Resource

Risk Assessment Template: Tailored for Healthcare and Social Workers

Download our lone worker risk assessment, specifically tailored for healthcare and social workers - also known as transient lone workers.

What's inside?

Transient lone workers—such as sales professionals, community service providers, home healthcare staff, consultants, and field service technicians—travel from location to location, often working in environments they do not control. Because their surroundings change frequently and depend heavily on the client or patient, their risk profile is both dynamic and unpredictable. These workers may encounter hazards related to travel, temporary isolation, slips and falls, pets, or even potential aggression or violence. Our specialized risk assessment checklist helps you identify these risks early and implement appropriate safeguards, giving your transient lone workers the confidence and protection they need wherever their work takes them.

A female social worker in a navy suit attentively listens and takes notes while speaking with an elderly man in a home setting.

Why This Checklist is Vital for Your Workers

Specific Questions for Home Visits: Designed to anticipate and mitigate risks unique to in-home services.
Focus on High-Risk Scenarios: Extra precautions for environments with higher risks, including domestic violence situations.
Practical and Actionable: Clear steps to ensure safety before, during, and after visits.
Designed for High Mobility: Perfect for professionals always on the move.
Addresses Specific Risks: Tailored questions to uncover unique vulnerabilities.
Promotes Proactive Safety Measures: Empowers workers with knowledge and tools for safety.

How to use the Lone Worker Risk Assessment?

Users can fill out the form online through an interactive PDF and email the results to their supervisors. Similarly, you can print the form and fill by hand. Then following the risk matrix at the end of the document, calculate the risk score by adding up the answers. If the results indicate low risk, the work can go on ahead without review. However if medium-high risk, we suggested that a supervisor reviews the results and makes considerations such as:

Should they use a GPS device for out-of-coverage communication?
Do you have a duress system available for quick emergency response?
Is someone monitoring their well-being and will know if something goes wrong?

FAQs

Is lone working suitable for everyone?

Not all individuals are suitable for lone working. Some employees may have specific vulnerabilities or medical conditions that make lone working unsafe. It is important to consider individual capabilities, health, training, and personal circumstances when determining whether someone is suitable for lone working or if additional support or accommodations are required.

How often should a lone worker risk assessment be reviewed?

The frequency of reviewing lone worker risk assessments may vary based on the nature of the work, associated risks, and any changes in work conditions. It is generally recommended to review and update the assessment at least annually or whenever there are significant changes in work processes, environments, or regulations.

Are lone worker risk assessments a legal requirement?

In many jurisdictions, conducting lone worker risk assessments is a legal requirement. Regulations and standards may vary, but employers are generally obligated to assess and manage the risks associated with lone working to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of their employees.

Centralised visibility of your entire workforce

Why use SafetyIQ?

SafetyIQ’s Lone Worker Module Module transforms traditional solutions into a streamlined, and automated approach, whilst ensuring the safety of your lone workers despite the high risk of isolation.

How do we do this?

Users create a Lone Worker Activity with Check-Ins at scheduled time intervals. There is an optional risk assessment attached to the activity that includes an automated approval process. This calculates the risk score and automatically approves low-risk results and notifies a supervisor for review in high-risk scenarios.

If approved, the user can start their lone work and they are given automatic SMS and email reminders to check-in at predetermined times to confirm their safety. If they fail to check-in, the escalation process is triggered and managers are alerted to respond.

Benefits of an Automated Approval Process:

Real-time emergency response: If a check-in is missed or an emergency arises, the system can trigger immediate notifications to designated contacts or a central monitoring station, ensuring timely assistance.
Integration with Satelite and GPS technology: With real-time location data available, managers can know the precise location of a lone worker, enabling quick response and accurate dispatch of assistance.
Data Collection and Reporting: Digital solutions provide comprehensive data collection and reporting capabilities. They capture relevant information such as check-in records, incidents, response times, and location data. This data can be used for analysis, trend identification, compliance reporting, and continuous improvement of lone worker safety programs.
Compliance and Documentation: Digital lone worker solutions help organisations meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate compliance with lone worker safety standards. They provide a robust documentation trail of communication logs, check-in records, incident reports, and response activities. This documentation can be valuable during audits, investigations, or legal proceedings.