Lone Security Guard Safety

Security guards often work alone on construction sites during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
Lone security work carries risks including violence, assault, medical emergencies, and isolation.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to protect lone workers from foreseeable risks.
A lone working risk assessment must be completed specifically for security guard duties on each site.
Communication systems such as mobile phones, radios, or lone worker devices must be provided and tested.
Security guards may encounter trespassers, substance users, or aggressive individuals on unoccupied sites.
Medical emergencies while working alone are particularly dangerous with no one nearby to provide first aid.
Site hazards at night include poor lighting, uneven ground, open excavations, and unsecured plant.
Check-in procedures at regular intervals ensure the guard's welfare is confirmed throughout the shift.
Panic alarms and GPS-enabled lone worker devices provide immediate alert capability in an emergency.

Prevent harm	Lone security guards face violence, medical emergencies, and site hazards with no immediate backup available.
Legal duty	The HSWA 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require lone worker risk assessments.
Duty of care	Employers have a moral and legal responsibility to ensure lone workers can summon help when needed.

Do

Don't

Complete a lone working risk assessment for security duties on each specific site
Carry a charged mobile phone and lone worker device with panic alarm at all times
Check in with your control room or supervisor at the agreed regular intervals
Familiarise yourself with the site layout, hazards, and emergency exits before your first shift
Keep site gates and access points locked during lone security patrols
Report any signs of trespass, vandalism, or suspicious activity to your control room
Avoid confronting intruders directly — observe, report, and wait for police if needed
Carry a torch and wear high-visibility clothing during all night patrols on site
Know the location of the nearest first aid kit and emergency telephone on site
Test your lone worker device and communication equipment at the start of every shift

DON'T physically confront trespassers or aggressive individuals on site alone
DON'T ignore missed check-in calls — they trigger welfare concern and emergency response
DON'T patrol near open excavations, unlit areas, or unsecured plant without a torch
DON'T leave your mobile phone or lone worker device unattended during the shift
DON'T prop open site gates or leave access points unsecured during your patrol
DON'T consume alcohol or substances that impair alertness during lone security shifts
DON'T enter confined spaces, excavations, or restricted areas during lone patrols
DON'T assume the site is safe because it was secure at the start of your shift
DON'T disable or silence your lone worker device alarm during the working period
DON'T work without knowing the emergency procedure and nearest hospital location

See also: Lone Working Awareness | Violence and Aggression (Lone Workers)

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