LON/General/TBT-LON-008

Lone Working in Remote Locations

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Remote locations include rural pipeline routes, moorland wind farms, reservoirs, and isolated pumping stations.
Mobile phone signal may be absent or unreliable in remote areas, preventing communication and emergency calls.
Medical help may take 30 minutes or more to arrive in remote rural locations after an emergency call.
Weather conditions in exposed locations change rapidly and can trap or strand workers without warning.
Access routes to remote sites may be single-track, unmade, or impassable in wet or winter conditions.
Wildlife hazards including livestock, ticks, and adders are more prevalent in rural work locations.
Lone workers in remote areas have no colleagues nearby to raise the alarm if they are incapacitated.
Satellite communication devices and personal locator beacons work where mobile phone signals do not.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require specific risk assessment for lone workers.
A journey management plan should detail the route, expected arrival, check-in times, and emergency contacts.

Delayed rescue	An injured lone worker in a remote location with no signal may not be found for hours, turning survivable injuries fatal.
Communication failure	No mobile signal means no ability to call for help, report hazards, or receive weather warnings.
Legal duty	MHSWR 1999 requires employers to assess and control specific risks to lone workers including remote location hazards.

Don't

Complete a journey management plan before travelling to any remote work location.
Carry a satellite phone or personal locator beacon where mobile signal is absent.
Tell a named person your route, expected arrival time, and check-in schedule.
Carry a first aid kit, emergency shelter, food, water, and warm clothing.
Check the weather forecast before setting out and monitor conditions throughout the day.
Confirm mobile signal availability at the work location before starting tasks.
Check in at agreed intervals and follow the overdue escalation procedure.
Ensure your vehicle is suitable, fuelled, and equipped for the access route.
Carry a torch, charged phone, and vehicle recovery equipment at all times.
Assess wildlife risks including livestock, ticks, and seasonal hazards before starting.

DON'T travel to remote locations without telling someone your plan and return time.
DON'T rely on mobile phone as your only communication in areas with no signal.
DON'T skip weather checks before visiting exposed or elevated remote sites.
DON'T carry out high-risk tasks alone in locations where help is far away.
DON'T miss scheduled check-in calls without triggering the overdue procedure.
DON'T drive on unmade tracks without assessing ground conditions and vehicle suitability.
DON'T leave the vehicle without taking essential emergency supplies with you.
DON'T assume someone will notice if you fail to return on time.
DON'T work in severe weather at remote sites; withdraw to safety early.
DON'T ignore tick bites in rural areas; seek medical advice if symptoms develop.

See also: Lone Working Awareness | Lone Working Devices and Apps

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