A Short Guide to Lone Working in Retail

Examples

A lone worker is anyone who is working on their own and cannot be easily overseen by others. While most would assume a lone worker is the only worker in an establishment, there are also lone workers that are surrounded by others, but working independently of their co-workers.

Common lone working tasks in retail include the following:

1. Independent or solo shop owners
2. Store opening and closing 
3. Replacement workers during lunch breaks or while others are away
4. Inventory or warehouse manager keeping stock
5. Security guards or managers
6. Petrol stop cashiers
7. Night shift workers in food retail establishments

Common Risks for Lone Retail Workers

All types of retail workers face similar risks. However, lone working amplifies these. Common risks for lone retail workers include:

• Violence: Lone retail workers are more susceptible to violence, harassment, aggression, threats, and abuse, especially during night shifts when they are more likely to be cornered.
• Workplace hazards: Accidents, such as slipping, tripping, falling, and electrocution, can cause physical injuries, and it may be difficult for lone workers to seek help.
• Stress and mental health issues: Lone working can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection, potentially resulting in low productivity, sickness, or resignation.
• Emergencies: In an emergency, it may be difficult for a lone retail worker to call for help, and assistance may be delayed.
• The workplace itself: The workplace can pose a risk if it’s in a rural or isolated area, as it can make it harder for emergency services to reach workers immediately.

Is it Illegal to Have Lone Workers in Retail?

Lone working in retail is not illegal in any country or state. However, as retail workers face many safety risks, lone working is not allowed in certain circumstances as per legal regulations.

In the UK, lone working is strongly discouraged in dangerous situations. Employers are also required to give lone workers in retail proper rest times, first aid, water, and access to emergency services and plans the same way they would regular groups of workers.

The same can be said for the US. The US Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) does not explicitly prohibit lone working in retail, but does so for the following circumstances:

• When lone workers are exposed to items or environments dangerous to their life or health.
• When employees are to be alone in confined spaces.
• When workers are expected to handle hazardous waste and emergency response operations alone.
• When employees are performing work near highly charged-equipment.

How to Keep Retail Lone Workers Safe

It is the responsibility of retail owners and employers to ensure the safety of their lone workers. The best way to do so would be by creating and implementing a lone working policy. This can be done by conducting lone working risk assessments for their workers before they are deployed for their shifts and after them to gain better understanding on the hazards they deal with. Speaking with employees who regularly work alone to get their feedback would greatly help as well, as this can give greater insight on the times when they felt unsafe and what would have made them feel more at ease.

Utilizing a panic button is also a great way to ensure safety for lone workers in retail. By equipping lone retail workers with an alarm easily accessible around the retail establishment, they can easily call for help in times of emergency. Employers can then be notified immediately and provide assistance as needed. In some places, such as New York in the US, having a panic button is set to be a requirement for retail establishments with more than 500 employees to ensure their safety at all times under the upcoming amended Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA).

All of these can be centralized on a digital platform like as SafetyCutlture. With lone working solutions such as mobile panic buttons, lone working GPS tracking, and risk and safety assessment forms, SafetyCulture can help retail employers keep their lone workers safe anytime and anywhere. With real-time notifications from the panic button, employers can easily respond to their lone workers’ calls and create and implement the right corrective or emergency actions as they see fit.

Past instances of using the panic button and past risk assessments can also be accessed in the cloud. This data can then be analyzed within the platform to help in creating or further improving retail lone working safety plans.