Working alone is an option many tradesmen take when they start their own business. It can be a good way to keep costs down and focus on your work. However, working alone comes with risks that you need to be aware of if you’re going to do it. Here are some of the dangers you should know about:
The dangers of working alone
In short, there are many benefits to working alone, but doing so also comes with a number of risks.
Working alone means you’re responsible for everything from buying materials and equipment to finding new clients. You have to think about most business aspects yourself and handle customer service issues on your own.
But working in a team means that you can delegate various tasks among different people based on their skill sets or interests—and still collaborate closely enough that someone can help guide decisions when necessary.
Theft
It’s important to take the right precautions when working alone. First, you need to make sure that your tools and equipment are safe. This will help prevent any theft or damage to your property by burglars.
Second, it’s essential that you keep all of your money in a secure place so that thieves can’t get their hands on it. It’s also advisable to keep an eye on what personal items are being taken out of the van (e.g., laptops and phones) as they could be used in identity theft scams if they aren’t carefully monitored!
Thirdly, having confidentiality agreements with clients is key when carrying out work on their property or premises as there may be confidential data stored there which could be accessed by others if left unattended for too long during a break etc…
Liability
- Liability insurance: Liability insurance covers you in case your business is held liable for someone else’s injury or property damage.
- Disability insurance: This provides income if you are unable to work because of a disability.
- Income protection insurance: This pays a regular income if you are unable to work due to illness, injury, maternity and other reasons.
- Life insurance: This provides financial protection for the people who depend on you financially or emotionally (such as children). You should consider life cover especially if there is an absence of savings or investments in your family’s names that could provide for them in future years.
- Critical illness insurance (in Australia): This pays out a lump sum if one of many listed medical conditions affects you or your family member(s). It can also be used as part of an overall financial plan in case something happens unexpectedly before retirement age when funds would otherwise be available from superannuation accounts etc..
Injury
There’s no denying that injuries can happen to anyone – but they’re more common in the construction industry. When you are working alone, it is even more important to be aware of the risks.
Accidents will happen, and as an employee or contractor, you could find yourself facing a claim after being injured at work. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting hurt and ensure that if something does go wrong, you get the compensation you deserve:
- Always wear the correct PPE (personal protective equipment) for your job – this includes sturdy shoes and ear defenders where necessary
- Be careful when using machinery or tools like drills or saws; make sure that they aren’t faulty before starting work with them
- Stay aware of what is happening around you – don’t walk into walls etc !
Legal
When you are self-employed, you need to be aware of the legal implications of workplace dangers and the insurance policies that cover them.
There are many things to consider: health and safety in the workplace, choosing a business structure for your self-employment (such as sole trader or limited company), paying tax on profits made from work done as a tradesman, getting insurance for yourself and any employees you hire (if applicable), dealing with issues arising from accidents involving another party (whether it’s yourself or someone else). These are just some of them!
It’s important that you understand these issues before starting your career as a tradesman so that they don’t catch up with you later on down the line when things could get complicated very quickly!
Working alone – the big picture
Working alone is a riskier proposition for tradesmen than other professions. The likelihood of injury, theft, legal issues, health problems and other concerns is greater when working alone even on a seemingly innocuous job like installing a light fixture or hanging some shelves. There are many ways you can protect yourself from these dangers:
- Purchase general liability insurance (also known as “builder’s risk”). This type of insurance will cover you if someone gets injured on your property or if someone else’s property gets damaged because of something that happened at your place of business. It also covers injuries related to defective products.
- Invest in additional coverage beyond that which comes standard with most homeowner’s policies (if applicable). Consider adding fire damage coverage if you’re working with flammable materials like paint or chemicals—it’s usually not included under standard coverage but can be added very inexpensively through agents who specialize in such matters.
Have a look at our range of insurance policies here for more information.
Health, mental and physical
When you are self employed, it can be hard to find the motivation to take care of yourself. It’s easy to forget that you need to take care of your mental health as well as physical health. Here are some tips:
- If you have a project that requires heavy lifting, make sure the area where you work is safe and clear from anything else that could fall on top of you or cause an accident.
- Make sure your equipment is in good working order and safe for use before starting any task. If something isn’t right with your toolbox or other equipment then get it fixed ASAP so no accidents happen while working alone!
- Get up from your desk at least once an hour when working online; even if it’s just standing up while eating lunch somewhere away from home (or office) will help improve circulation which translates into better focus later on in the day!
Working alone can increase the likelihood of stress, anxiety, and depression from a lack of human interaction and isolation. It’s important to be aware of this and find ways to keep your mind occupied and engaged.
Dangerous weather and working conditions
Working in extreme weather conditions can be dangerous. Working in hot weather can cause heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. Working in cold weather can cause hypothermia and frostbite.
Without having others watching over you, it’s more likely that you will not be as careful about your safety when working alone as when working with a crew of people who are also looking out for each other. This could mean that if there is a risk of dropping something heavy on yourself or another person, you will not stop to consider how best to avoid doing so until after it has happened!
Working alone is risky and tradesmen are at an especially high risk.
You may be wondering, can a tradesman work alone? The answer to this question is yes, but it’s essential to have insurance – and not just for legal reasons.
Tradesmen are at an especially high risk when working on their own. This is because there are no other people around who can warn them of any dangers that they may not notice themselves. There is also less chance that they will be able to communicate with people in other parts of the building or site where they’re working if there’s a problem with their tools or equipment.
But what can you do if you’d rather work as part of a team? Luckily, there’s lots you can do! Firstly, make sure your employer has suitable health and safety procedures in place at all times – these should include having regular checkups by trained staff members as well as ensuring everyone understands what parts of the job each person needs doing before starting work
Having the right insurance policies gives you more work opportunity, as well as having peace of mind
Having the right insurance policies gives you more work opportunity, as well as having peace of mind.
Insurance policies are often tailored to your specific needs and requirements. This means that you can choose exactly what cover you want for each eventuality or danger that may arise on-site. You’ll also have a range of options when it comes to finding new clients – which is important if you’re working alone, because there are no subcontractors or other tradesmen on site who could potentially refer work your way!
These policies also give both yourself and your clients peace of mind, knowing that should any issues arise while working together they will be dealt with professionally and effectively by an experienced insurance company.
We specialise in providing insurance policies for self employed tradespeople like electricians, plumbers and builders – take a look at our website to learn more about the types of cover we offer: http://tradies365.com.au/
Conclusion
This article has discussed the dangers of working alone. It is not just for legal reasons, but also for safety reasons. Working with a partner or colleague can be safer than you think and it could save your life if something goes wrong while on site.
Contact us for information or advice on what insurance policies suit you and your business.