The Growth of Lone Working: Industry Trends and Statistics for 2026

Lone working is no longer confined to a narrow group of obviously isolated jobs. A community nurse visiting a patient, an engineer attending a remote site, a housing officer entering a resident’s home, a delivery driver on the road and an employee working from home can all be lone workers at different points in the working day.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines lone workers as people who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. HSE guidance on lone working includes delivery drivers, health workers, engineers, security staff, cleaners, warehouse workers, petrol station employees, and homeworkers.

No single official dataset counts every person who works alone, because lone working spans many occupations and can be temporary, occasional, or routine. For employers, the more useful question is not simply how many lone workers there are, but how working patterns and risk exposure are changing.

Key lone working statistics for 2026

• 28% of working adults in Great Britain hybrid worked between January and March 2025, according to the ONS.
• HSE recorded an estimated 689,000 workplace violence incidents in 2024/25.
• An estimated 329,000 adults experienced violence at work in 2024/25.
• Based on Labour Force Survey self-reports, 680,000 workers sustained a non-fatal workplace injury in 2024/25.
• Berg Insight estimated 1.4 million users of lone worker safety solutions in Europe at the end of 2025, rising to more than 2.2 million by 2030.

Sources: ONS hybrid working data; HSE violence at work statistics; HSE workplace injury statistics; Berg Insight market data

Hybrid and distributed working have widened the lone worker conversation

One of the clearest changes in working patterns is the normalisation of hybrid work. ONS data published in June 2025 found that 28% of working adults in Great Britain worked hybrid between January and March 2025. The ONS also reported that the proportion of hybrid workers had gradually risen since March 2022.

Hybrid work is not automatically the same as lone working, but the two can overlap. Employees may work from home without close supervision, travel between locations, attend meetings alone or work outside normal office hours. This means risk assessments must reflect where work actually happens, rather than assuming the workplace is a single, controlled site.

Peoplesafe’s guidance on home and hybrid worker safety reflects how workplace safety now extends beyond a fixed workplace, including risks that can arise when employees are away from colleagues or travelling between locations.

Public-facing work continues to carry a significant violence risk

HSE figures for 2024/25 estimate 689,000 incidents of violence at work in England and Wales, comprising 370,000 assaults and 319,000 threats. HSE data also show elevated rates in occupational groups that frequently involve lone or mobile work, including health and social care associate professionals, transport and mobile machine drivers, and sales occupations.

For employers, this means assessing lone working and violence and aggression risks together.

Everyday workplace hazards become more serious when someone is alone

Lone working does not create every workplace hazard, but it can increase the consequences when something goes wrong. A fall, medical emergency or machinery incident becomes harder to manage if the worker cannot summon help or if nobody notices that they have stopped responding.

HSE estimates that 680,000 workers sustained a non-fatal workplace injury in 2024/25, based on self-reports from the Labour Force Survey. See HSE non-fatal injury statistics. Among injuries reported by employers under RIDDOR, slips, trips or falls on the same level accounted for 30%, handling, lifting or carrying for 17%, being struck by a moving object for 10%, acts of violence for 10%, and falls from height for 8%.

Lone worker protection often combines manual SOS functionality with features such as timed activities, welfare checks, location information and fall detection. These features support existing risk assessments by providing a reliable route to assistance when an unexpected incident occurs.

Employers still have to manage lone worker risk wherever work takes place

Employers must manage health and safety risks before people work alone. HSE guidance on managing the risks of working alone states that employers must train, supervise and monitor lone workers, keep in touch with them and respond to incidents.

The HSE specifically highlights risks including workplace violence, stress and mental health or wellbeing, medical suitability to work alone, and the workplace itself, such as rural or isolated locations. It also confirms that employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for homeworkers as for other workers.

The lone worker safety market is expanding

According to Berg Insight market data published by Research and Markets, the user base for lone worker safety solutions across Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand was close to 2.5 million at the end of 2025. Europe accounted for approximately 1.4 million users and is forecast to exceed 2.2 million by 2030. The same analysis identifies the UK as Europe’s largest lone worker solutions market, accounting for more than half of the European total.

Treat market forecasts as estimates rather than official workforce statistics, but they point to continued demand for monitored apps, dedicated devices, and connected safety services.

Which industries most need lone worker protection?

Healthcare and social care: Community-based staff may visit patients alone, travel between appointments and face a combination of violence, medical and environmental risks. Learn more

Housing and local government: Housing officers, enforcement teams, social workers, inspectors and other field-based staff may enter residents’ homes or handle difficult conversations without nearby colleagues. Learn more

Utilities and telecoms: Engineers and field teams can work in remote locations, around hazardous equipment or in environments where mobile signal is unreliable. Learn more

Transport and logistics: Drivers and mobile workers spend long periods away from direct supervision and may work at night or in isolated locations. Learn more

Retail and hospitality: Opening and closing sites, cash handling, late shifts and public interaction can create periods of lone working and increased exposure to abuse. Learn more about retail and hospitality safety solutions

How lone worker technology is changing

Modern lone worker systems increasingly combine a range of safety features, including:

• SOS alarms that connect workers to a trained response team
• GPS and accurate location information to support faster assistance
• Timed activities, welfare checks and missed check-in alerts
• Automatic fall or man-down detection
• Apps, dedicated devices, wearables and satellite options for different risk profiles
• Management platforms that provide usage data, reporting and audit trails
• Integrations with HR and workforce management systems to reduce manual administration

Peoplesafe’s lone worker protection solutions include smartphone apps, dedicated lone worker devices and satellite options. These connect with a 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) and the Nexus management platform, helping organisations link emergency response with ongoing oversight.

What the trends mean for employers in 2026

Lone working is becoming relevant to more roles as employees spend parts of their working day travelling, working remotely or operating without immediate support from colleagues.

Employers should identify when and where employees may work without immediate support, understand the risks they face, and put proportionate controls in place. The level of protection should reflect the person, environment and task rather than applying the same controls to every role.

Technology can help employers put these controls into practice, alongside good risk assessment, training, supervision and clear escalation processes. Organisations should also check that any service they use is independently accredited and appropriate for the level of risk involved. Peoplesafe’s accreditations include BS 8484:2022 for lone worker services and BS EN 50518:2019 for its Alarm Receiving Centre.