UCL requires that Managers assess and control the risks associated with lone work.

• unable to summon help as a result of injury, ill health or an emergency.
• unable to carry out a task safely while alone.

Definitions:

Work: paid employment (on a fixed or permanent contract), studying, carrying out research, volunteering to conduct UCL business

Safety role holder: first aider, fire marshal

Supervisor: a person who has a duty to manage any aspect of the work activities of the department, whether it’s carried out by an employee or student e.g. line manager, principle investigator, research group leader etc.

Lone working: working without close or direct supervision or remote from colleagues i.e. colleagues may be in the next room or on other floors in the same building. Lone workers can be peripatetic (routinely walks between work locations) or in fixed locations. Lone working can occur at any time i.e. either during normal working hours or out of hours.

Normal working hours: defined by Heads of Department as times when safety role holders are at optimum levels.  This definition must take account of the time of year:

• term-time;
• non-term time;
• extended working hours e.g. events, exhibitions and exam time;
• UCL closures e.g. Christmas, Easter and Bank Holiday.

Out-of-hours: times when safety role holder levels are below optimum levels e.g. evenings, early mornings, weekends and public holidays.  N.B. Work conducted out-of-hours will not always be while alone.