SAFE AND SOLO

Whether travelling to a remote area or being the only one onsite, working by yourself presents some unique risks. The Health and Safety at Work Act has identified working in isolated or remote situations as a hazard that must be managed

A lone worker is someone who is isolated from help, either due to location, time or the nature of their work. This could be someone who:

• Drives through or works in geographical isolation and/or difficult areas to access, such as mountain terrain.
• Drives through or works in an area not likely to be accessed by others, such as remote rural areas.
• Drives through or works in an area where communications are difficult, such as telecommunication black spots.
• Works a sole charge shift.

Important questions for a lone worker:

• If you or one of your workers were alone and injured onsite and couldn’t use a cell phone, how would anyone else know?
• Would anybody raise the alarm if you or one of your workers was in a car crash on the way to a rural site?
• How would you get in touch with your work or workers if there was a natural disaster?

What are the risks of working alone?

Lone workers face a variety of risks depending on the nature of each job. But some common risks may include:

• Safety: working alone means no one else may be around to help if there is an accident.
• Security or confrontation: working alone may put you or your workers at increased risk from other people that you interact with, such as clients or strangers.
• Social, technological or organisational isolation: you or your workers might feel cut off from opportunities, information, interaction and events.

What the law says:

The new Health and Safety at Work General Risk and Workplace Management Regulations specifically require PCBUs (a person/entity conducting a business or undertaking) to manage any risks to the health and safety of their lone workers. If eliminating a risk is not possible, they must be minimised, as far as is reasonably practical.

Because each work situation is different, PCBUs may need to consider the risks to lone workers on a case-by-case basis, unless there are specific codes of practice or industry guidelines already in place.

Under the new rules, PCBUs must also have an effective way of communicating with their lone workers.

How to stay safe as a lone worker

Some steps you and your workers could consider:

• Design a plan for how to get help quickly in an emergency.
• Draw up a plan of what risks you or your workers might face as a lone worker and discuss how these can be eliminated or minimised. You may wish to consider setting up a policy for this.
• Set up a plan for what to do when communication is lost in a natural disaster or when you or your workers are in a cell phone blackspot.
• Ensure emergency contact details are up to date.
• Consider getting a first aid certificate and carrying a first aid kit in vehicles.
• If a lot of travelling or driving is required, discuss the steps that can be taken to prevent fatigue. You can download a free guide to preventing fatigue at www.sitesafe.org.nz.
• Set up a system of regular, scheduled contact with another person or supervisor.
• Make sure everyone has access to the same technology, information, training, consultation and development. Managers should try to invite lone workers to work-related and social events whenever possible.

As part of its Site Specific Safety Planning course, Site Safe offers training on how to manage workplace risks. To talk to an expert health and safety advisor about protecting lone workers, or setting up a health and safety policy, go to www.sitesafe.org.nz.