Physical attacks towards lone workers have reached worrying levels, rising by 132% over the last three years. The attacks are happening across all sectors, from retail to healthcare, leaving a lasting physical and psychological effect on the UK’s workforce. This alarming rise has highlighted the work that needs to be done by employers to improve the safety of the UK’s lone workers.

In this article, we’ll detail the risks that lone workers face and highlight the industries that are under the greatest threat. We’ll also outline what employers can do to combat these attacks and secure the safety of lone working employees.

Why are lone workers at risk of physical attacks?

There are many reasons why lone workers are at risk of physical attack, often differing depending on the industry. For example, a healthcare worker may be at risk of attack from a mentally unstable person, whilst a retail worker may be attacked as part of a robbery.

Because of a lack of support from colleagues, lone workers tend to be seen as easy targets. They will also be the sole public-facing representative of a company or organisation at that moment, meaning they’ll be the obvious target for any frustrated customers.

The alarming rise in attacks on lone workers

The very nature of working alone is risky, with nobody on hand to help out in case of accidents or equipment failure. However, over the last three years, lone workers have been subject to greater threat, with a 132% increase in physical attacks including a 104% rise in weapon-related incidents. In fact, weapon-related incidents spiked by 136% in the last year alone.

This treatment towards lone workers is a daily occurrence across the UK, with an estimated 150 physical or verbal attacks taking place each day. Attacks in the workplace aren’t just limited to lone workers either. According to the HSE, there were 689,000 incidents of violence at work in the years 2024 to 2025. 38% of these resulted in injury.

While attacks take place across a wide range of industries, there are a select few that are more at risk than others.

Industries where lone workers are most at risk

Healthcare

Violence against lone healthcare workers makes up a substantial percentage of lone worker attacks, with employees receiving abuse from both patients and their family members. Routine house visits can easily take a turn for the worse if the patient is mentally vulnerable or suffering from a disease that causes spikes in aggression.

It’s also common, due to understaffing, that hospital workers will patrol entire wards by themselves during quieter times. Again, abuse can stem from both patients and family members. The risk is heightened if a patient has been admitted to hospital with a drink- or drug-related issue.

Retail

Violence and verbal abuse towards lone retail workers is becoming commonplace in the UK. Workers in small convenience stores or petrol station forecourts often spend most of their time working alone, making them vulnerable to abuse from customers. This abuse is often a result of general frustration amongst customers, but can also be due to the worker being seen as an obstacle during a robbery.

Public transport and taxi drivers

The stress of travel leaves public transport workers bearing the brunt of issues often out of their control. They serve as the public facing representative of the transport service, dealing with everything from disgruntled commuters to unpredictable, intoxicated partygoers. Bus drivers also face regular abuse from passengers, so much so that protective screens are now present in most buses across the UK.

Driving a taxi is considered a high risk profession, especially when working at night or when carrying intoxicated passengers. As well as verbal assaults, taxi drivers are prone to physical attacks and robbery.

Real-life case studies of attacks on lone workers

Middlesbrough delivery driver attack, April 2024

A supermarket delivery driver was on shift when he was approached by two men on bikes in April 2024. He was pulled to the ground and repeatedly kicked and punched before the men left the scene with two crates of alcohol stolen from his van.

The delivery driver was admitted to hospital and later released, while Cleveland Police later arrested the two men on suspicion of the robbery. They were both handed 40 month prison sentences after pleading guilty to the robbery.

The attack highlights the vulnerability of lone delivery drivers, especially when they have valuable goods stored in their van. The Cleveland area where the attack took place is also consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous areas to live in the UK.

Boscombe shop assistant assault, September 2024

On September 19, 2024, a shop assistant in Boscombe was the victim of a racially aggravated attack after a customer tried to return items. The victim was repeatedly punched in the head and racially abused by the female aggressor, who then went on to kick a till and throw clothes off of rails.

Gravesend traffic warden attack, November 2023

After issuing a ticket to a driver refusing to move their car, a traffic warden in Gravesend, Kent was thrown to the ground and heavily beaten by the driver. The driver only stopped throwing punches at the stricken traffic warden once passersby and a local security guard intervened.

The attack was caught on the warden’s bodycam, highlighting just how quickly a situation can get out of hand. Traffic enforcement staff in the Gravesend area recounted daily abuse to a regional newspaper, including racism and physical and verbal attacks.

What can be done to combat attacks on lone workers

Preventing the rise of lone worker attacks in the UK requires a multi-step process including thorough risk assessments, comprehensive training and the integration of lone worker devices.

Risk assessments: Employers should be carrying out risk assessments that outline the multiple risks faced by their lone workers, including the threat of violence. These risk assessments should determine whether it is safe to assign a single employee to a certain task.
Employee training: All employees at the company should be trained in what to do if they feel they are in immediate danger. This should include a policy that encourages workers to exit the situation if they deem it to be escalating.
Introduce lone worker devices: Lone worker devices are vital for preventing violence against lone workers. Many options include features such as panic buttons and GPS tracking, allowing the worker to be tracked down the second they signal that they’re in danger. SureSafe’s lone worker alarms also include automatic fall detection, which will alert the monitoring team if the worker falls down and can’t signal for help themselves.
Make the environment safe: The environment on site should be optimised for safety, with adequate lighting and safe access. CCTV cameras should be present around the premises for maximum security.

Reduce the threat of lone worker attacks with SureSafe

The ever-increasing threat of physical attacks against lone workers is worrying. However, with SafeSure’s solutions workers can have peace of mind that they have support to call on if a situation begins to escalate.

Our wearable lone worker alarms contain vital safety features, including panic buttons, which alert monitoring teams the moment the worker feels under threat. The alarms also include GPS tracking, meaning the support team will be able to arrive at the worker’s exact location to provide support.

With a SafeSure alarm, lone workers will be able to do their job without feeling under threat. For more information about our products, call us on 0808 303 4541, talk to our live chat, or request a call back.