An estimated 8 million people in the UK work alone at some point during their working day. They are district nurses visiting patients, utility workers reading meters, estate agents showing properties, social workers conducting home visits, delivery drivers, security guards, agricultural workers on remote farms, and community wardens. Lone working is not a niche activity — it is one of the most common features of the modern UK workforce.
And it is becoming more dangerous. SoloProtect data covering its customer base — drawn from healthcare, utilities, social care, retail, facilities management, and public sector organisations — documented a 132% increase in physical attacks on lone workers over three years, a 104% rise in weapon-related incidents, and a 136% surge in attacks from the previous year alone.
This guide brings together the latest verified figures on lone worker safety in the UK — the scale of lone working, the rising tide of violence, who is most at risk, the legal duties on employers, and the technology that helps keep isolated workers safe. Managing the risk begins with a robust workplace risk assessment for every lone-working role.
Key facts and figures
- 8 million people in the UK are estimated to work alone at some point during their working day.
- 132% increase in physical attacks on lone workers over three years (SoloProtect data).
- 104% rise in weapon-related incidents against lone workers over the same three-year period.
- 136% surge in attacks from the previous year alone.
- 10% increase in verbal abuse directed at lone workers over three years.
- 2,000+ a day incidents of violence and abuse in retail (BRC 2025 survey), many involving workers alone with an offending customer.
Eight million lone workers — and rising danger
The legal framework
The HSE is clear: the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 applies fully to lone workers. Employers cannot simply not assess risk because a worker is alone — the absence of supervision makes the risk assessment more important, not less.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess all significant risks — including those arising from lone working. Where lone workers are identified as a high-risk group (for example, community healthcare workers, utility field workers, or social care staff), the risk assessment must be specific and the control measures proportionate.
Key questions in a lone worker risk assessment
- Can the work be done safely by one person alone?
- What are the specific hazards — violence, accident, medical emergency, environmental?
- How will the lone worker summon help if needed?
- How will the employer know if the worker has not returned as expected?
- Is lone working appropriate for the individual? (Training, experience, health considerations)
Technology and lone worker safety
The market for lone worker safety technology has expanded significantly in the past decade, driven by the combination of rising violence statistics, smartphone capability, and employer liability awareness. Technologies include:
- Personal safety devices (GPS-enabled alarms with two-way audio connection to a monitoring centre)
- Check-in apps — allowing workers to confirm their status at defined intervals, with escalation if check-ins are missed
- Lone worker monitoring software — providing managers with real-time location information and incident history
- Body-worn cameras — increasingly deployed in retail and healthcare to provide both deterrence and post-incident evidence
These technologies do not replace the fundamental risk assessment and preventive measures required by law — but they provide a critical safety net for residual risk that cannot be eliminated by other means.
| Measure (UK, latest data) | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People who work alone at some point each day | ~8 million | HSE |
| Rise in physical attacks on lone workers (3 years) | 132% | SoloProtect |
| Rise in weapon-related incidents (3 years) | 104% | SoloProtect |
| Surge in attacks from the previous year alone | 136% | SoloProtect |
| Increase in verbal abuse (3 years) | 10% | SoloProtect |
| Retail violence & abuse incidents per day | 2,000+ | BRC 2025 |
Sources & references
- SoloProtect / Facilitate Magazine – Alarming Rise in Attacks on Lone Workers (February 2025)
- HSE – Working Alone: Health and Safety Guidance
- HSE – Violence at Work 2024/25
- BRC – Crime and Shrink Benchmark 2025
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
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Mark writes about workplace health and safety, compliance and accredited online training for Online CPD Academy.