Lone Worker Risk Management: Apply the 4 Ps - EHS Daily Advisor
Whether you are working for a large corporation with thousands of employees or a small business contractor with a handful of employees, there are times that will require employees to be lone workers. During these times, lone workers must make many decisions to successfully complete a task on time. To work safely, these employees need to assess the degree of risk and determine the best course of action to mitigate that risk.
Lone worker risk management (LWRM) is a systematic approach used to consistently determine the best response to a given set of circumstances. An employee's intentions are based on this approach. LWRM is about gathering information, analyzing it, and making decisions, which aren't as straightforward as an apprenticeship, or skill set training. Learning how to anticipate a situation and react in myriad types of situations while working may be the most challenging sequence a lone worker encounters during tenure.
The Four Ps
LWRM sounds good on paper, but it requires a method so lone workers can understand and use it in their job task. One practical application is the "Four Ps": prejob, process, public, and programs. Each area consists of a set of challenges and opportunities that every lone worker will encounter. The Four Ps are used to evaluate a lone worker's current situation at key points during the task or when an emergency arises.
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