Many warehouse roles involve isolation or lone working, particularly on night shifts, maintenance tasks, security duties or work in remote storage areas.
Workers operating alone face increased safety risks because assistance may not be immediately available in the event of an accident or medical emergency, and because it is harder for them to report safety concerns or seek support.
In large distribution centres, workers are physically separated from colleagues by automated systems and the vastness of storage areas. That physical separation delays emergency response times if a worker is injured or becomes trapped by equipment.
Lone workers are more vulnerable to workplace violence, harassment and intimidation, and isolation itself carries psychological effects. Workers performing solitary tasks for extended periods experience stress, anxiety and reduced job satisfaction.
Safe work design should ensure that isolation and lone working are reduced through communication systems, supervision and emergency response procedures.
For more on isolation and lone working, see the Risks Across Transport guidance.