MerryGoRound Lone Working Policy

MerryGoRound takes the health, safety and welfare of all volunteers seriously. This policy is designed to raise awareness of the risks presented by lone working, to identify the responsibilities each person has in this situation, and to give guidance on how to manage such risks. 

This policy applies to all volunteers who may find themselves working 1:1 whilst undertaking duties for MerryGoRound. 

Before commencing any lone working, volunteers should ensure that they have read the following guidance and have assessed risks accordingly. This policy should be read in conjunction with our Health and Safety Policy. 

Definition 

Within this document, “lone working” refers to situations where volunteers in the course of their duties work alone (either in the storage unit or from home) or are physically isolated from colleagues and without access to immediate assistance. This last situation may also arise where there are other people in the building but the nature of the building itself may essentially create isolated areas. 

General guidelines for lone working and reasonable precautions 

Volunteers should take reasonable precautions to take care of their own safety when lone working. 

These might include: 

  • Ensuring that they have a charged phone with them

  • Ensuring someone knows where they are going and when they are expected home 

  • Knowing what measures are in place where they are working; check out alarm systems and procedures, exits and entrances, and the location of the first aid supplies 

  • If the fire alarm sounds, apart from the regular test, exit the building via the fire exits. If we are notified that there will be a fire alarm and it is known that a volunteer is scheduled to be the only person in the building they will be warned in advance.

  • Always trusting their instincts – if a volunteer does not feel comfortable about letting a person in the storage unit, then ask them to return at a time when they will not be alone.


Further to this, volunteers should: 

  • Raise any concerns with the Health & Safety Officer  

  • Report any accidents, incidents, injuries or “near misses” to the Health & Safety Officer

  • Report any safety practices that need to be improved or risks not otherwise identified

Date of policy review: March 2023

Date of next review: March 2024