Lone working – risk assessment, emergency response plan, and safety procedures
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Working alone can involve both physical and social isolation. The crucial question is not just whether a person works alone, but what the consequences will be if something goes wrong and how quickly help can arrive.
Quick overview
- Working alone is regulated in Chapter 6 of AFS 2023:2.
- The risk assessment must cover both the risk of accidents and mental/social strain.
- The employer must arrange for contact and the possibility of getting help when the risks require it.
- Certain situations are unsuitable or not permitted for working alone.
- Night work and remote workplaces can increase the risks.
| Work tasks | What could happen when the person does not have colleagues on site? |
| Need for help | How quickly must help be able to arrive? |
| Contact | Check-ins, telephone/radio, set times, and escalation if contact is not made. |
| Alarm | Type of alarm, coverage, recipient, testing, and backup solution. |
| Organization | Staffing, night work, competence, and which tasks must not be performed alone. |
Assess the consequences of being alone
Risks can be technical, medical, or psychosocial. Examples include working in confined spaces, with dangerous substances, machinery, animals, the risk of violence, or in places where falls, entrapment, or sudden illness could leave the person unable to call for help themselves.
Contact plan and alarms must be integrated
An alarm button is useless if there is no recipient or help arrives too late. Plan who receives the alarm, how the location is determined, when check-ins occur, and what happens if the employee does not respond.
When working alone is unsuitable
The Swedish Work Environment Authority points to several situations where the risks may make working alone unsuitable or prohibited, such as certain confined spaces, the risk of gas or suffocation, heavy material handling, and situations with a significant risk of violence or accidents.
Night work requires special attention
Night work affects the biological rhythm and can increase the risk of errors and accidents. The Swedish Work Environment Authority therefore emphasizes that working alone at night should be limited to when necessary and organized with appropriate protective measures.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Defining working alone solely as physical solitude.
- Having alarms, but no coverage or clear recipient.
- No one reacting when a scheduled check-in is missed.
- Risk-assessing night work in the same way as day work without accounting for fatigue and response times.
- Allowing dangerous tasks to be performed alone out of habit or tradition.
Frequently asked questions
Is it forbidden to work alone?
Not in general. However, the risk assessment may show that certain work must not or should not be performed alone.
Must lone workers have a personal alarm?
It depends on the risks. The employer must ensure that the employee can get help quickly enough when needed.
What is social lone working?
This can be work where contact and community with others are limited, even if other people are within a certain distance.
Is night work a specific risk?
Yes. The Swedish Work Environment Authority highlights increased accident risk and strain at night, which must be taken into account when planning lone work.
Risk assessment and alarm plan for working alone
This template package helps the organization document risks, communication channels, alarm chains, prohibited tasks, and follow-ups.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: October 5, 2026. This article provides general information and does not replace a workplace-specific work environment assessment.
