Section 1:
What you will find in this report
15% of people now work alone a lot more frequently post 2021.
As of 2023, it’s estimated that there are between 7 – 9 million lone workers in the UK. This represents a staggering 22% of the country’s total working population.
Lone workers are found across virtually every industry. From healthcare to social work, transport and logistics to facilities management, these workers are exposed to a unique series of risk factors simply by virtue of being alone.
The past 4 years have seen a dramatic change in the nature of ‘work’ for many across the globe. The rise of remote and hybrid working means that many employees now spend a portion of their working hours away from colleagues and supervisors, if they see them at all.
But do these people fit our image of a ‘lone worker’, if there is such a thing? Do they even consider themselves as one?
Firstly, what do we mean by ‘lone workers’?
Lone workers are defined as any employee who spends part, or all, of their working day out of sight or earshot of supervisors or colleagues.
What is this report about?
We partnered with Illuma Research to develop a questionnaire and survey over 1200 UK-based lone workers and executives responsible for safety in their organisations.
This research aimed to identify any developing trends in lone working in 2024, more specifically:
- How many organisations have policies and procedures relating to lone workers in place
- The level of communication and training given to lone workers
- The risks faced by lone workers
- How organisations manage the risks faced by lone workers
- Lone worker incident rates
Why have we done this research?
When StaySafe (now part of EcoOnline) conducted the first Lone Worker Landscape Report in 2021, it largely focused on pre-Covid behaviour. The research for this edition has focused on current (as of 2024) lone worker behaviour.
We wanted to see if societal changes were reflected in the responses of our survey group. This report will provide you with the reality of the challenges faced by lone workers and how their employers are responding to them.
For more information about the breakdown of our sample size, see the Appendix at the end of the report.
