Lone Working Safety Course (UK) 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   How does HSE describe a lone worker?

   • ASomeone who only ever works from home and never visits the office
   • BAnyone who works more than 12 hours in a single day
   • CSomeone who works alone without close or direct supervision
   • DAnyone who works part-time hours or on a zero-hours contract
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   Answer: C. Someone who works alone without close or direct supervision

   HSE says lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.

2. Question 2 of 25

   A security officer works nights alone at a warehouse, with no supervisor on site. How would HSE describe this?

   • AAs not lone working, because a supervisor can be phoned
   • BAs not lone working, because the warehouse has CCTV
   • CAs lone working only if the shift lasts over 12 hours
   • DAs lone working, since there is no close supervision
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   Answer: D. As lone working, since there is no close supervision

   Working by yourself without close or direct supervision is lone working under HSE's definition, whatever the shift length.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Is it legal for someone to work alone in the UK?

   • AOften yes, but the employer must deal with the risks first
   • BYes, and the employer never needs to think about the risks
   • COnly if the worker is over 25 and has a full driving licence
   • DNo, working alone is against the law in every type of job
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   Answer: A. Often yes, but the employer must deal with the risks first

   HSE says it will often be safe to work alone, but the law requires the employer to think about and deal with the risks first.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Under which regulations must employers manage the risks to lone workers?

   • AThe Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
   • BThe Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
   • CThe Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
   • DThe Working Time Regulations 1998
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   Answer: C. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

   HSE says that under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must manage the risk to lone workers.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Can an employer hand its lone worker safety responsibilities over to the lone worker?

   • AYes, if the worker is self-employed
   • BYes, if the worker has five years' experience
   • CNo, these responsibilities cannot be transferred
   • DYes, as long as the worker signs a form agreeing to it
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   Answer: C. No, these responsibilities cannot be transferred

   HSE's lone working guidance says the employer's responsibilities cannot be transferred to any other person, including the people who work alone.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Do an employer's lone working duties cover a self-employed contractor it hires to do the work?

   • ANo, self-employed people are never covered
   • BYes, the duties cover people contracted to work for them
   • COnly if the contractor is under 18
   • DOnly if the contractor works for them more than 40 hours a week
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   Answer: B. Yes, the duties cover people contracted to work for them

   HSE says the employer's duty to manage lone working risks applies to anyone contracted to work for them, including self-employed people.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Does the law require a separate risk assessment just for lone working?

   • ANo, but the general risk assessment must cover it
   • BNo, lone working never needs to be assessed
   • CYes, a separate one must be done every month
   • DYes, and HSE must approve it before anyone works alone
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   Answer: A. No, but the general risk assessment must cover it

   HSE says there is no legal requirement for a separate lone worker risk assessment, but lone working risks must be included in the general one.

8. Question 8 of 25

   An employer has 12 employees. What must it do with its risk assessment?

   • AWrite down the significant findings
   • BDisplay it on the company website
   • CNothing, as risk assessments are only for large firms
   • DSend it to the local council every week
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   Answer: A. Write down the significant findings

   Regulation 3(6) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 says an employer with five or more employees must record the significant findings.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Which work does HSE say needs at least one other person present?

   • ADriving a patrol car on public roads
   • BWorking in a confined space
   • CPatrolling an empty office building at night
   • DStaffing a reception desk alone
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   Answer: B. Working in a confined space

   HSE lists confined spaces, work near exposed live electricity conductors, diving, vehicles carrying explosives and fumigation as work needing at least one other person.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Which of these should a lone working risk assessment consider?

    • AHow far the worker lives from the coast
    • BThe colour and style of the uniform the worker will wear
    • CThe worker's favourite radio station
    • DWhether the worker is medically fit to work alone
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    Answer: D. Whether the worker is medically fit to work alone

    HSE says employers should consider the medical suitability of the worker to work alone, along with violence, stress and the workplace itself.

11. Question 11 of 25

    According to HSE, how should the level of supervision relate to risk?

    • ASupervision is only needed for new managers
    • BLower-risk jobs need the most supervision
    • CSupervision should be exactly the same for every job and worker
    • DThe higher the risk, the more supervision is needed
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    Answer: D. The higher the risk, the more supervision is needed

    HSE says supervision should be based on the risk assessment: the higher the risk, the more supervision lone workers need.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Why may lone workers need extra training?

    • ABecause they are always paid more than other workers on site
    • BThey cannot easily ask more experienced colleagues for help
    • CThe law says lone workers must not ask others any questions
    • DThey work fewer hours than others
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    Answer: B. They cannot easily ask more experienced colleagues for help

    HSE says lone workers are usually unable to ask more experienced colleagues for help, so extra training may be appropriate.

13. Question 13 of 25

    Which is one way HSE suggests employers keep in touch with lone workers?

    • AA letter sent at the end of each year
    • BA single phone call at the start of each month, if time allows
    • CCheck-ins at pre-agreed intervals by phone, radio or email
    • DNo contact, to avoid distracting them
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    Answer: C. Check-ins at pre-agreed intervals by phone, radio or email

    HSE suggests pre-agreed intervals of regular contact between the lone worker and the employer, using phones, radios, email and similar.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What should happen at the end of a lone worker's shift?

    • AThe worker leaves the site keys outside the door
    • BA system confirms they are safely back at base or home
    • CThe supervisor deletes the check-in records
    • DNothing needs to happen, because the shift has already ended
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    Answer: B. A system confirms they are safely back at base or home

    HSE says employers should have a robust system to make sure a lone worker has returned to their base or home once the work is finished.

15. Question 15 of 25

    How often should lone worker alarm systems and emergency procedures be tested?

    • ANever, as testing may set off false alarms
    • BRegularly
    • COnly after a worker has been hurt
    • DOnly when the device is first bought
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    Answer: B. Regularly

    HSE says employers should regularly test these systems and all emergency procedures so lone workers can be reached if there is a problem.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Your employer sends you to work alone at another company's site. What must your employer do?

    • AAsk you to sign a form accepting all risks
    • BNothing, because the other company takes on all responsibility for you
    • CAsk that company about the risks and how they are controlled
    • DTell you not to speak to the other company's staff
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    Answer: C. Ask that company about the risks and how they are controlled

    HSE says that when a lone worker is at another employer's site, their employer must ask that employer about the risks and control measures.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Which incident fits HSE's definition of work-related violence?

    • AA worker is hit by their partner at home over a personal matter
    • BA customer threatens a lone shop worker with harm
    • CTwo strangers argue in a street far from any workplace
    • DA worker trips over a loose cable
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    Answer: B. A customer threatens a lone shop worker with harm

    HSE defines work-related violence as any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work, including verbal threats.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What does HSE say about lone working and the risk of violence?

    • AIt always doubles the risk of violence, whatever the job or the place
    • BIt does not always raise the risk, but makes workers more vulnerable
    • CIt removes all risk of violence
    • DIt is only a risk for workers under 21
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    Answer: B. It does not always raise the risk, but makes workers more vulnerable

    HSE says lone working does not automatically imply a higher risk of violence, but it does make workers more vulnerable.

19. Question 19 of 25

    A guard on a private site is punched by an intruder and is off work for 10 days. What does RIDDOR require?

    • AThe injury must be reported within 15 days of the incident
    • BOnly a note in the site diary
    • CA report to the local council within one year
    • DNothing, because security guards are expected to face violence
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    Answer: A. The injury must be reported within 15 days of the incident

    Injuries to workers from non-consensual physical violence at work are reportable, and an over-7-day injury must be reported within 15 days.

20. Question 20 of 25

    A lone worker is shouted at and threatened but not physically hurt. Is this reportable under RIDDOR?

    • ANo, and the worker should not tell anyone
    • BYes, every incident must be reported to HSE within 24 hours
    • CNo, RIDDOR covers physical injuries, but tell your employer
    • DYes, but only if the person is arrested
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    Answer: C. No, RIDDOR covers physical injuries, but tell your employer

    HSE says RIDDOR only requires reports of deaths and physical injuries, so verbal abuse alone is not reportable. It should still be reported to the employer.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Under section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, what protection do workers have?

    • AThey get extra pay for every night shift
    • BThey are protected if they leave serious and imminent danger
    • CThey can refuse any task they do not enjoy without giving a reason
    • DThey can never be asked to work alone without a colleague present
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    Answer: B. They are protected if they leave serious and imminent danger

    Section 44 protects a worker from detriment for leaving, or refusing to return to, a place because of danger they reasonably believe is serious and imminent.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What must emergency procedures allow people to do if they face serious, imminent and unavoidable danger?

    • AFinish the task before they leave
    • BWait for written permission from a manager
    • CStop work and go to a place of safety
    • DStay where they are until their shift ends
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    Answer: C. Stop work and go to a place of safety

    Regulation 8 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 says procedures must let people stop work and go to a place of safety.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What may a lone worker's first aid training need to include?

    • AHow to choose and prescribe medicines
    • BHow to give first aid to themselves
    • CHow to drive an emergency ambulance
    • DHow to use hospital equipment for surgery
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    Answer: B. How to give first aid to themselves

    HSE says some lone workers may need first aid training, including how to give first aid to themselves, and may need to carry first aid equipment.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what must employees do?

    • AWrite, sign and date the company's risk assessment each year
    • BInspect the workplace on behalf of HSE once a month
    • CPay for any safety equipment they need for their job
    • DTake reasonable care and co-operate with their employer
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    Answer: D. Take reasonable care and co-operate with their employer

    Section 7 says employees must take reasonable care for their own and others' health and safety, and co-operate with their employer.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Which body regulates workplace health and safety in Northern Ireland?

    • AThe Information Commissioner's Office for Northern Ireland
    • BThe Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
    • CThe Police Service of Northern Ireland
    • DThe Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
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    Answer: D. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

    In Northern Ireland, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) covers lone working under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

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