar with the document and its location.

Issue a copy to new employees who will work alone and to any contractors or temporary workers you use.

You may also need these resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this in my small business?

Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.

Is it compliant with 2026 UK employment law?

Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.

Can I customise it for my organisation?

Yes, we highlight the areas of the document that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.

Do I get instant access to it?

Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable format (such as .doc or .xls) so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.

What if I need more help, not just this template?

If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Lone working policy template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.

Why should I use this Lone working policy template, and not AI to generate it?

AI can produce a document quickly, but effective HR documentation needs to be more than well-written words. It needs to reflect relevant UK employment law, HR best practice, practical considerations and the circumstances in which it will be used. These resources have been professionally developed around that wider HR context, drawing on extensive practical experience, rather than simply generating a generic document from a prompt.

How this content is developed and reviewed

The Lone working policy template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing health and safety processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

Executive recommendation

"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."

"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."

RB
Ruth Brock Chief Executive Officer The Hygiene Bank
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