Lone workers are exposed to unique risks that require careful consideration. From remote areas to urban job sites, these workers often operate in environments where immediate assistance may not be readily available, making a structured risk assessment essential.
Whether you manage remote mining sites, manufacturing facilities, or construction sites, conducting a thorough lone worker risk assessment is crucial. This helps safeguard your workers’ well-being, ensures compliance with Australian workplace health and safety laws and minimises your organisation’s liability.
Jump to:
5 Step Lone Worker Risk Assessment
Lone Worker Risk Assessment Checklist
What is a Lone Working Risk Assessment?
Who Are Considered Lone Workers?
What Are the Risks of Lone Working?
What is a Dynamic Risk Assessment?
Are Lone Working Risk Assessments a Legal Requirement?
5 Step Lone Worker Risk Assessment
Managing lone worker safety starts with a structured approach to identifying, assessing, and controlling risks. The following five-step process forms the foundation of a compliant and effective lone worker risk assessment in Australia.
1. Identify Hazards
The first step is to recognise all potential hazards associated with the job, the environment, and the equipment involved - especially those unique to working alone. Hazards include:
- Working in remote or isolated areas
- Handling dangerous machinery or chemicals
- Exposure to extreme temperatures
- Performing tasks at height
It’s also important to consider less obvious risks, such as fatigue, stress, or the possibility of aggression from the public or clients.
2. Assess Risks
The next step is to assess the level of risk associated with each hazard. This involves evaluating both the likelihood of the hazard occurring and the potential severity of the outcome.
Factors to consider include how isolated the worker is, how quickly help could arrive in an emergency, the duration of the task, and any environmental conditions that could make the situation more dangerous. The aim is to prioritise the risks that need the most immediate attention.
3. Control Risks
After assessing the risks, it’s essential to implement control measures to eliminate or reduce them as much as reasonably practicable. This may involve providing safety equipment such as connected safety devices, implementing communication protocols, modifying tasks to make them safer, or ensuring workers have adequate training and supervision.
Where eliminating hazards isn’t possible, substitution, engineering controls, administrative procedures, and PPE (personal protective equipment) should be considered.
See the Hierarchy of Control Measures below.
4. Record Findings
It’s important to document all aspects of the risk assessment process, including:
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Hazards identified
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Level of risk
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Control measures put in place
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Any other relevant findings
Keeping detailed records ensures transparency and accountability and demonstrates compliance with Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation. These documents will be essential during an incident or regulatory review.
Companies like Blackline offer live continuous monitoring and connect teams to control centres through devices like the G7c and G7x and the Loner Mobile App. Systems like these maintain continuous records of safety-critical activities and equipment status.
5. Review Controls
Risk control measures are not a set-and-forget solution. Regularly reviewing and updating your lone worker risk assessment is vital, especially if there are changes in the work environment, the nature of the task, or after any incidents occur.
Scheduled reviews should be conducted at least annually, and feedback from lone workers should be actively sought and incorporated into ongoing safety planning.
Lone Worker Risk Assessment Checklist
Carrying out a lone worker risk assessment is not just about following a five-step process - it's about asking the right questions to ensure every angle of lone worker safety is considered.
The following checklist is a practical tool to help employers and safety managers evaluate whether they’ve adequately assessed and managed the risks of working alone.
✅ Is the task suitable for a person to handle alone?
Not all tasks should be performed solo. Evaluate whether the job requires a second person for safety reasons - such as for:
- Manual handling
- Operating heavy machinery
- Working at height
Consider the complexity of the task, the time it takes, and whether a worker could complete it safely without assistance.
✅ Has proper training been given to the lone worker?
Lone workers must be well-trained in:
- The technical aspects of their job
- Responding to emergencies
- Using communication and safety devices
Training should be tailored to the worker’s role and refreshed regularly.
✅ Does the task involve handling dangerous equipment or substances?
Working alone with hazardous materials, sharp tools, or high-voltage equipment presents elevated risks. Determine if the worker can legally handle such materials and whether additional safeguards (like automatic shut-offs or emergency alerts) are in place.
✅ Do these substances or equipment require supervision or a second person?
Some equipment, like confined space entry gear or elevated work platforms, may legally or practically require the presence of another person. Assess whether the lone worker should be accompanied or monitored more closely when operating high-risk equipment.
✅ Is the task particularly stressful or upsetting? Is your lone worker mentally equipped to cope with the work?
Mental health is a crucial consideration. Tasks involving trauma, confrontation (e.g., security work), or high-pressure decision-making may cause significant emotional strain. Assess whether your lone worker has the resilience, experience, and support to manage the job safely.
✅ Does your employee have an existing medical condition?
Health conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, or diabetes can increase the risk when working alone. This is especially true in remote areas where help is not immediately available.
Employers must consider medical factors as part of their duty of care and ensure workers have access to necessary support or medication.
✅ Is there a clear communication procedure during an emergency?
Lone workers must be able to call for help quickly in the event of an accident, injury, or emergency. Establish clear communication protocols using reliable tools such as satellite phones, check-in apps, or personal duress alarms, especially in remote or low-coverage areas.
✅ Do your lone workers understand emergency protocol? Do they know what to do if they have an accident or a fire?
All lone workers should be briefed on what actions to take in case of different emergencies. This includes knowing evacuation procedures, how to trigger emergency responses, and how to self-administer first aid if needed.
✅ Are your lone workers monitored and supervised?
Lone workers should never feel “out of sight, out of mind.” Monitoring may involve regular check-ins, automated alerts, GPS tracking, or remote video supervision. The key is ensuring there’s a system in place to detect issues and respond quickly.
What is a Lone Working Risk Assessment?
A lone working risk assessment identifies, evaluates and mitigates the hazards associated with employees working alone. In Australia, this process is a critical component of workplace health and safety (WHS), where employers have a duty of care.
A lone working risk assessment focuses on the increased risks when a worker is isolated from immediate help or supervision. These risks can include delays in emergency response, difficulty in communication, and the absence of someone to recognise when a worker is in distress.
Why is a Lone Worker Risk Assessment Important?
Lone workers often operate in environments where even minor incidents can become serious issues due to the absence of support. Whether working at height, in remote locations or handling potentially dangerous tasks, lone workers must be protected through a structured and proactive safety approach.
Here are just a few reasons why lone worker risk assessments are essential:
- Legal compliance: Australian employers are legally required to ensure the health and safety of all workers, including those working alone. A thorough risk assessment helps demonstrate compliance.
- Incident prevention: Identifying potential hazards in advance allows for preventive measures that reduce the likelihood of injury or harm.
- Emergency preparedness: A good assessment leads to better emergency planning, ensuring lone workers know how to respond and get help quickly.
- Worker confidence: Knowing systems are in place to protect them can boost employee morale and reduce turnover, especially in high-risk roles.
Who Are Considered Lone Workers?
In Australian workplaces, a lone worker performs their job without direct or immediate supervision for part of their workday or the entire shift. This can include working in remote locations, outside regular business hours, or in isolated environments (even within a populated facility).
Common Examples of Lone Workers in Australia
Lone working isn’t limited to one industry. In fact, you’ll find lone workers across many sectors.
Common examples include:
- Remote technicians – such as those who service telecommunications towers, wind turbines, or electrical infrastructure in isolated locations.
- Delivery drivers and couriers – operating solo in public or unfamiliar areas, sometimes during late hours.
- Security personnel and night-shift workers – patrol large buildings, shopping centres, or industrial sites.
- Field researchers or environmental consultants – in bushland, mining sites or near waterways far from immediate assistance.
- Maintenance and utility workers – particularly when responding to emergency call-outs or servicing infrastructure alone.
It’s important to note that lone working doesn’t have to be a permanent part of someone’s role to be considered a safety risk. Employees may only work alone occasionally - during site visits, inspections, or when travelling between job sites. All risks should be assessed equally - whether the lone work occurs daily or only occasionally.
What Are the Risks of Lone Working?
Lone workers face distinct risks that differ from those encountered in supervised environments. The absence of nearby colleagues or immediate assistance means that even minor incidents can quickly escalate into serious situations.
1. Delayed Emergency Response
One of the most significant risks lone workers face is the delay in emergency response. Whether due to injury, illness, or a sudden environmental hazard, the absence of coworkers means that help may not arrive quickly. This can be especially dangerous in remote or confined locations with limited or non-existent mobile coverage.
2. Physical Injury
Lone workers often operate equipment, handle tools, or navigate environments that risk physical injury. In sectors like construction, slips, trips, falls, or equipment malfunctions can result in injuries that go unnoticed for hours. Injuries can become life-threatening without someone present to raise the alarm or call for help.
3. Mental Health and Stress
Working in isolation can negatively impact a person’s mental health over time. Feelings of loneliness, disconnection, or anxiety can be exacerbated when workers feel unsupported or out of reach. Lone workers may also be more likely to encounter high-stress situations - like handling risky tasks - without backup.
4. Exposure to Violence or Aggression
For lone workers in public-facing roles, there is an elevated risk of encountering aggression, threats, or violence. The worker may be left vulnerable to harm without immediate support or surveillance.
5. Environmental Hazards
Lone workers are often exposed to environmental dangers like extreme heat or cold, wildlife, poor lighting, or dangerous terrain. In industries such as mining, agriculture, and environmental consultancy, unpredictable weather and difficult-to-access sites increase the likelihood of exposure-related incidents.
6. Medical Emergencies
Lone workers with underlying medical conditions or those working in high-risk environments may be particularly vulnerable to medical emergencies. Without someone nearby to provide first aid or call for help, even routine health issues like low blood sugar or asthma can become severe.
7. Fatigue and Human Error
Fatigue is a leading contributor to workplace accidents. Lone workers, especially those on long shifts or night duties, may be more prone to tiredness and the lapses in concentration that come with it. The lack of team interaction and oversight can also mean unsafe practices go unnoticed or uncorrected.
What is a Dynamic Risk Assessment?
While formal lone worker risk assessments provide a structured way to identify and mitigate risks, they can’t always predict the changing nature of real-world situations. That’s where dynamic risk assessments come into play.
A dynamic risk assessment is an ongoing, real-time process carried out by a worker as a situation unfolds. Rather than being a one-off checklist, it involves constant awareness and judgement.
This type of assessment allows lone workers to identify new hazards as they arise and make informed decisions to stay safe in the moment.
Why Dynamic Risk Assessments Matter
Lone workers often operate in unpredictable environments. Conditions may change due to weather or unforeseen hazards like damaged infrastructure.
A dynamic risk assessment equips the worker to:
- Stop and evaluate the situation upon arrival.
- Identify new hazards that were not present during the initial planning phase.
- Adapt their actions based on the level of risk.
- Decide whether it is safe to proceed or if support is required.
This approach empowers lone workers to take ownership of their safety while ensuring employers meet their duty of care by providing training and tools to support situational awareness.
Key Components of a Dynamic Risk Assessment
A lone worker should ask themselves the following questions when performing a dynamic risk assessment:
- Has anything changed since the task was planned?
- Is the environment different from what I expected?
- Do I feel safe proceeding alone?
- Are there any new hazards that need to be reported or addressed?
- Do I have the right equipment and communication tools available?
If anything raises a red flag, the worker should pause and escalate the issue according to workplace protocols.
Supporting Workers with Dynamic Risk Assessments
Employers can encourage dynamic risk assessments by:
- Providing regular training in hazard recognition and decision-making.
- Supplying checklists or connected safety technology to guide assessments in the field.
- Ensuring that workers have immediate access to supervisors or support when they feel unsafe.
- Creating a workplace culture valuing caution and reporting over “getting the job done quickly.”
Dynamic risk assessments don’t replace formal risk evaluations - they complement them. They become a vital layer of defence when combined with a comprehensive lone worker safety strategy.
Are Lone Working Risk Assessments a Legal Requirement?
Yes, conducting a risk assessment for lone workers is a legal requirement under Australian workplace health and safety laws. Employers have a duty of care for employee health, safety, and welfare - including those who work alone or without direct supervision.
Under the model Work Health and Safety laws adopted across Australia, all businesses must manage risks to health and safety by:
- Identifying hazards
- Assessing risks
- Implementing appropriate control measures
This includes the specific risks associated with working alone.
What the Law Says
As far as reasonably practical, the WHS Act and Regulations require all Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) to:
- Provide and maintain a work environment without risk to health and safety.
- Provide adequate and accessible facilities for the welfare of workers.
- Monitor worker health and safety and workplace conditions to prevent work-related illness and injury.
- Give workers the necessary information, instruction, training or supervision to do their job without risks to health and safety.
- Consult with workers and health and safety representatives (HSRs) - if you have them - about health and safety issues that may directly affect them.
For lone workers, employers must consider the unique challenges of working in isolation. This includes:
- Managing the health and safety risks to remote or isolated workers
- Having systems in place to effectively communicate with workers
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failing to conduct a lone worker risk assessment puts your workers at greater risk. It can also result in serious legal and financial consequences.
These may include:
- Fines and penalties for breaching WHS obligations
- Criminal liability in the event of serious injury or fatality
- Reputational damage and loss of trust from workers and clients
Key Takeaway for Employers
If you employ or manage lone workers in Australia, a documented risk assessment isn’t just best practice - it’s a legal necessity. Proactively identifying and controlling risks protects your workers, fulfils your legal obligations and creates a safer, more resilient workplace.
Conclusion
Whether your team includes technicians in remote mines, construction workers, or manufacturing personnel, having a structured and well-documented lone worker risk assessment is vital for ensuring employee safety and meeting legal requirements.
Applying a clear lone worker risk assessment process protects your staff while demonstrating a proactive commitment to safety, compliance and duty of care.
What are the next steps?
Review your current procedures, consult the checklist, and make sure your lone worker safety strategy is up to standard.
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