Solitary chicken - need advice

[Space Chick]

Knowing you work in a pharmacy.... The NHS has very strict guidelines on lone workers policy.... Risks must be calculated and assessed... If you don't feel comfortable you shouldn't have to do anything you don't want to ((hugs))

[Egluntyne]

You should definitely have a lone worker policy, a copy of which you should have signed to say you have read and understood it, especially if you are expected to work alone on a regular basis. A demonstration of the locking up procedure should be given, with a check list.

[Willow]

There should have been a risk assessment carried out which should have included an assessment of the risk of violence/robbery. You can ask to see that risk assessment and yes ask to see their lone worker policy as well.

 

Two useful links are http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/workalone.htm and http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/SecurityManagement/Lone_Working_Guidance_final.pdf

 

It is quite reasonable to be concerned about your safety!

[Cinnamon]

As well as concerns about safety, are you being paid more for taking on sole responsibility for making the premises safe after hours?

[The Dogmother]

You should definitely have a lone worker policy, a copy of which you should have signed to say you have read and understood it, especially if you are expected to work alone on a regular basis. A demonstration of the locking up procedure should be given, with a check list.

 

Agreed.

 

At my last place of work, I lived just 5 mins walk away, so one colleague suggested that I should be the alarm response person for when the alarm went off at night I quickly stamped that one out - why should I (as a lone female) be entering a building, which could contain a burglar?!

 

Do some internet research so that you have facts to back yourself up, and then be prepared to say no. Pharmacies are vulnerable to people breaking in to look for drugs, but then you would know this.

[The Dogmother]

Just go in backed up with facts and a print-off, Laura.

[newcountrygirl]

It isnt nice. When I was an Estate Agent I had to be the person responsible (I was the person who lived nearest - even though I lived over a mile away). I was called out on quite a few occasions as the premises were in the city centre and people used to lean on the door or windows when staggering out of local pubs. The building was quite old and had lots of dark nooks and crannies. The police would attend but always insisted that I - a lone female went in to investigate. They would just hover by the door.

[Egluntyne]

I was the responsible person for a while at work as I lived the nearest. I insisted that I was taken off the rota as I wasn't prepared to put myself at risk.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Agreed - there should definitely be a policy. I used to work in a bank and locking up/unlocking procedures were extremely thorough. Where I worked, there were often no men at all on the staff so it was down to female staff to lock up/unlock each day - a job we all hated, especially going down into the creepy cellar alone However, being a bank, the police were thankfully very hot about responding to panic alarms. We all wore security alarms at all times which alerted the police when activated.

So in short - yes there should be a policy in place, do check!

[majorbloodnock]

I know this thread has quickly focussed on the lone female vs bad guys issue, but whilst that is definitely important to address, it shouldn't mask other more mundane issues. Not least of all, the employer has a statutory obligation to provide adequate and appropriate first aid provision, including for lone workers. Has this been thought about? Assessed? Of course, it should appear in the Lone Worker policy you've mentioned ought to be in place, but it should also appear in various other documents and policies, so ought to be easy enough to access.

 

Does this change constitute a change to your contract of employment? Worth a look through just in case.