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Dangers of working alone
Investigations into two work-related deaths last year have prompted WorkSafe to issue a reminder on the dangers of working alone and the importance of regular communication with isolated workers.
In February last year, a self-employed man was working alone servicing machinery on a farm when the machinery fell onto him, trapping him underneath.
He had a mobile telephone in his vehicle, which was about ten metres away. He could not reach the vehicle and had no procedure for regular contact with anyone else. The man died under the machinery and was not found until several days later.
In November, a farm worker was working alone at a workplace that did have a procedure for regular contact with isolated workers but no requirement to communicate with workers at the end of the working day.
The worker had spoken to the farm manager at about 2.00pm, and sometime after that, the ATV he was driving rolled over and the man sustained serious head injuries.
He had a mobile telephone but was unconscious and unable to use it, and he lay on the ground until a colleague found him the next morning. He died in hospital the following day.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today that both cases were a stark reminder that contact needed to be maintained with workers who were working alone.
“People who are working alone must have an effective means of communication available at all times, especially if they are in isolated areas such as farms,” Ms Lyhne said.
“In both these cases, workers did have a means of communication in mobile phones but their injuries prevented them from using them.
“This eventuality should also be considered, and a procedure established for regular contact throughout the day as well as at the end of the day.
“If these procedures are in place, an alert would be raised if a worker failed to check in at the appointed time and contact could not be established. The procedure should include the action to be taken if a worker cannot be contacted.”
A person is considered to be working alone when he or she cannot be seen or heard by another person or cannot expect to be visited by another person for some time.
This can apply to people who work alone after hours such as cleaners or security guards, or can apply to a person who works alone for days or weeks in remote locations such as sheep and cattle stations.
In all situations of workers working alone, an employer is required by law to identify the hazards, assess the risks and minimise the risks, and to have a means of communication in an emergency and a procedure for regular contact.
It is also required that employers provide people who work alone with adequate information, instruction and training, as well as supervision, even if it is indirect.
Employees who work alone should be aware of their responsibilities to take reasonable care to ensure their own safety and health, including complying with the employer’s instructions.
“WorkSafe provides up-to-date guidance material for workplaces on working alone, and I urge employers with isolated workers to ensure they are aware of what is required to fulfil their duty of care obligations to these workers,” Ms Lyhne said.
Further information on working alone can be obtained by telephoning WorkSafe on 9327 8777 or on the website at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au. The Guidance Note on Working Alone can be downloaded free of charge from the website.
