Lone Worker Legislation for Victoria

Here are the acts and regulations found in South Australia, related to lone working and work alone employees. We cover all the lone worker policy and legislation we have found for this area, specifically for the state of South Australia.

Key Takeaways

• South Australia's Work Health and Safety Act 2012 sets out a primary duty of care for workers and other people affected by work activities.
• The Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 address workplace conditions and facilities, including safe access, lighting, ventilation and emergency arrangements.
• The SA Health remote or isolated work policy referenced below describes a risk-based approach and communication arrangements for covered SA Health personnel.

Legislation Requirements at a Glance

This is a summary of the provisions discussed below. Confirm current duties and any amendments using official Victorian or South Australian legislation and regulator guidance before relying on this information.

Work Health and Safety Act 2012

Section 19: Primary duty of care

Division 2—Primary duty of care
19—Primary duty of care
(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of –
(a) workers engaged, or caused to be engaged by the person; and
(b) workers whose activities in carrying out work are influenced or directed by the person,
while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking.

(2) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking.

(3) Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), a person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable—
(a) the provision and maintenance of a work environment without risks to health and safety; and
(b) the provision and maintenance of safe plant and structures; and
(c) the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work; and
(d) the safe use, handling and storage of plant, structures and substances; and
(e) the provision of adequate facilities for the welfare at work of workers in carrying out work for the business or undertaking, including ensuring access to those facilities; and
(f) the provision of any information, training, instruction or supervision that is necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking; and
(g) that the health of workers and the conditions at the workplace are monitored for the purpose of preventing illness or injury of workers arising from the conduct of the business or undertaking.

South Australia Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012

Regulation 40: General workplace facilities

Division 2—General working environment
40—Duty in relation to general workplace facilities
 A person conducting a business or undertaking at a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the following:
(a) the layout of the workplace allows, and the workplace is maintained so as to allow, for persons to enter and exit and to move about without risk to health and safety, both under normal working conditions and in an emergency;
(b) work areas have space for work to be carried out without risk to health and safety;
(c) floors and other surfaces are designed, installed and maintained to allow work to be carried out without risk to health and safety;
(d) lighting enables—
(i) each worker to carry out work without risk to health and safety; and
(ii) persons to move within the workplace without risk to health and safety; and
(iii) safe evacuation in an emergency;
(e) ventilation enables workers to carry out work without risk to health and safety;
(f) workers carrying out work in extremes of heat or cold are able to carry out work without risk to health and safety;
(g) work in relation to or near essential services does not give rise to a risk to the health and safety of persons at the workplace.
Maximum penalty:
(a) In the case of an individual—30 000

SA Health: Remote or Isolated Work Safety policy

South Australia have implemented the directive for ‘Remote or Isolated Work Safety (WHS)’. The policy was created by the South Australian Government, ensuring it, “provides direction for a risk management approach to the identification of hazards and risks associated with remote or isolated work. The Policy Directive will support a safe working environment within SA Health, which is committed to ensuring that a comprehensive, robust and co-ordinated communication system for remote or isolated work is implemented and maintained as per other hazards identified through this approach.”

This policy applies to all SA Health workers, including; employees, volunteers, contractors, labour hire workers, students, that may be required to undertake work alone on site.