The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks is hosting a webinar this evening for letting agents and other industry employers responsible for the safety of their staff who may be working alone.

The trade body says over 150 lone workers are physically or verbally assaulted every day in the UK, adding up to over 54,000 a year. 

Daniel Evans, AIIC chair, says: “As employers, we have staff and self-employed personnel working alone, going from client to client, property to property. They may be en route to an isolated location. They may be lost in a remote area. Suddenly they are at risk and could potentially be subject to assault or attack – especially in the evening when it is dark. We have a duty of care to ensure we do everything we can to minimise the risk to their well-being.

“That is why we have launched this safeguarding initiative. We have invited David Powell, a former police officer with 30 years’ experience, to share his expertise on employer responsibilities. And we urge employers in our sector to come and join us so that they can have their questions answered and hear first-hand what they should be doing to help keep their staff safe and sound.”

The AIIC is reminding employers in the lettings industry that they have a legal responsibility to manage health and safety risks in their businesses, with a parallel duty to protect the wellbeing of their employees and other people who might be affected by their work activities. T

They must assess risks in the workplace which means identifying activities that might cause injury or illness and they must take action to eliminate the hazard or control the risk.

Evans continues: “Routinely, our workers go into properties and encounter the people living there. Perhaps it’s a mid-tenancy inspection. Perhaps they might see something that will worry or concern them. Perhaps it involves a child or a vulnerable person. What should they do in those circumstances? David Powell will be able to answer that question from the point of view of a highly experienced specialist. 

“Sometimes you need guidance on doing the right thing. What are the real warning signs that tell us when we should report something we’ve seen or heard? How should we go about doing that?

“This webinar will be a fantastic opportunity for us all to learn more about a subject which affects each and every one of us,” said Evans.

The AIIC Safeguarding Webinar will be held at 7pm this evening. You can sign up for it here.