Lone Working and Holiday Cover: A Practical Summer Check
Summer brings a familiar challenge for many businesses: several people wanting annual leave at the same time and a rota that needs to flex.
Most of the time, this is managed without a problem. However, reduced staffing can sometimes create an unexpected gap.
Your appointed person may be away. The trained people identified in your fire-safety arrangements may be unavailable. Someone may be opening, closing or working alone for the first time.
These situations are rarely caused by carelessness. They usually happen because leave is approved one request at a time without anyone checking the overall effect.
What does lone working mean?
A lone worker is someone who works by themselves without close or direct supervision.
This could include someone:
working alone in an office;
opening or closing the premises;
working outside normal hours;
travelling for work;
working from home.
Reduced summer staffing may create lone-working situations that do not normally arise, so it is worth checking whether your existing risk assessment and emergency arrangements still work.
Your five-minute summer cover check
✅ Do your first-aid arrangements remain adequate during planned absences?
✅ Are enough trained people available to carry out the fire-safety roles identified in your emergency plan?
✅ Could reduced staffing leave anyone working without close or direct supervision?
✅ Are contact, check-in and emergency arrangements clear?
✅ Are opening and closing arrangements safe?
✅ Has anyone taking on unfamiliar responsibilities received suitable information or training?
There is no need to panic, but there is a need to plan.
What should you do next?
A short review before approving annual leave can help identify gaps while there is still time to deal with them.
Health and safety does not need to make summer cover difficult. It is about recognising where arrangements may change and putting sensible, manageable checks in place.
Paula can help you review the health and safety impact of reduced staffing, including lone-working risks, first-aid arrangements, emergency procedures and fire-safety responsibilities.
Book a free 20-minute online chat for calm, practical guidance and a clearer idea of your next step.
Paula Santomauro
📞 07799 533094
📧 paula@yourcompanyworks.com
This blog provides general guidance and does not replace an assessment of your individual workplace.