Working alone in Queensland means managing the risks of remote or isolated work. Section 48 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) requires a business to manage those risks and to provide a system of work that includes effective communication with the worker.
A lone worker is not only someone in the bush. A cleaner alone in an office at night, a tradie finishing a job after hours, a sole trader on a quiet site or a driver on a long run can all be cut off from help. This guide covers what counts, what the law says, the risk factors and practical controls, with a check-in procedure you can adapt.
What counts as remote or isolated work?
Section 48(3) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) defines remote or isolated work, in relation to a worker, as work that is isolated from the assistance of other persons because of location, time or the nature of the work. It also says “assistance” includes rescue, medical assistance and the attendance of emergency service workers.
Any one of those three triggers is enough:
- Location: far from towns, out of mobile coverage, or on a large site where nobody can see you.
- Time: early starts, late finishes, night shifts, or opening and closing a business on your own.
- Nature of the work: a task done alone, such as driving, home visits or solo maintenance.
The Queensland approved Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021 makes the same point: a worker may be isolated even if other people are close by, for example a cleaner alone at night in a city office building. Its examples include all-night service station attendants, sales representatives including real estate agents, long-distance freight drivers and people doing fieldwork alone.
What does Queensland law require?
Several provisions work together:
- Primary duty: under section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its workers while they are at work. That includes safe systems of work and the necessary information, training, instruction and supervision (section 19(3)(c) and (f)).
- Remote or isolated work: section 48(1) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) requires a PCBU to manage the risks of remote or isolated work under Part 3.1 of the Regulation. Section 48(2) adds that, in minimising those risks, the PCBU must provide a system of work that includes effective communication with the worker.
- Risk management: Part 3.1 (sections 34 to 38 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)) requires a duty holder to identify reasonably foreseeable hazards, eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable and, if that is not possible, minimise them using the hierarchy of controls.
- Psychosocial risks: section 55C of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) requires a PCBU to manage psychosocial risks under Part 3.1. Under section 55A a psychosocial hazard includes one arising from the work environment or from workplace interactions or behaviours that may cause psychological harm. Aggression aimed at a lone worker is one example.
- Consultation and worker duties: section 47 of the Act requires a PCBU to consult, so far as is reasonably practicable, with workers directly affected by a health and safety matter, so ask the people who work alone what goes wrong. Under section 28 workers must co-operate with reasonable notified policies and procedures, so the check-in system only works if people use it.
An approved code of practice is guidance rather than law in itself. However, section 26A of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) requires a PCBU to comply with an approved code or to manage the hazards and risks in a way that is different but provides an equivalent or higher standard of health and safety, and a court can rely on the code when deciding what is reasonably practicable (section 275 of the Act). The Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021 has a section on remote or isolated work.
Risk factors to look at when someone works alone
The Work Environment and Facilities code says working alone or remotely increases the risk of any job, and that exposure to harmful behaviours (for example violence or sexual harassment) and poor access to support and emergency assistance are the main hazards. Ask:
- How often and for how long? A short lock-up is different from a long shift.
- What time of day? The code gives the example of a service station attendant working alone late at night, who may be at greater risk of violence.
- How can they communicate? Is there coverage, and are there procedures for regular contact?
- Where is the work? Would rescue or emergency services struggle to attend, and what if the vehicle breaks down?
- What is the task? Work at heights, with electricity, hazardous substances or plant, or heavy manual handling may be safer with another person.
- Fatigue and travel: long hours driving or operating machinery add risk. See fatigue management in the workplace.
- Heat, cold, animals and aggression: the code lists extreme hot or cold environments, attack by an animal, and violence or aggression when dealing with customers or others alone.
- The worker: experience, training and any known medical condition that may increase risk.
Record what you find in a risk assessment. The free risk assessment template is a good starting point, and how to identify hazards in the workplace explains the steps.
Practical controls for lone workers
Start at the top of the hierarchy of controls (section 36 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)). Can the job be done another way, at another time, or by two people? If a single control is not enough, combine several.
| Risk | Example controls |
|---|---|
| Injury and no one to help | Two-person rule for high risk tasks, regular check-ins, a way to raise the alarm, first aid kit, an emergency procedure |
| Violence or aggression | Buddy system, access control at night, physical barriers or visible monitoring, duress alarms |
| Fatigue and heat | Limits on hours and driving, planned breaks, cooler start times, water and shade |
| Vehicle breakdown or being stranded | Planned routes, vehicle checks, communication that works away from the vehicle, spare batteries and water |
The Work Environment and Facilities code names most of these control ideas:
- Buddy system: the code says some jobs present such a high level of risk that workers should not work alone, for example jobs with a risk of violence. Call-in systems with a supervisor or colleague also help you know where people are.
- Limits on high risk tasks alone (our suggestion): the code lists high risk activities such as work at heights or with electricity among the factors to consider, and asks whether a task would be safer with another person. Write down which tasks must not be done solo.
- Communication systems: the right type depends on distance from base and the environment. The code lists personal security or duress systems, radio, satellite communication and personal locator beacons. It says mobile phones cannot be relied on in many locations, so confirm coverage before work starts and keep batteries charged. A tracked device can support a check-in schedule, but someone must be ready to respond.
- Training: for example in dealing with aggressive clients, using communication equipment and getting emergency help.
A simple check-in procedure example
This is an example only. Adjust it to the job, and make sure whoever responds is trained.
- Before the job: the worker tells their contact (a supervisor, colleague or family member) the job address, the expected start and finish times, the vehicle used and the route.
- Agree the schedule: for example a check-in on arrival, at set intervals during the task (every one or two hours for higher risk work) and on departure.
- Check in: the worker calls or texts at each time and the contact logs it.
- Missed check-in: if no check-in arrives, the contact waits a few minutes, then rings the worker. If there is no answer, they try again and ring the worker’s backup contact.
- Escalate: if the worker cannot be reached within an agreed time, the contact follows the emergency procedure, which may include calling emergency services with the last known location.
- Finish: the worker confirms they are safe and the contact closes the log.
- Keep contacts current: the free employee emergency contact register template can hold next-of-kin and emergency contact details.
Emergency procedures and first aid for lone workers
Section 43 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) requires a PCBU to ensure an emergency plan is prepared for the workplace, covering emergency procedures (including notifying emergency service organisations at the earliest opportunity and medical treatment and assistance), testing of those procedures and information, training and instruction for workers. The plan must be maintained so it remains effective.
Section 42 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) requires first aid equipment, access to it, and facilities for administering first aid. The First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021 says extra first aid arrangements may be needed for workers in remote or isolated areas and that it may not be practicable to have a first aider available at all times for people working alone. It says these workers must still be able to access first aid assistance, including an effective means of reaching emergency services or first aiders, and training on how to respond to a serious injury or illness.
The emergency management policy and procedure template and the first aid policy template are templates you can adapt. The detail is in emergency plan requirements in Queensland.
Sole traders and self-employed people
Section 19(5) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) requires a self-employed person to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, their own health and safety while at work. In practice, a sole trader should plan the same way: tell someone where you are and when to expect you, carry a way to call for help, and decide which jobs you should not do solo.
Review your system
Section 37 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) requires control measures to be maintained so they stay effective. Section 38 requires them to be reviewed and revised as necessary, including when a control is not controlling the risk, before a change that may create a new risk, and when a new hazard is identified. In practice:
- test the check-in system with a missed check-in drill;
- review check-in logs and near misses, and when the job, site or hours change, and ask workers what is working.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law or talk to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for your situation.
Templates for this job
Ready-to-edit Word and Excel templates for Queensland workplaces.
