WORKING ALONE OR IN ISOLATION
Commencement Date:
1.
24/04/2007
Application/Exceptions
This Policy applies to all staff and students on any Curtin University campus or
educational centre with the exception of the following circumstances.
Supervisors, managers, staff and students are not expected to duplicate the risk
assessment process (for the purposes of compliance with this policy) when undertaking
fieldwork and complying with the provisions of the Standards for Fieldwork Safety.
Notwithstanding this, the ‘Fieldwork Risk Assessment’ (contained in the Standards for
Fieldwork Safety) undertaken must specifically and adequately address the risks of
working alone or in isolation in accordance with these Standards.
Incidental low risk activities such as office-based work undertaken outside of
normal operating hours (as defined by the University Enterprise Bargaining
Agreements) should not require the completion of a comprehensive risk
assessment process. Managers and supervisors are still required to approve such
work and staff and students must as a minimum plan action in the case of an
emergency.
This policy applies to campuses and education centres in other states of Australia and
internationally. Where an inconsistency exists between the policy of Curtin and the
regional laws applicable to the location of the campus or education facility, the laws will
apply to the extent of the inconsistency.
2.
Definitions
‘Generic Risk
Assessment’
means a risk assessment completed to accommodate activities of a
similar nature presenting similar risks or covering a variety of activities
and their associated risks
‘Reasonably
practicable’
means all reasonable measures must be taken, bearing in mind:
 The severity of the hazard
 The likelihood of the hazard occurring
 How much is known about the hazard and how to eliminate or control
it
 The availability, suitability and cost of safeguards
The cost has to do with the expense and inconvenience necessary to put
the safeguards in place measured against the consequences of failing to
do so. It is not a measure of whether the University can afford to put the
necessary safe guards in place.
‘Remote’
‘Working alone or
in isolation’
means a place separated by time or distance from essential emergency
and required services such that the location presents a significant
increase in risk
means a person is alone at work when they are on their own; when they
cannot be seen or heard by another person; and when they cannot
expect a visit from another worker or member of the public for some time.
This can include, but not limited to, working: (i) regularly in an office,
laboratory, studio or workshop outside of normal business hours or when
everyone else has gone home; (ii) on a fence in a field or paddock; (iii) in
situations where they are called out at night; or, (iv) in bush land or other
obviously remote locations
3.
Minimum Standards
3.1 All work performed alone or in isolation must be assessed for risk and be approved
by a manager or supervisor
3.2 All persons approved to work alone or in isolation must ensure that reliable means of
communication are maintained at all times.
3.3 An itinerary must be submitted to managers and supervisors for all work conducted
alone or in isolation:


in remote or isolated locations;
involving travel:
o outside of the metropolitan area
o
o
interstate; or
overseas.
3.4 Appropriate emergency procedures must be established for all work performed alone
or in isolation.
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4.
Guidelines
4.1
General Provisions
Nil.
Table 4.1
Guidelines for managers, staff and others for the implementation of the ‘minimum standards’
Minimum Standard
3.1 All work performed alone or
in isolation must be assessed for
risk and be approved by a
manager or supervisor.
Managers
 Review the risk assessment submitted and:
o where you are satisfied that the employee or student is
suitably qualified, trained and has adequately identified
and controlled the risks associated with conducting the
work alone or in isolation, approve commencement of
the work
o where you are not satisfied that the employee or
student is suitably qualified, trained and has adequately
identified and controlled the risks associated with
conducting the work alone or in isolation, request the
employee or student to re-submit their proposal/risk
assessment or impose specific conditions of approval.
 Note: The approval should preferably be in writing and as a
minimum, provide a brief description of the work to be
undertaken, its location(s) and the times for which approval is
granted. It should also include any specific conditions under
which approval is granted.
 Further details and guidance on the identification, assessment
and control of risk can be obtained through the University’s
‘Making the Workplace Safe’ document or through assistance
provided by The Health and Safety Team on ext 4900.
Staff, Students and Others
 Complete a risk assessment of the proposed work to be
undertaken alone or isolation and submit it to your
supervisor or manager for approval prior to
commencement. Approval of a generic risk assessment
for activities conducted alone or in isolation can be
sought:
o when the same activity is repeated over time or
in different locations and provided that the
assessment
undertaken
remains
entirely
applicable in each circumstance;
o for activities conducted ‘on-call’ where it is not
practicable to ascertain approval immediately
prior to commencement.
The assessment
should, as far as is practicable, consider all
potential activities and risks associated with
being ‘on-call’.
 A Risk Assessment template and guide is provided in
Schedule A.
 Employees and students are responsible for taking all
reasonably practicable steps to ensure their own safety
when working alone or in isolation.
 Further details and guidance on the identification,
assessment and control of risk can be obtained through
the University’s ‘Making the Workplace Safe’ document
or through assistance provided by Health and Safety
Team on ext 4900.
3.2 All persons approved to work
alone or in isolation must ensure
that reliable means of
communication are maintained at
all times.

Review the communication strategy and procedures to ensure
they are adequate prior to approving working alone or in
isolation.



3.3 An itinerary must be
submitted to managers and
supervisors for all work
conducted alone or in isolation:

in remote or isolated
locations;

involving travel:
 outside of the
metropolitan area
 interstate; or
 overseas
3.4 Appropriate emergency
procedures must be established
for all work performed alone or in
isolation.




Review the risk assessment to ensure a complete itinerary is
provided where required by this standard or the risk
assessment itself.
A risk assessment and itinerary template is provided in
Schedule A

Review the risk assessment to ensure that adequate
emergency response procedures are in place
Further details and guidance on emergency response can be
obtained through information on the Health and Safety website

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
Ensure that a reliable person is aware of your
commencement and safe completion of the work or as
otherwise required by the risk assessment undertaken.
Where fieldwork is to be undertaken in remote or isolated
locations, establish a schedule for regular contact with
the University or other reliable person(s) and procedures
for action to be taken when contact is not made in
accordance with the schedule. This must be recorded on
the proposal/risk assessment and/or on the approval
granted by the supervisor or manager.
A reliable means of communication must be established
and maintained for the duration of the work and may
include land or mobile phones, radio communication
systems, satellite communication systems, and/or
emergency location beacons. The means of
communication will be determined by the risks associated
with the work to be undertaken and the availability and
functionality of the systems themselves.
Ensure a complete itinerary is included in the risk
assessment as required by this standard or the risk
assessment itself.
A risk assessment and itinerary template is provided in
Schedule A
Review the University’s Emergency Response
procedures and establish any additional measures
required to ensure you are able to respond or be assisted
in any reasonably foreseeable emergency situation and
or assistance provided by the Health and Safety Team on ext
4900.



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include in the risk assessment
Further details and guidance on emergency response
can be obtained through information on the Health and
Safety website or assistance provided by Health and
Safety Team on ext 4900.
In the event of an emergency, initiate the University
Emergency Response procedures and or amendments
thereto relevant to your campus or educational centre.
Details of Emergency contact, after hours and security
numbers are contained in Schedule B
REVISION HISTORY:
Revision
Approved/
Ref. No.
Rescinded
Date
Committee/
Board
l
Resolution
Number
Document
Reference
SCHEDULE A – WORKING ALONE OR IN ISOLATION RISK ASSESSMENT FORM AND GUIDE
Supervisor or Manager
Unit of Study or Research Project
Work Description
Proposed Dates
Transport Arrangements
Communication Strategy
University or other reputable contact
Frequency or schedule of contact
Primary means of communication
Secondary means of communication (if required)
Action should contact not be made in accordance
with the above
Itinerary
Dates/times
Location
Accommodation
Contact details
Primary Checklist (Fieldwork Leader to complete)
Tick
Employees and/or students have or will be briefed on the details of the work and all relevant
safety policies, procedures and codes of conduct

All equipment, vehicles and tools have been checked for safe operation prior to the work


I have made all necessary arrangements for the effective management of emergencies that
may arise in the course of the work
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Hazards
What can cause harm or ill-health?
Consider
Manual Handling (Overexertion, repetition, awkward loads)
Hazardous substances (Chemical, Biological, radioactive)
Physical (Noise, heat, electricity, violence)
Psychological (Stress, workload, potential conflict)
Falls (Slips, trips, working from height, falling objects)
Transportation (‘Getting Lost’; Fire and Emergency)
HAZARDS
Likelihood and Consequence
Make a judgement regarding the
probability of the hazard causing
an incident (likelihood) and the
potential consequences of that
incident.
LIKELIHOOD
Rare, Moderate, Frequent
General (Manual Handling, Slips trips and falls, ergonomics, etc)
Controls
How can you reduce the likelihood of exposure or consequences thereof? You should use the hierarchy of
controls in determining how best to control the hazards identified.
Hierarchy of controls
Elimination
Can you eliminate the hazard altogether?
Substitution
Can you substitute less hazardous equipment, substances or agents?
Engineering
Would the hazard be reduced by ventilation, barriers or isolation?
Administrative
Is training, policy or safe working procedures required?
Personal Protective Equipment
What PPE would be appropriate?
CONSEQUENCES
What could happen?
Specific hazards relating to the Activities
Transportation (personnel, equipment and materials)
Supervisor
Date
Conditions of Approval (attach further if necessary)
CONTROLS
What are you going to do to reduce the risk?
SCHEDULE C
CAMPUS EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
Campus
Emergency
Mobile or Off Campus
After Hours Emergencies
Security 24/7
Bentley
5
9266 4444 or 1300 00 4444
5
4444
Technology Park
5
9266 4444 or 1300 00 4444
5
4444
78 Murray Street
5
9266 4444 or 1300 00 4444
5
4444
Shenton Park
5
9266 4444 or 1300 00 4444
5
4444
Muresk
5
9266 4444
Security (Bentley) or 1300 00 4444
99
Security (Bentley)
99
Security (Bentley)
Kalgoorlie
5
9266 4444
Security (Bentley) or 1300 00 4444
5
Security (Bentley)
4444
Security (Bentley)
Esperance
000
0412 211100
Storm Security – Dave Hubble
0412 211100
Storm Security – Dave Hubble
9071 7226
Storm Security
Margaret River
000
0417 953 262
Campus Manager
0417 953 262
Campus Manager
9301 2220
Crown Security
All other locations
000 for emergencies in Australia or as otherwise prescribed by the campus or education centre or regional centre from which you operate.
International mobiles can use 112 for emergencies all over the world.
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