Free Lone Worker Risk Assessment Template & Calculator
Last updated: 29 October 2026
What is a lone worker risk assessment?
Short answer: A lone worker risk assessment identifies the hazards a person faces when working alone, then scores each one so you can decide which controls and check-in frequency they need. Working alone is not a hazard on its own, but it does present a unique set of challenges. This page gives you a free scoring method, an interactive calculator and a hazard assessment template. You can then download the full guide below.
Key Takeaways
- A lone worker risk assessment identifies the hazards linked to the specific tasks, people and locations involved in working alone.
- Score each hazard as consequence × exposure × probability (R = C × E × P). Scores of 1 to 2,499 are low risk, 2,500 to 7,499 are medium risk, and 7,500 to 10,000 are high risk.
- Use the scores to prioritize risks and set proportionate controls and check-in frequency, for example hourly for high-risk workers and every four hours for low-risk workers.
- Use our free calculator and hazard assessment template to score your own hazards, then turn the results into a written policy with our free lone worker policy template.
How to score a lone worker hazard
A hazard is a thing or condition that may expose a person to a risk of injury or occupationally caused illness. Risk is the likelihood the hazard will lead to an injury. Once you have identified a hazard, score it using three values: consequence, probability and exposure.
Step 1: Score the consequence
Consequence is the effect the hazard could have. Use a grading table to weight each level. You can also include monetary damage values.
| Severity of consequences | Weight |
|---|---|
| Greater than 10 fatalities | 100 |
| Multiple fatalities | 85 |
| Single fatality | 65 |
| Permanent disability | 45 |
| Disabling injury | 20 |
| Minor cuts or bruises | 5 |
Step 2: Score the probability
Probability is how likely the hazard is to happen.
| Likelihood the hazard will occur | Weight |
|---|---|
| An expected result | 10.0 |
| Likely: up to a 50/50 chance | 9.0 |
| Unusual: up to 1 in 10 times | 5.0 |
| Co-incidental chance: up to 1 in 100 times | 3.0 |
| Practically impossible: one in a million chance | 1.0 |
| Theoretically possible but has not occurred | 0.1 |
Step 3: Score the exposure
Exposure is how often workers are exposed to the hazard.
| Frequency of exposure | Weight |
|---|---|
| Continuously, or multiple times throughout the day | 10.0 |
| Frequently: once per day | 8.0 |
| Regularly: once per week | 6.0 |
| Often: once per month | 3.0 |
| Occasionally: it is known to have happened | 1.0 |
| Rarely: has not occurred but is possible | 0.5 |
Step 4: Calculate the hazard risk score
Multiply the three values to get the hazard risk score: R = C × E × P, where R is the hazard risk score, C is the consequence value (0 to 100), E is the exposure value (0 to 10) and P is the probability value (0 to 10). The highest possible score is 10,000.
| Risk level | Hazard risk score (R) |
|---|---|
| Low risk | 1 to 2,499 |
| Medium risk | 2,500 to 7,499 |
| High risk | 7,500 to 10,000 |
Worked example
| Hazard | Consequence | Exposure | Probability | Risk score | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard 1 | 85 | 10 | 9 | 7,650 | High |
| Hazard 2 | 65 | 8 | 3 | 1,560 | Low |
| Hazard 3 | 100 | 10 | 9 | 9,000 | High |
| Hazard 4 | 45 | 2 | 9 | 810 | Low |
| Hazard 5 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 300 | Low |
Common hazard sources
Physical: unstable work surfaces or conditions, bright or minimal lighting, broken materials or equipment, extreme temperatures, and loose or falling objects.
Chemical and electrical: harmful chemicals, flammable materials, live electrical wires, and dust or fumes.
Completing a lone working risk assessment is an essential step in evaluating your lone worker safety policy. Risk assessments, also known as hazard assessments, methodically examine specific roles or locations to identify potential hazards. This guide is designed to help you with that process.
Free lone worker risk calculator
Choose a consequence, probability and exposure level for each hazard. The calculator works out the hazard risk score, the risk level and a suggested check-in frequency. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
| Hazard | Consequence | Probability | Exposure | Risk score | Risk level | Suggested check-in |
|---|
Free lone worker hazard assessment template
Use this table to record each hazard, score it and decide the controls. Copy it into a document or spreadsheet, or download the full guide below.
| Hazard | Who is at risk | Consequence (C) | Exposure (E) | Probability (P) | Risk score (C × E × P) | Risk level | Controls and check-in frequency | Owner | Review date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lone worker risk assessment: common questions
How do you score a lone worker risk?
Give each hazard a consequence value (0 to 100), an exposure value (0 to 10) and a probability value (0 to 10), then multiply them: R = C × E × P. Scores from 1 to 2,499 are low risk, 2,500 to 7,499 are medium risk, and 7,500 to 10,000 are high risk.
How often should lone workers check in?
It depends on their risk level. As a guide, low-risk employees may only need to check in every four hours, whereas high-risk employees should check in every hour. A risk profile for each employee lets you set check-in frequency accurately.
What does a lone worker risk assessment help with?
It shows where safety procedures should be improved, and it gives you data to assess your current safety measures and work towards a higher standard of safety for your lone workers. It also supports the development of your lone worker safety policies.
Once you have scored your hazards, record the controls in a written policy. Our free lone worker policy template is available for the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, and you can edit it to suit your organisation.
The guide demonstrates how to employ a scoring model to evaluate different types of risks. By the end, you’ll be equipped to recognize and prioritize a diverse range of factors that impact your staff’s safety while working alone.
Get Your Free Risk Assessment Guide
A Lone Worker can be defined as a worker that is in isolation from other workers without close or direct supervision. Working alone is not a hazard on its own, but it does present a unique set of challenges. The purpose of this lone working risk assessment is to help you overcome these challenges.
Conducting a lone working risk assessment is crucial in shaping an effective lone worker safety policy. It helps companies in identifying and evaluating potential hazards associated with specific roles or locations. This process allows organizations to understand the unique risks their lone workers might face and prioritize these based on severity.
By doing so, companies can implement tailored preventative measures and safety protocols, enhancing the protection of their lone workers. Thorough risk assessment is instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of employees working alone.
Stacey Manclark
As an expert in lone worker content management, I possess an extensive knowledge base and experience in the area of lone working and safety monitoring. My expertise in this field encompasses a wide range of areas, including risk assessment, training, communication, and technology. I have a deep understanding of the unique risks associated with lone workers and have researched and written many projects and articles to educate people in how to mitigate these risks.
Throughout my time with OK Alone, I have kept up to date with technological developments, legislative changes and regulations that have been introduced to help organizations ensure the safety of their lone workers.
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