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Lone worker incident report form

Every incident and near miss involving a lone worker should produce one of these within 24 hours. The form captures the facts while they are fresh, prompts the regulator-notification check, and turns the incident into corrective actions with owners.

Who it's for: Any worker or supervisor reporting an incident, near miss or dangerous occurrence involving lone work.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-07-21 · No email required

Report details

Reported by (name and role)
Date and time of report
Worker involved (name and role)
Was the worker alone at the time?

Incident details

Date and time of incident
Exact location Address, site area, or GPS coordinates for remote locations
  • Physical assault or attempted assault
  • Verbal aggression or threat
  • Injury or medical event
  • Near miss (no harm, but could have caused it)
  • Missed check-in or failed welfare check
  • Vehicle incident
  • Property damage or theft
  • Environmental exposure (heat, terrain, animal)

What happened

Describe the sequence of events in plain language: what the worker was doing, what happened, and how it ended. Stick to facts you know; note anything unconfirmed as unconfirmed. Include what the worker did in response and whether a duress alarm, safety app or check-in system was activated, and what the response was.

People involved and witnesses

NameRole (worker, client, member of public, witness)Contact detailsStatement taken?
    
    
    

Immediate actions taken

  • First aid provided
  • Emergency services called (999)
  • Worker moved to a safe location
  • Manager notified
  • Scene made safe or secured
  • Client record flagged
  • Worker offered support (EAP, debrief)

Notifiable incident check

Some incidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), including deaths, serious injuries or illnesses, and dangerous occurrences as defined under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. If in doubt, check the criteria before the end of the day. Notification deadlines are short and non-negotiable, and the site of a notifiable incident may need to be preserved.

Notifiable? [Yes / No]. If yes: notified by [name] on [date/time], reference number [___].

Corrective actions

ActionOwnerDue dateCompleted
    
    
    

Sign-off

Reviewed by (manager name and signature)
Date reviewed
Risk assessment updated? Every incident should trigger a review of the relevant lone worker risk assessment
How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

  • Report near misses with the same discipline as injuries. They are the cheapest safety data you will ever collect.
  • Complete the form within 24 hours while details are fresh, even if the investigation continues afterwards.
  • Run the notifiable-incident check the same day. Regulator deadlines are measured in hours for the most serious categories.
  • Close the loop: an incident report without corrective actions and an updated risk assessment is just paperwork.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

What counts as a notifiable incident?
Broadly: deaths, injuries or illnesses requiring hospital treatment, and dangerous occurrences that could have killed or seriously injured someone. The exact definitions are set under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Check the criteria published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the same day the incident occurs.
Should near misses be reported on this form?
Yes. A near miss is the same event as an injury minus the luck. Near-miss reports let you fix the control gap before it costs someone.
Who investigates the incident?
The line manager reviews and signs off every report. Serious incidents should be investigated by someone independent of the immediate team, with worker involvement.

The template covers the paperwork. Duress covers the response.