What lone working means in pharmacy

HSE and HSENI define lone workers as people who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. In pharmacy this can mean an entire shift alone or shorter periods where help is not close enough to be relied on quickly.

Common lone-working situations in pharmacy

• Being the only staff member in the pharmacy: for example during opening, closing, meal-cover, or out-of-hours tasks.
• Working alone in part of the building: such as a consultation room, basement, stock area, or rear workspace where colleagues cannot see or hear you easily.
• Travelling or delivering alone: home deliveries, care home deliveries, bank runs, urgent collections, or other journeys carried out for work.
• Working outside normal hours: cleaners, maintenance contractors, managers cashing up, or staff arriving early or leaving late.
• Remote or off-site work linked to pharmacy duties: when the task is work-related and there is no close supervision or immediate support.

Why the same task may feel different when done alone

A task that is straightforward with colleagues nearby can carry more risk when performed without immediate help. Examples include refusing an inappropriate medicine request, locking up after dark, carrying stock to a vehicle, climbing stairs at an unfamiliar delivery address, or managing an upset member of the public.

This applies to all grades of pharmacy staff, not only registered professionals. A medicines counter assistant, delivery driver, trainee, dispenser, cleaner, or manager may face lone-working risk when the environment, timing, or support arrangements are inadequate.

Lone working in pharmacy is about more than staffing numbers. It is about whether a worker can carry out a task safely without close supervision or immediate practical support if something goes wrong.