It might seem too formal - corporate even - but do you have a lone working policy in place for your business?
Following the recent tragic death of a golf course manager who died whilst clearing storm damage, it's worth considering putting in place a safety net.
During periods of strong winds and fast flowing flood water, should you be working alone in places of high risk i.e. under or around trees; close to rivers, ponds or lakes or close to the sea, it's worth setting up a simple communication system.
Basically, the simplest and best way is to inform family (or friends) of what you are doing and the estimated time you intend to be carrying out the task.
Make sure that your point of contact has your mobile telephone number. All it takes is an exchange of texts or a quick call to confirm all is going well.
If there is no communication or you don't return when you estimate you should then alarm bells should ring with your safety buddy and a search can be undertaken.
Accidents do happen...and not alsways to someone else.
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Can a person be left alone at their place of work?
http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/workalone.htm
Lone worker risk assessment
http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/lone-working-risk...
When I worked for the council we had a simple but effective policy that anyone one Woking on static sites would call the office upon arriving and again as you left so they knew all was good
I came across this procedure a few years ago. One of our long standing maintenance contracts is with a large International Company, where our maintenance includes the indoor plants. I decided that they were better done on a Saturday morning when there are no staff around to get in the way! It was then pointed out I wouldn't be allowed to work alone and would need an assistant. At first I thought 'how petty', but it opened my eyes to all sorts of possibilities both indoors and out.
I may be wrong, but I believe the guidance exists as advice to employers responsible for employees, so wonder the position for single person sole traders etc ...
Technology is now making this issue 'simpler' - such as GPS tracking in mobiles / tablets being utilised by software, including industry specific applications ( like qxpress, jobber, SAM etc).
Eg : http://blog.getjobber.com/2013/12/gps-waypoints/#more-8921
[edit] I would also suggest the more dangerous the work, the more the need for multiple person teams. One area always of concern is tree work ( I think accreditation's like safecontractor highly recommend a +1 person at least for such work)
this is very important:
it only takes a fall on low-ladders. a slip with mower on a bank/river. a tree breaking / branch you are on. hit in the eye etc or chainsaw slip.
i dont want to dwell but 11 years in the business highlights many near-misses & life-long injuries from vibration/ deupitrons contracture personally. of course a slip from a ladder too.
A Mobile phone fully charged & a quick mention to someone you are 'over there'... may save your life.
Safety first folks : see my landscape-juice highlight a few years ago.
keep warm and dry :)
It is difficult as someone who works alone all the time, and at least 50% of my work is in unoccupied properties. I often go for a full day without seeing a tenant, and most neighbours would be at work or down the beauty parlour!
I simply won't take on jobs I consider a risk. One silly accident could be costly financially, or even far worse, so better to let a larger company have the work. It's tempting to deal with that wisteria climbing through the guttering or something, but just not worth the risk for us sole-traders.
Working in high winds under trees, or in flood conditions, is mad. Take the day off and catch up on some paperwork instead!
I always carry mobile phone, but not sure how that would be useful if I was knocked out cold. These guys do various lone worker solutions including a remotely managed GPS box with a panic button and fall detector. http://www.lonealert.co.uk/mandown
Lone worker safety and security is a serious issue. There are more than 150 lone workers attacked in the UK every day, those particularly at risk are employees carrying out jobs where social contact with the general public is commonplace.
Thousands of other workers, like many of you on this forum, are at risk of ‘Man Down’ situations - an environmental risk when workers could slip, trip and fall while working alone.
It is crucial that employers fulfil both their legal and moral duties to ensure that lone workers like yourselves are adequately supervised and have access to guidance and support in times of uncertainty. It also makes good economical business sense.
In terms of lone worker devices, there are a wide range on the market.
Security company Connexion2 manufacturers Identicom, which has won awards.
It looks like an ID badge but it contains an alarm which is connected to a security centre. The alarm can be sent to the police and classed as a level higher than a 999 call.
It can also capture audio evidence and locate a worker via GPS signal.
Connexion2 is fully approved against BS8484, which enables genuine ‘Red Alert’ situations to be escalated to the police one level above a 999 call.
In the spirit of full disclosure I should add that I do work for Connexion2, who are the market-leader in lone worker devices in the UK.
More than 120,000 devices are used worldwide and clients include the NHS, Travelodge, BSkyB and a number of housing associations and retailers.