Hazards working alone

Description of hazard. Working alone can be more hazardous than performing the same job when other people are present. A lone worker is defined as an employee who performs an activity that is intended to be carried out in isolation from other workers, without close or direct supervision. Such staff may be exposed to risk because there is no one to assist them should they be injured. If a lone worker is injured or an emergency occurs, the worker won t have access to help if no one is within shouting distance. If the worker is rendered unconscious, it may be hours before help arrives, and by then it may be too late. 

An assessment of each element of the program of work is carried out using the Assessment of Potential Hazards Form APHl (see below), which is to be completed by the person responsible for the task to be carried out. This may include hot work cutting/grinding work on electrical systems working alone use of hazardous materials (e.g. chemicals, solvents, etc.) confined spaces or any other work which may be of a hazardous nature. 

Managers responsible for services within works, offices or premises have an additional task in that when engaging service contractors they then have joint responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 for the health and safety of the contractor s employees while on their premises. When engaging contractors to carry out work within the premises, systems must be implemented by which the contractor s employee works in a safe manner and does not create a hazard to the premises occupants or staff while carrying out this work. This responsibility is greater when there is an employee or service contractor working alone, as in most instances the premises communications do not allow for such circumstances (e.g. the lone employee may be working in remote areas such as plant rooms). 

Understand the hazards/risks when working alone ... 

It has been emphasized already that you should be familiar with the regulations and codes of practice pertaining in your laboratory. We will not discuss safety legislation here but some fundamental rules should be stressed. Never work alone in a laboratory. Always wear suitable safety spectacles and a cotton lab coat, and use other protection such as gloves, face masks, or safety shields if there is a particular hazard. Never eat, drink or smoke in a laboratory. Work at a safe, steady pace, and keep your bench and your lab clean and tidy. Familiarity breeds contempt do not allow yourself to get careless with everyday dangers such as solvent flammability. Familiarize yourself with the location and operation of the safety equipment in your laboratory. 

Generally, it is prudent to avoid working alone at the bench in a laboratory building. Individuals working in separate laboratories outside of working hours should make arrangements to check on each other periodically, or ask security guards to check on them. Experiments known to be hazardous should not be undertaken by a worker who is alone in a laboratory. Under unusually hazardous conditions, special rules may be necessary. 

Working alone Avoid working alone in a building do not work alone in a laboratory if the procedures being conducted are hazardous (28). 

Some working situations are so potentially hazardous that not only must PPE be worn but you must also never work alone and safe working procedures must be in place before your work begins to reduce the risk. 

Working Alone You should not work alone in a laboratory. Use the buddy system. If you are separated by a wall or out of direct observation, then you must devise a system to periodically check your buddy. Your buddy should know what you are doing, particularly if this involves hazardous operations. Someone should always be in the near vicinity so that if something happens, an explosion or incident, your buddy can have an opportunity to get you assistance. Explosions, fires, splashes, spills, or contact with chemical or physical hazards could result in life-threatening incidents that require immediate action. If you are alone you are putting yourself at high and unnecessary risk. 

Never undertake any unauthorized experiments. The risk of an accident is high, particularly if the experiment has not been completely checked to reduce hazards. Never work alone in the laboratory. The laboratory instructor or supervisor must always be present. 

Any employee working alone underground in a hazardous location, who is both out of the range of natural unassisted voice communication and not under observation by other persons, shall be provided with an effective means of obtaining assistance In an emergency. 

Eliminate excess clutter from lab. Maintain clear aisles at all times. Recognize electrical hazards and take steps to eliminate them. Never work alone. 

When someone is working alone, the potential exists for that person to become trapped, injured, burned, or exposed to hazardous chemicals without having anyone on hand to help him. The injured person may not be able to raise the alarm or to ask for help. In order to minimize the risk associated with working alone, the following guidelines should be considered ... 

Working alone in the laboratory will not be permitted when dealing with hazardous and corrosive chemicals or when the work involves a potentially dangerous procedure. Some areas of work that must be avoided when working alone are ... 

It is prudent to avoid working in a laboratory alone. However, if this must be done, arrangements should be made between individuals working in separate laboratories outside of conventional hours to crosscheck periodically. Alternatively, security guards may be asked to check on a laboratory worker. A worker who is alone in a laboratory should not undertake experiments known to be hazardous. 

---