If you have been injured while working alone in the UK and your employer failed to assess the risks of lone working or provide adequate safeguards, you can claim compensation. Employers have specific duties under Regulation 8 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) 1999 and section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to protect lone workers. Claims are made against employers’ liability insurance. The time limit is normally three years.
Lone working is far more common than many people realise. The HSE defines a lone worker as someone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision. This includes security guards, night-shift cleaners, community nurses, estate agents, delivery drivers, remote-site engineers and many more. The specific danger of lone working is that there is no one present to summon help if something goes wrong — a fall, a medical emergency, an assault or a machinery failure. What would be a manageable incident with colleagues nearby can become life-threatening alone. This guide explains your employer’s duties and your right to claim. We are an independent information resource, not a law firm.
Your employer’s duties
There is no single “lone working law”, but several regulations combine to create a clear framework of employer duties:
| Regulation | Duty |
|---|---|
| HSWA 1974, s.2 | General duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees so far as reasonably practicable |
| MHSWR 1999, reg. 3 | Carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, including risks specific to lone working |
| MHSWR 1999, reg. 8 | Procedures for serious and imminent danger — lone workers must have clear emergency procedures and the means to contact help |
| Workplace Regulations 1992 | First aid provisions, rest facilities and safe premises |
| Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 | Adequate first-aid arrangements for lone workers |
The HSE’s guidance document INDG73 — Working Alone provides practical advice on assessing and controlling lone-working risks. Key safeguards include:
- Lone-worker risk assessment — identifying hazards specific to working alone.
- Check-in and monitoring systems — regular scheduled contact (phone, app or device).
- Lone-worker alarms and devices — personal safety devices with GPS and automatic alerts.
- Emergency procedures — clear instructions on what to do if something goes wrong.
- Training — conflict resolution, first aid, emergency response.
- Violence risk assessment — where the role involves contact with the public.
Common lone-worker accidents
- Falls — from ladders, on uneven surfaces, on stairs — where no one is present to call for help.
- Assault or violence — security guards, retail workers, healthcare workers, estate agents showing properties. See our workplace assault claims guide.
- Medical emergency — the worker has a heart attack, seizure or allergic reaction with no one to provide aid.
- Machinery or equipment failure — entanglement or crush with no one to hit the emergency stop.
- Vehicle accident — delivery drivers, service engineers travelling to remote sites.
- Exposure to hazardous substances — in laboratories, cleaning roles or maintenance tasks.
In every case, the critical factor is that the absence of colleagues worsened the outcome. If the employer failed to provide a system that would have summoned help sooner, that failure directly contributed to the severity of the injury.
Compensation
Compensation follows the standard structure: general damages (JCG 17th edition, 2024) and special damages. The severity of lone-worker injuries is often aggravated by delayed treatment — a factor that increases both the general and special damages.
| Injury | JCG chapter | Severity range |
|---|---|---|
| Fractures (unassisted fall) | Various Chapter 7 | Several thousand to mid-tens of thousands |
| Crush injury | Chapter 7(G), 7(K) | Several thousand to over 100,000 |
| Head injury (delayed treatment) | Chapter 3(A) | A few thousand to several hundred thousand |
| Psychiatric injury (assault, PTSD) | Chapter 4(A) | Up to approximately 6,540 (less severe) to 56,180–122,850 (severe) |
| Hypothermia / exposure | Case-specific | Depends on severity and lasting effects |
Special damages cover lost earnings, treatment, rehabilitation, care, travel and any ongoing impact on your working capacity.
Evidence
- Lone-working risk assessment — or evidence that none existed.
- Check-in logs — records of whether scheduled check-ins happened.
- Employer’s lone-working policy — or absence of one.
- Accident book entry and RIDDOR report.
- Medical records — documenting how long you lay injured before help arrived.
- Ambulance records — showing the time gap between the accident and treatment.
- Witness statements — from whoever eventually found you, or colleagues aware of the working arrangements.
Time limits
Three years from the accident under the Limitation Act 1980 (England and Wales). Children’s time starts at age 18. See our time limits guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim for a lone working accident?
Yes. If your employer failed to carry out a proper risk assessment for lone working or failed to put adequate safeguards in place, and you were injured as a result, you can claim compensation. The claim is made against your employer’s liability insurance.
What is my employer’s duty to lone workers?
Under Regulation 8 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and section 2 of the HSWA 1974, employers must assess the risks of lone working and provide appropriate safeguards. This includes check-in systems, lone worker alarms, communication devices, training and emergency procedures.
What makes lone working more dangerous?
Lone workers face greater risk because there is no one to call for help, witness an accident or provide first aid. A minor incident that would be quickly resolved with colleagues present can become life-threatening when working alone. The delay in getting help can worsen injuries significantly.
Which jobs involve lone working?
Common lone-working roles include security guards, night-shift workers, community healthcare workers, social workers, estate agents, delivery drivers, maintenance engineers, cleaners, agricultural workers, petrol station attendants and remote-site construction workers.
How much compensation can I get?
Compensation depends on injury severity. The key factor is often the worsening of injuries due to delayed assistance. General damages are assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines. Special damages cover lost earnings, treatment costs and any ongoing care needs.
Can I claim if I was attacked while working alone?
Yes. If your employer failed to assess the risk of violence for your lone-working role and did not provide adequate safeguards such as panic alarms, check-in procedures or security measures, they may be liable. You may also be able to claim through the CICA scheme.
How long do I have to claim?
Three years from the date of the accident under the Limitation Act 1980 (England and Wales), with equivalent periods in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Children’s time starts at age 18.
Get help from official, free sources
- HSE — guidance on lone working (INDG73)
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) — check a solicitor is regulated
- Citizens Advice — free, impartial guidance
Related guides: accident at work claims, workplace assault claims, farming accident claims, construction accident claims, fatal accident claims.