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Nursing and Midwifery Education & Development Division.

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Nursing and Midwifery Education & Development Division.

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Information regarding Expectations

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Small amount of money for lunch or bring your own, no more than £6.

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Helpful information about this site

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Helpful information about this site

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Helpful information about this site

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Please see ABUHB Intranet for more information.

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Health Board Nurtures Future Workforce by Welcoming Coleg Gwent Learners into Hospitals across Gwent

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ABUHB Mental Health and Wellbeing Support 

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ABUHB Mental Health and Wellbeing Support 

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Helpful for everyday life and for placement.

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Personal safety is a weekly concern for a fifth of the workforce which means that up to 6.8 million people are worried about their safety either as they work or during their commute to and from their job every week.

More people are feeling unsafe on a regular basis and this isn't down to specific workplaces or a particular type of work; it isn't even confined to times of work with people often fearful during unsociable hours. Every sector is reporting a concern for their safety. Many public-facing industries, such as hospitality and retail, are facing increased aggression from frustrated and angry customers. But they aren't alone in this. Logistics, production and manual trades all report high levels of feeling unsafe.

What also stands out from the report conducted by Peoplesafe in to personal safety concerns is that, hybrid workers are the category of worker feeling the most unsafe, with nearly three-quarters reporting safety concerns. The reasons for this are varied and depend on the type of role but the main themes that unite them are:

Travelling and commuting

Varied locations for work (e.g. healthcare and travelling sales teams)

Not having a safe space at home (e.g. increase in domestic violence related to this shift in working habits)

Protecting your personal safety revolves around preventative thinking, taking sensible precautions and being aware of your surroundings. There are simple ways to improve your personal safety on a daily basis: most of which only require common sense or following good safety practices.

Communication is essential for personal safety. Someone should always know where you're supposed to be and your planned movements. Setting up a 'buddy' system with a friend, colleague or family member will help to improve your personal safety because they can raise an alarm if you fail to check in with them. In addition, having a reliable method of communication available at all times will mean that you can get in touch with someone in the event of an emergency.

Depending on the situation, you're likely to encounter different personal safety risks. We've put together a range of personal safety tips based on a number of scenarios.

Personal safety tips for everyday life

There are certain things that you can remember to do regardless of the circumstances to protect your personal safety. These are all best practice tips to follow for everyday life.

Personal safety while walking

It's important to be mindful of your safety when walking, especially if you're alone and it's late or dark, making you more vulnerable compared to people travelling in groups.

Personal safety while driving

Even when you've got the protection of a vehicle, there are still things that you can do to protect your personal safety:

Personal safety while travelling

There are a number of personal safety concerns to be aware of when you're making a journey by using public transport or soliciting a taxi.

Public transport

Taxis

Use a valid taxi service - check that the cab is licensed before getting in it. You can also ask the driver to show you their badge before starting the journey.

Pre-book - try to avoid using private-hire cars that tout for business. Instead, use a trusted local firm and book your journey in advance.

Share information with someone you trust - let someone know about the vehicle you're in and the journey you're taking.

Check it's your taxi - ask the driver to confirm who they are picking up and where they're going.

Sit behind the driver - make yourself as inaccessible as possible.

Personal safety at home

Home should be a place where everyone feels safe. Personal safety at home is something that can easily be prioritised, but often gets taken for granted.

Look at your home through the eyes of a burglar - half of burglaries are opportunistic by taking advantage of an open window or unlocked door.

Instal motion sensor lights - they will act as a deterrent and provide a visual alert that someone is at your home.

Leave keys in a sensible place - don't put them near the front door or anywhere that they can be seen from outside.

Avoid attaching your name and address to your keys - if they were lost or stolen, it would make it easy for a burglar.

Check the ID of house callers - if you're unconvinced by the ID, call the organisation using the number from the internet, or paperwork if you have it, to check that the visit is genuine.

Don't go inside if you suspect there's an intruder in your home - call the police who have the training to deal with the incident.

Personal safety while lone working

If you work alone, your employer has a general duty of care to provide you with a safe workplace or make provisions to keep you safe at work. Similarly, lone workers have a responsibility to take reasonable care of their own personal safety.
Read more on lone working rights and responsibilities
The risks of lone working typically arise from the people you will interact with; the environment you're working in; or the task you're undertaking. Whenever you're working alone, always make sure that a colleague knows where you're going to be, who you're going to meet and when you're supposed to finish.

We've put together some personal safety tips for lone workers in different situations.

Working in other people's homes or premises

Familiarise yourself with the area - Google Street View can help you see the location before you arrive. Once there, check your mobile phone reception and follow any lone working procedures (e.g. check in with your buddy) set out in the company's lone working policy.

Have an exit strategy before you arrive - thinking about these in advance will help you to recall them in a time of stress.

Park as nearby as possible - limit the distance you have to complete, especially in the dark.

Only bring what is essential - don't weigh yourself down with unnecessary items that will make you less mobile and could make you more of a target.

Wear appropriate clothing - if you don't have a specific uniform, wear clothes that you can easily move around in.

Keep a clear path to the door - avoid positioning yourself so that you become trapped. If possible, be the closest person to the door.

Conduct a dynamic risk assessment - observe your surroundings. Note the exits, how the door opens (e.g. push or pull), plus look for any dangers, such as dogs.

Download our dynamic risk assessment infographic.
Working alone from a fixed base

Instal an intercom or buzzer system - this will provide a barrier between the lone worker and the person trying to gain entry. It also gives the lone worker the opportunity to qualify the visitor.

Keep cash out of sight - if you need to cash up at the end of the day, complete this task as far away from the front door as possible, preferably in a room that locks.

Consider a 'safe haven' - having a room that locks where you can retreat to if necessary. Ensure there is a working phone in this room.

Be aware of escape routes - in case of emergency, it's important to know how to leave the building safely.

Working alone from home

Avoid trailing leads and cables - keep your work area tidy and arrange equipment and furniture to minimise slip and trip risks.

Check electrical equipment is in good condition - including plugs, leads, wires and cables.

Regularly check-in with colleagues - implement a system where someone would raise an alarm if no one in the business had heard from you in a certain amount of time.

Consider conducting client meetings at a neutral venue - you might be able to rent a meeting space for relatively low cost.

Give the impression other people are home - have the radio or tv on in another room to make it seem as though you're not alone.

Depersonalise your meeting room - if you have to have clients in your home, conduct the meeting in a room with minimal personal information on display.

Working in rural areas

Have a GPS device - these rely on satellites to find your position and work better in more isolated locations. Mobile phones may not work in certain areas.

We have two satellite personal safety devices available: SPOT Gen4 and SPOT X. If you are working in rural locations, we have more in-depth health and safety advice when working in remote areas.

Improve personal safety with a personal safety alarm

Personal safety alarms are available in the form of dedicated devices, or can be activated on your smartphone by downloading specialist applications. The benefits of having a personal safety alarm go far beyond the security felt simply by carrying one.

Connected to a 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), alarms can be activated at any time of day and be answered by an expert call handler who is trained to deal with emergency situations. If you are given a personal safety alarm for work, remember that you can use the device outside of working hours, especially when making journeys alone and in the dark.

As part of the accreditation process, all Peoplesafe solutions have built-in GPS capabilities that we have enhanced with What3Words technology so we can pinpoint your location to within 5m² when you raise an alarm. For more information about how we can help to protect your personal safety, get in touch with us today.

Practicing these personal safety habits is likely to reduce your stress levels. Situations that pose personal safety risks are typically stressful, for example, walking through a field alone in the dark with no one else in sight to help.

Focusing on personal safety shouldn't stop you from doing things you enjoy or living a normal life; it's about taking the appropriate steps to stay safe. Adopting good personal safety habits means that you act on the safety hazards you have the power to control and influence.

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Personal Safety Tips & Advice | Peoplesafe

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Personal safety is a growing concern in the UK. Read our personal safety tips to learn the best ways to remove safety hazards in your work and everyday life.