Who Is A Lone Worker?

The total number of lone workers employed around the world has steadily increased in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lone worker numbers rose drastically as a result of quarantine and lockdown requirements. What is a lone worker, though? And why is working alone ever necessary?

Who Is Classified As A Lone Worker?

Lone worker status is determined by occupational requirements of working by oneself; without close or direct supervision and in locations where the worker cannot be seen or heard by another person.

Are Lone Workers Legal?

In Australia, lone workers are permitted to fulfil their professional responsibilities, assuming appropriate risk assessment has been performed to identify potential dangers and mitigate harm arising from unexpected emergencies. There is significant regulation which determines how lone workers must operate, you can read more about this here.

Why Is Working Alone Necessary?

In some jobs, lone workers fulfil vitally important roles which would be overburdened if two or more people performed them. There are several occupations which necessitate lone workers, including:

• Receptionists and shop staff
• After-hours security guards, cleaners, maintenance and repair staff
• Self-employed people
• Energy, oil and gas industry employees
• Home workers such as nurses, social workers, real estate agents, utility meter readers or technicians and pest control professionals
• Plant engineers
• Supply chain workers, for example, postal staff and taxi drivers
• Agricultural and forestry workers
• People who work from home

In these roles, two employees would be a hindrance most of the time. Instead, only one employee is required to monitor a situation or perform duties requiring a single set of hands.

How Do Lone Worker Devices Help?

Along with risk assessment, one of the primary responsibilities employers have when hiring lone workers is the provision of lone worker safety equipment. Lone worker safety equipment allows lone workers to call for help at the press of a button if something goes awry at their job site. Onsite security can be alerted to the presence of danger by a lone worker safety device and respond immediately when an alert is received. Lone worker safety equipment can also provide a real-time GPS location of the person equipped with a handheld device, so their last location can be determined if they go missing.

Contact TWIG Australia

If an emergency situation arises, lone workers equipped with lone worker safety devices are kept safe. Lone workers with a safety device supplied by TWIG Australia can call for help instantaneously and alert security staff to their physical location whenever there is danger present. Lone worker safety devices can be upgraded with lone worker beacons which monitor lone workers’ physical location via GPS.

TWIG Australia is open for business Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Call our friendly sales team on (02) 9412 2100 or reach out via our contact page to place an order for any of the products listed on our site or to ask any questions about lone workers. We look forward to receiving your call.