Included below is a Risk Assessment pertaining to ‘Lone Working’ in a school environment.
This Risk Assessment is used at The Swan School in the United Kingdom.
The numbered list states the risk, possible effect of the risk, factors to be considered and mitigation controls for each risk.
Can you suggest possible items or related risks relating to 'Lone Working' that should be included, the effect on a lone worker, and possible mitigate controls for the risk?		
1. Staff could suffer from ill health whilst working on their own and not be able to access suitable help.
Staff medical condition is not dealt with promptly leading to deterioration.
Operational Health reviews are completed by HR department at staff induction to help identify staff with medical conditions that mean they are at higher risk.
Staff are responsible for telling school if they have medical conditions which means they are unsuitable for working on their own.
HR department seek appropriate medical advice from Operational Health if required
2. Staff working alone are not able to access help promptly.
Staff are not able to access help resulting in a deterioration.
All premises staff have school mobile phones which they should carry with them at all times.
Other staff working alone should ensure they have a mobile phone with them and it works within the school premises.
Anyone working alone should advise a relative, friend or neighbour of the time that they should be returning home.
Premises manager mobile phone details are on email signature, premises managers office door, list of contact details on shared drive, and by choosing premises option on main school phone line.
Sign in board for school holiday working should contain instructions for staff to carry a mobile at all times.
3. Staff working alone are not able to access first aid.
Injuries to staff are not dealt with promptly. First aid facilities are available in reception office and can be accessed by all staff. Reception is staffed from 8am to 5pm by trained first aiders.
High numbers of trained first aiders increase likelihood of trained first aiders being on-site at other times.
Premises manager is first aid trained.
Consider getting all full year staff first aid trained as these staff most likely to be in building during school holidays (KKR and KJO). Sign in board for school holiday working should contain details of first aider on-site and how to contact them in an emergency.
4. Hazardous equipment is used by lone workers leading to higher risk of injury.
Injury to staff are not dealt with promptly.
Staff do not use any hazardous equipment, circular saws, drills, step ladders, unless they have received adequate training. Risk assessments should be in place for dangerous machinery.
Risk assessments for all hazardous equipment to be reviewed by the premise’s manager in the context of lone working.
If the risk cannot be sufficiently managed, the machinery or equipment should not be used by a lone worker. 
5. Lone workers attempt to complete manual handling tasks that require two people.
 Health and Safety procedures state that non-premises staff should not do manual handling.
Health and Safety procedures are covered in staff induction.
Manual handling risk assessments are in place for all manual handling tasks and identify number of staff required. Manual handling risk assessments are read and signed by all premises staff.
All premises staff complete manual handling training. No manual handling tasks requiring two people to be allocated to lone workers		
6. Lone workers are not aware of the access routes out of the building.
Injury to staff or visitors	During induction, staff read the fire procedures which contain details of access routes.
All escape routes from the building are clearly labelled.
Fire exits for areas that lone workers are working in are unlocked.	
7. Lone workers required to handle hazardous substances.
Before workers use hazardous substances a COSSH risk assessment is completed and safety data sheets issued. These are read and signed by staff using the hazardous substances.
For hazardous substances that may be used by lone workers, the increased risk of lone working is considered as part of the COSSH risk assessment.
If sufficient mitigating controls cannot be implemented, the substance should not be used by a lone worker.
8. Staff access site at unexpected times so the school is not aware that they are on-site	.
School opening dates and times are published in the staff bulletin a week or two before each school holiday.
During term time, staff should only be on-site between 7am and 6:30pm unless there is a special event.
Evening events after this time will have their own risk assessment.
For school holidays, school opening dates and times are published in the staff bulletin a week or two before each school holiday.
Staff on-site during school holidays sign in and out to ensure that the school is aware of who is on-site at all times.
During school holidays before locking the building, premises staff check that all staff have signed out.	
9. Lone workers do not receive sufficient supervision during periods of lone working leading to lack of clarity on work to be done, demotivation and reduced work.
Line managers of lone workers to ensure lone workers have sufficient work and are clear on tasks to be performed. Line managers of lone workers to check in on a regular basis, as appropriate for the tasks and the staff grade. 
10. Premises is not secure during lone working periods.
Risk of harm to staff, risk of damage to building from intruders.
Other than short periods of time at the start and end of the day entrance to the school building is via staff door security keyfob only.
Door security Keyfobs are disabled when staff leave employment.
Codes for padlocks  on main gate, plus gates giving access to sports building are changed regularly and changed when members of staff leave employment.
New codes clearly communicated to all staff in advance of change.
Ensure padlock codes are changed.