TECHNICAL CORNER
MASTER ELECTRICIANS
LOOKING AFTER THE LONE WORKERS
LONE WORKERS ARE FOUND EVERYWHERE . WHETHER THEY ’ RE SELF-EMPLOYED , CONTRACTORS , OR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES , THEY TAKE ON AN INCREASED RISK TO FULFIL DIFFICULT ROLES IN ALMOST EVERY INDUSTRY ACROSS THE COUNTRY . BILL MORRISSEY OF MASTER ELECTRICIANS AUSTRALIA LOOKS AT THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS .
Globalisation and technological advancement have fuelled the emergence of a mobile workforce , with almost 70 per cent of Australians working remotely each week . According to a study by the International Workplace Group ( IWG ) almost 50 per cent of Australian employees work remotely for at least half of the week , while more than two-thirds work at least one day a week outside the office .
In Australia , working alone is defined as : " work by themselves and / or work in the community with only limited support arrangements , which therefore expose them to risk by being isolated from the usual backup support . This is the case whether they regularly work alone or are only occasionally alone and do not have access to immediate support from managers or other colleagues ."
Working alone even in urban environments poses challenges and potential dangers for employers and their workers .
The need for a business operator to manage hazards and risks posed to lone workers is covered under general WHS requirements in all states and territories . Most regulators also have specific procedure or code of practice documentation to assist managers and workers manage the hazards safely .
5 MOST COMMON RISKS FACED BY LONE WORKERS
1 . Verbal and physical abuse from members of the public , including theft or intruders . 2 . Accidents or emergencies arising as a result of the work being carried out .
3 . Delays in treating or responding to emergencies which arise due to a lack of immediate access to first aid or assistance .
4 . Inadequate monitoring of rest , personal hygiene and general welfare facilities to ensure the basic health of workers . 5 . Manual handling incidents or sudden illness .
The risks of working in isolated environments without the close or direct supervision of management can result in a decrease in worker morale , an increase in absences , impaired performance , poor customer service or even reduced product quality .
Establishing a healthy and safe working environment for lone workers can be different to that for other workers , and needs careful consideration when establishing work processes . Employees also have responsibilities to take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work activities and to cooperate with their employers in meeting their legal obligations . Employers should consider :
• people the lone worker may come into contact with
• work they are carrying out and how this may impact on hazards and risks
• how experienced is the worker in their role and in working alone
• what access to support do they have
• what is the environment the worker is working in
• what equipment they are using
• stress , mental health and wellbeing
• work related violence
• training requirements
• supervision .
Lone working can negatively impact on employees ’ work-related stress levels and their mental health . If a business ' s contact with their workers is poor , employees may feel disconnected , isolated or abandoned , which can affect their performance and potentially their stress levels or mental health . It may be hard for an employer to monitor or detect this , so attention needs to be given to building suitable support structures for lone workers . Any form of violence against workers is unacceptable , and may affect psychological and physical health . Working alone does not automatically imply a higher risk of violence , but it does make workers more vulnerable . The lack of nearby support from colleagues means a lone worker may be less able to prevent an incident from occurring . Employers should have measures in place to support any worker who has been subject to an abusive or violent incident . Workers should also play an important part in identifying and reporting incidents so management can address these and implement processes to prevent reoccurrences .
Training is important where there is limited supervision to control , guide and help in uncertain situations . It is vital the employer has set clear limits and directions on what can and cannot be done while working alone . Ensure workers are :
• competent to deal with the requirements of the job
42 GEMCELL . COM . AU APR – MAY 2022