Newport Makerspace Lone Working Guide

There may be occasions where you end up working alone in the Makerspace. Lone working is allowed but we restrict a number of activities in lone working situations due to the potential severity of injury should an accident happen.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the general makerspace risk assessment and the risk assessment of any tool/equipment you intend to use whilst lone working.

This policy is designed to:

• Ensure everyone in the makerspace is aware of the risks presented by lone working; and
• Identify responsibilities of the makerspace committee and individual subscribers.
• It applies to all subscribers who work alone, at any time.

A lone worker is a person who works by themselves without close or direct supervision, physically isolated from others, and may be without access to immediate assistance.

In the context of Newport Makerspace, you are a lone worker if you are the only person in the makerspace, even if there are other people in the reuse centre building.

For example, if there is one person using a sewing machine in the craft room and another person using the planer/thicknesser in the woodworking room, neither are lone workers. However, if the person sewing left to get lunch, the person woodworking is now a lone worker and would need to stop using the planer/thicknesser until the second person returned.

The Newport Makerspace committee have specific responsibilities in terms of health and safety. But subscribers also have responsibilities.

• Periodically reviewing tool/equipment risk assessments
• Reviewing near-miss and accident reports for lessons learnt
• Ensuring adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided in the makerspace
• Ensuring the stock levels in all health and safety equipment such as first aid kits are checked periodically

• Cooperate with the committee on health and safety matters
• Not interfere with anything provided to safeguard their health and safety
• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety
• Use equipment correctly in accordance with instructions and inductions
• Report all health and safety concerns, near-misses, or incidents to a member of the committee
• Prevent or remove any hazards and not knowingly leave them in place

The following machines or activities are restricted when you are working alone:

• Working at height
• Using tools/equipment marked with a 'red' risk rating

The following tools/equipment are marked with a 'red' risk rating and therefore prohibited for use by lone workers:

• Planer / thicknesser
• CNC Mill
• Table Saw

The following tools/equipment are marked with a 'red' risk rating and therefore prohibited for use by lone workers:

• Lathe
• Mill