Lone worker safety in remote areas: what employers must do

Lone worker safety means making sure a person working alone, or away from help, can get help quickly when something goes wrong. Under the WHS laws, the business (the PCBU) must do this so far as is reasonably practicable. That means assessing the risks of working alone, setting up a way to keep in touch, having a plan for emergencies, and training people for the situations they'll meet.

Working alone is a risk in itself. If someone is hurt, taken ill or threatened, nobody may be there to help. Remote work makes it worse, because phone signal, transport and emergency services can be far away. This guide covers the hazards, the duties that apply and the practical steps that keep lone workers safe.

Who counts as a lone worker?

A lone worker is someone who works by themselves, or who works in the community with only limited support. They don't have a supervisor or colleague nearby to check on them or help if needed. Lone work can happen in an office after hours, in a warehouse on a night shift, in a vehicle between jobs, or in a remote site with no one else on it.

Common examples include:

• cleaners working in buildings after hours
• tradespeople, such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters, working alone at a customer's property
• technicians who install, repair or maintain equipment
• maintenance staff working in parks, roads or public facilities
• social, community and outreach workers visiting clients
• retail staff on late shifts or stacking shelves with no one nearby
• contractors and self-employed people who work alone on projects

What hazards do lone workers face?

Lone workers face the same hazards as other workers, with less help nearby. They also face hazards that come from being alone.

Personal safety and violence. Lone workers, especially those who visit clients or work with the public, can face verbal abuse or assault. Working in an unfamiliar place with no one to call on makes this more serious.

Accidents and medical emergencies. A fall, a cut, a heart problem or a reaction to a substance can become dangerous if no one is there to call for help.

Fatigue and breaks. People working alone often skip breaks or work long hours. That leads to tiredness and slower reactions, which increases accident risk. See our guide to fatigue management.

Environmental hazards. In remote areas, lone workers may face floods, bushfires, extreme heat and snakes, with little warning and few ways out. Check conditions before you start, and build in a way to leave.

Isolation and stress. Working alone can cause loneliness, anxiety and stress, especially for long periods or on irregular hours. These are psychosocial hazards, and you must manage them in the same way as physical hazards. See our guide to psychosocial hazards.

What are your duties?

The WHS laws apply to lone work. Every state and territory except Victoria has adopted the model WHS laws, and Victoria has its own OHS Act and Regulations. The duties are broadly similar, and you can check the WHS laws by state guide for the details that apply where you work.

Employers (the PCBU)

Under section 19 of the model WHS Act, a PCBU must, so far as is reasonably practicable, keep workers safe. That includes lone workers and people working in remote locations. In practice, the PCBU must:

• provide and maintain a safe system of work, including for lone work
• give workers the information, training, instruction and supervision they need
• monitor the health of workers and the conditions they work in
• consult workers, and health and safety representatives if you have them, about risks that affect them, under section 47

Workers

Under section 28, workers must take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and must not put others at risk. They must follow reasonable instructions and the lone worker procedures you set.

Officers

Officers, such as directors, must exercise due diligence under section 27 to make sure the business complies with its duties. That includes checking that lone work procedures exist, are followed and are reviewed.

How to make lone work safer

1. Assess the risks of each task

Start with the job, not the person. For each lone task, write down what could go wrong, who is likely to be affected and what controls you'll use. Ask the worker what they've seen on previous jobs. A site-specific risk assessment is often more useful than a generic one, because remote sites and client premises are all different.

The Remote and Isolated Work Plan gives a starting point for remote work, and the Remote-Isolated Work SWMS covers the tasks for high-risk work.

2. Set up check-ins

Regular contact is the most important control for lone workers. Agree on:

• how often the worker checks in, such as every hour, or at set times for a longer job
• who they check in with, and what happens if the check-in is missed
• what counts as a missed check-in, and how quickly you respond to it
• how the worker signals that they're in trouble, such as a panic button or a set code word

Keep a log of check-ins. A working alone communication log helps you prove the arrangement is working.

3. Give workers the right tools

Depending on the job, workers may need:

• a mobile phone with reliable coverage, and a backup if coverage is poor
• a personal alarm, or a device that sends an alert and location
• GPS tracking, where it suits the work and workers have been consulted about it
• a remote first aid kit suited to the location and the tasks
• a satellite messenger for areas with no phone signal
• suitable clothing, water, food and shelter for the conditions

Before a worker goes out, check that the equipment works, is charged, and that they know how to use it.

4. Plan for emergencies

Decide what happens if something goes wrong. Your plan should cover:

• how you'll find out, and who will respond
• how you'll find the worker's location, including where they're working and their route
• which emergency services are needed, and how to contact them in that area
• how the worker will get help if they can't reach you
• what happens if the worker is injured and can't move

Share the plan with workers and their families where appropriate, and test it. A plan that's never been practised often fails when it's needed.

5. Train workers properly

Training should cover:

• how to handle an unexpected visitor, or a client who becomes aggressive, and when to leave
• first aid and what to do if they feel unwell or are injured
• how to use the communication and alarm systems
• how to raise the alarm in a way that gets help quickly
• how to recognise and manage fatigue, stress and heat

Make sure the training is refreshed regularly and recorded.

6. Know your people

Not everyone copes with working alone in the same way. Some people want frequent contact, others want to be left alone. Ask each worker what they need, and adjust check-ins and support to fit. Give people a way to tell you if the arrangement isn't working, and act on what they tell you.

Encourage breaks, and make sure workers have access to support if they need it. That might mean an employee assistance program, counselling, or simply a regular conversation with their supervisor.

7. Provide the right PPE and controls

Some lone work tasks need PPE. Provide it where it's needed, but remember that PPE is the last line of control. Eliminate hazards where you can, then isolate them, then use engineering or administrative controls, such as scheduling tasks for daylight or avoiding high-risk work when alone.

Can technology help?

Yes, but only as part of a system. Devices can help you know where a worker is and get help quickly, but they don't replace a plan or training. Choose devices that suit the work and location, check they work in the places you send people, and make sure the data is collected and used lawfully. Consult workers before you introduce location tracking.

Do you need a written lone worker policy?

Most businesses should have one. A written policy sets out when lone work is allowed, the tasks that are excluded, the check-in arrangements, the emergency steps and the training requirements. It gives workers something to refer to and gives you a record of what you asked them to do. Our policy and management plan libraries can help you start.

SafetyDocs has remote work plans, SWMS and check-in forms you can adapt to your business. The job and site details fill in themselves, and workers sign on their phone from a text, link or QR code, with no app or account needed. When a plan changes, everyone who signed is asked to sign the new version. This helps you show your controls are current. It doesn't make you compliant on its own.

Common questions

Do lone workers need a risk assessment? Yes. Under the WHS laws, lone work is a work activity like any other, and the risks must be assessed and controlled. A risk assessment should look at the task, the location and the person doing it.

Can someone work alone at a client's home? Yes, if the risks are assessed and controlled. Check the client's history where you can, arrange check-ins, and give the worker a way to leave and a way to call for help.

Is it legal to send someone to a remote site alone? Lone work isn't banned, but it must be safe so far as is reasonably practicable. If the risks can't be controlled, don't send someone alone, and consider sending two people or changing the method.

What if a lone worker doesn't check in? Your procedure should say what happens. Usually you'd try to contact the worker, then the nearest contact or emergency services if you can't reach them. Act quickly, because the time between a missed check-in and a response matters most.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law with your WHS regulator.