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Lone Working
Assessing the Risk

The Manager/Editor/Producer must carry out a risk assessment.  To do this the Producer will decide on:
  • The tasks to be carried out.
  • The equipment to be used.
  • The number and types of people involved.
  • The expertise needed to carry out the work.
The Producer will then need to select a competent team and discuss with them the controls identified. If it is appropriate for the task to be completed by someone working alone the risk assessment should consider the specific hazards that being alone may create along with the potential hazards involved with the work itself.
 
The responsible Manager/Editor/Producer must ensure that:
  • The assignment is suitable for a person working on their own
  • Lone workers are never deployed where there is a risk of violence, a likely crush or an unguarded physical hazard e.g. height, vehicles, water
  • A responsible person knows where the lone worker is at all times
  • A system is in place which includes contingency plans to be followed in the event that the lone worker does not check in as agreed.
The hazards typically associated with lone working on location are:
  • Risk from people because of their number, need, greed or envy
  • Risk from equipment because of carrying, electricity, mechanics, noise or restricted perspective
  • Communication difficulties because of isolation or emergency
  • Inexperience because of lack of knowledge or assertiveness
  • Working patterns because of involvement, multi-tasking, travel or merely not being able to share tasks.
In addition the risk assessment should also consider the typical factors that will form a part of any risk assessment i.e.:
  • What are the hazards from the people who will be there: the interviewees, their neighbours, other members of the public, if there is likely to be a crush or violence don't send someone on their own
  • What are the hazards of the location e.g. is there unguarded water, is the person going to be working at a height?
  • What equipment will be taken - is one person able to carry all the equipment needed, do they have expertise to use that equipment, will the equipment be a target for theft?
  • What are the hazards of the work you are going to do?
  • Who might be harmed? Do you have to think about just BBC staff or others who might be affected by the work?
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