According to Safe Work Australia, anyone carrying out work activities without direct support or supervision from supervisors or colleagues is considered a lone worker. Essentially, if an employee cannot be seen or heard by a colleague, they are considered to be working alone, whether for the entire or part of their workday. This could range from healthcare workers conducting home visits to truck drivers on long-distance routes and there are many other professions where lone working is common.
An article by OHS Reps goes into detail about the risk a remote worker may face, stating that:
“People who work alone could be at increased risk through using machinery or handling chemicals without help or being placed under stress through social isolation. But, in legal terms, there is no simple answer which applies in all circumstances.”
There is no law that prevents employees from working alone, in many circumstances it is safe to do so. But lone working employees need the same level of safety as their non-lone working colleagues. Being a remote worker doesn’t mean you should compromise on your personal safety. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004) states that: “An employer shall provide and maintain so far as is reasonably practicable for employees a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.” [Section 21(1)]
Lone workers may be isolated from assistance due to their location, work schedule, or the nature of their tasks. As an employer in Australia, the model WHS Regulations (regulation 48) specifically addresses remote or isolated work.
This includes the requirement for employers to:
Conducting a risk assessment
Identifying and assessing the risks or hazards
Implementing controls for risk mitigation
Continual maintenance of the controls
Create and promote a Lone Worker Safety Policy
Introduce Lone Worker Safety Tools
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