How Managers can mitigate risk, and improve the safety of independent workers
Steve Heaney
SkyTrack Co-Founder
It’s not always hazardous to work alone, but circumstances can change rapidly.
Keeping safe as an independent worker involves situational awareness, and both personal and organisational responsibility. As managers, it’s our job to offer duty-of-care to our workers, and to provide clear expectations and guidelines that empower workers to keep themselves safe.
In this article I've outlined best-practice guidelines for independent community workers. I’ll also touch on your legal obligations, and how monitored personal alarms can offer you (and your organisation) assurance that your team are looked after and can get assistance as needed.
The guidelines are also considerations you can factor into your health and safety policy. WorkSafe Queensland describes the value of having such policy in place:
Having a policy shows you’re committed to safety and preventing work-related injury and illness.
It sets the rules and standards you expect everyone to follow.
Safe work procedures clearly explain how to perform the task (step-by-step), point out any potential risks involved in the task, and tell you how to eliminate that risk to avoid injury or damage.
Your procedures also provide a useful tool for training and supervising your workers.
OK, this all sounds great. But what kind of practises should you document in a health and safey policy for independent workers, who are often dealing with a degree of uncertainty?
Guidelines to help independent workers stay safe
Plan ahead: Make sure you have a clear plan for what you need to do and where you need to go. If possible, let someone else know your plans, including when you expect to be back.
Be aware of your surroundings: Pay attention to your surroundings at all times. Know where you are and keep an eye out for any potential dangers or hazards.
Avoid isolated areas: Try to avoid working alone in isolated areas, especially at night. If you must work in an isolated area, let someone know where you are and when you expect to be back.
Know the people: when entering a new environment, always introduce yourself and the meet the people who are present. If appropriate, ask who are the other people on the property.
Stay alert: Be aware of the people around you and any changes in your environment. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened, trust your instincts and leave the area.
Take precautions with money and valuables: If you are carrying money or valuables, keep them secure and out of sight. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and try to use electronic payments when possible.
Keep a first-aid kit: Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit with you at all times, so you can treat any minor injuries or illnesses that may occur.
Carry a personal alarm: Always carry a personal duress alarm with you, so you can easily get help in case of an emergency, and your location is tracked, in case you can’t ask for help yourself.
Have an emergency plan: In case of an emergency, know what to do and whom to contact. Have a list of emergency contacts with you at all times.
Safety is always the top priority when working alone in the community. If you feel uneasy or unsure about a situation, it's best to trust your instincts and take steps to protect yourself.
What happens when something goes wrong?
If your team feels threatened or uncomfortable in a given situation, workers should aim to pre-empt any harm by leaving the location and seeking help. At a minimum, workers should notify their managers immediately, and ask for help.
When a worker can’t leave a situation (through injury or duress), a monitored personal duress alarm can be a useful tool for enhancing personal safety. Personal duress alarms are small, handheld devices connected to a monitoring center or service. When activated, the alarm sends a signal to the monitoring center, and trained personnel can then take appropriate action, such as contacting emergency services on your behalf or notifying emergency contacts.
Monitored duress alarms can provide an extra layer of safety, particularly in situations where the user may be unable to call for help or may not be able to respond to an emergency. They can also be useful for people who work alone in high-risk or hazardous environments, such as healthcare professionals, social workers, or security personnel.
It's important to choose a reputable monitoring service and to ensure that the device is properly maintained and tested regularly. Overall, a monitored duress alarm can be a useful tool for enhancing personal safety, but it should be used in conjunction with other safety measures. It's also important to choose a device and service that meets your specific needs and requirements.
Get assurance your team are OK, with automated welfare checks
Welfare checks are a common safety measure, where people check-in so that you know they're OK. A welfare check typically involves a designated individual, such as a manager or colleague, contacting the person at a specified time to confirm their safety and well-being.
In situations where people work alone, a welfare check can help to provide an additional layer of safety and ensure the organisation offers duty of care in regards to the person's whereabouts and condition.
Rather than manually having to call or text people several times a day, welfare checks should be automated, removing any administrative burden. SkyTrack’s system means that team leaders or coordinators are alerted if the worker does not respond at regular intervals, or if there is an emergency.
Automating welfare checks also makes safety a matter of routine, and helps to grow safety as a practise within the organisational culture.
Safety procedures need an owner
Safety procedures need to be robust and reviewed on an ongoing basis. It's important to clearly define which role(s) in your organisation are responsible for maintaining and ensuring safety procedures are followed. They should not be dependent on individuals, rather, incorporated into relevant position descriptions within your organisation so they will continue long after individual staff members have moved on. Adopting this practise will help grow a culture of safety within your organisation.
Your Work Health & Safety obligations as an employer
Under the Australian Government’s Work Health & Safety legislation, employers have an obligation to ensure the health and safety of their workers. This means you must:
Provide safe ways of working.
Provide any information, training, instruction or supervision needed for safety.
Monitor the health of workers and conditions at the workplace.
If you follow the suggestions in this article, you’ll be well on your way to meeting your obligations. We’ve covered how you can:
Have a documented Health & Safety policy, with written guidelines and an emergency plan.
Make sure your team has adequate training, and follows it!
Promote a culture of safety within the workplace, so that safety becomes a matter of routine.
Use welfare checks to monitor the wellbeing of your independent workers.
For more information, refer to the WorkSafe site in your state: ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA, QLD
I believe every manager truly cares about their team’s wellbeing and safety. With some planning and effort, we can feel assured that we’re looking out for our people, our legal obligations are met, and that we have the process in place in the event things take a turn for the worse.
Hopefully you’ve found this useful. If you have any feedback or would like to know more about our services please send me an email.
Let’s stay safe out there!
Thanks,
Steve Heaney