CATERING GRADES - LONE WORKING

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular NP/146/25

2^nd September 2025

To: The Secretary

All branches and Regional Councils

 

Dear Colleague

 

CATERING GRADES - LONE WORKING

 

Your 2025 Annual General Meeting adopted the following resolution:

 

This conference is concerned about the welfare and safety while working and in lone working/single staffing scenarios.

 

This conference requests the General Secretary and National Executive Committee thoroughly investigate to promote a meaningful campaign to raise the awareness of risks to our members when lone working/single staffed inclusive of harassment, physical, verbal and elements of other abuses and risks.

 

Personal needs breaks are a risk when lone working for stock protection and where cash is still a method of payment. Predominantly places of safety is a major issue here too! 

                                                            

At its meeting on 19^th August 2025 your NEC noted and adopted the following report from its health and safety sub-committee:

 

We note the decision from the AGM and recognise that lone working has increased for our catering grade members thereby putting them at risk - as they are vulnerable when working alone on trains. 

 

Given this we instruct the General Secretary to write to Regional Organisers requesting that they:

• enquire as to whether their link employers are carrying out lone working risk assessment - particularly regard to catering grades, and if they are, to ensure that the assessments cover all those who will be involved and which hazards could harm those working alone
• remind employers that this requirement is as per HSE guidance on Violence at Work https://www.hse.gov.uk/lone-working/employer/index.htm which explains that under the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations employers must manage work that involves money and valuable equipment (i.e. stock) as this makes workers more vulnerable to a higher risk of violence when lone working. 

Additionally, we instruct the General Secretary to include these issues in work connected with the RMT Action Against Assaults campaign. 

Branches and Regional Councils to be advised accordingly. 

 

Please bring this circular to the attention of relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary