Working alone or after hours

These guidelines outline the risks associated with working alone on university premises outside of core hours.

Definition

Working alone is work where emergency assistance may not be available or where work is not in the immediate vicinity of another person that could render assistance.

Managing risk when working alone or after hours

Consideration should be given to access to emergency assistance and the security of the worker. The risk of illness or injury may be increased when working alone and suitable controls must be in place to address such risks. If assistance is not available in these times, then work should not go ahead. The risk assessment process is outlined here and evidence of working alone considerations should be outlined.

Staff, students and contractors should not work alone in areas where there is a risk of:

• Asphyxiation
• Unconsciousness
• Entrapment
• Amputation
• Electrocution
• Being struck by moving equipment
• Entanglement

Where staff, students or contractors must work alone in spaces including laboratories or workshops,  a thorough risk assessment outlining controls and access to emergency support is required.

The risk assessment should take into account the hazards associated with the task, assessment of the associated risks and the appropriate controls to be implemented to ensure the safety of the person.  People required to work alone shall be provided with sufficient information, instruction and training to perform the activities in a safe manner and be prepared for emergency and abnormal events.

Considerations

Competency

The supervisor must determine that the worker is competent to undertake the work, for example by checking the list of authorised persons for equipment (evidence of such competency should have already been demonstrated for normal work conditions).

• What is the competency and level of experience, skill and training of the individual undertaking the work?
• What is the normal level of supervision required for workers to complete the task or process?
• Is the worker is able to make sound judgements about his or her own safety?

Evidence of competency includes:

• direct observation
• examining the individuals training records such as for on-the-job training, training in Safe Work Procedures (SWPs) for particular processes or equipment, formal training courses, licences
• results of competency assessments
• providing appropriate answers to process-related questions. 

Work process / activity

• Is the substance, equipment or work is too hazardous or dangerous to be used alone or after-hours?
• What are the consequences of unattended experiments or equipment?
• How long it will take to carry out the task?
• Is there a possibility of exposure to violence or aggressive members of the public (e.g. during out-reach work or interviews)?
• What time of day will the activity be undertaken?
• What are the consequences of a vehicle breakdown?
• Are there high risk activities involved (see below)?
• Is fatigue likely to increase risk (e.g. driving for long hours or over time)?
• Is there is a risk of attack by an animal, including reptiles, insects and sea creatures?

Length of time

• How long would the person need to be alone to finish this job?
• What is a reasonable amount of time for the person to be alone?
• Does the person have to work alone at all?

Communication

• Does the person have access to emergency communication e.g. landline phone, mobile phone, or duress alarm?
• Will the emergency communication system be suitable in all situations?
• Is there a process for regular contact with the worker e.g. a buddy system?  i.e.  maintain regular communication (e.g. call/text every hour) and if communication cannot be made there  is a pre-determined response.

Location

• Is the work in a remote location?
• What is the risk associated with the type of transport?
• What first aid equipment is available for immediate treatment?

Emergency assistance

In the event of an accident or incident, or medical condition occurring outside of core working hours on UTS premises, emergency and first aid response may be slower than in normal working hours.  If a worker is alone they may not be able to seek emergency assistance (i.e. they may have an incident resulting in them not being able to reach a phone to contact security / emergency services). Staff or students must alert security of their location and for how long they are expecting to be there.

Where staff or students work alone, a means of communication to gain assistance in an emergency must be available.  Additionally, arrangements should be made for other staff or students to check regularly on the welfare of persons working alone.

Student supervision

Undergraduate students (other than competent honours students or equivalent), must not work alone or after-hours unless the activity is:

• purely administrative in nature e.g. work in computer laboratories, study areas, and libraries
• in areas of equivalent low hazard as determined by assessment of the risks
• supervised by a competent person authorised by the Head of the work area.

Postgraduate students (and competent honours students or equivalent) may be authorised to work alone or after-hours following thorough risk management in which:

• The level of supervision is determined and consideration is given to the level of training and experience, the nature of the work and the degree of assessed competence.
• The level of supervision is documented in the risk management plan, and complies with the relevant local After-hours Protocol.
• The level of supervision might range from very little (e.g. occasional check-ins) to fully supervised.

Suggested standard types of approval and supervision for work alone or after hours 

After-hours/Alone Risk Level	Suggested type of approval required	Example(s)
LOW	No approval necessary	Administrative-type work e.g. office, library, study area or computer laboratory
MEDIUM	Approval is necessary but no supervision is required.	A 'buddy' system for monitoring the worker is recommended Work with chemicals assessed as low risk e.g. buffers in a lab environment where access to materials or equipment of greater risk is prevented. Use of Risk Group 1 biological agents in a PC1 facility. Feeding and watering of animals, where the worker does not enter pens or handle the animals. Sample deposit and retrieval from cryogenic storage rooms with air monitoring alarms.
HIGH	Approval and supervision are required. The competency of the worker is considered on a case by case basis. Supervision is by a competent, authorised person who is present at the workplace. The risks must be controlled to the lowest level achievable. Approval must be by Head of School/unit (or higher)	Use of Risk Group 1 biological agents in a PC2 or greater facility** Use of Risk Group 2 or greater biological agents** Handling an animal / entering a pen Work with small volumes of hazardous substances where the risk is assessed as medium Work with power tools Sample deposit and retrieval from cryogenic storage rooms without air monitoring alarms
VERY HIGH	No approval can be given. Work is prohibited after-hours and/or alone.	Decanting or transporting cryogens Entry into -20 (and lower) freezer rooms All High Risk Hazards listed in AS2243.1 (see section 3.5.1).

** An exemption to the requirement for direct supervision may be possible subject to a risk assessment for the specific activity (e.g. there is no injection risks, no work with Bunsen burners and ethanol, no work with equipment that could cause physical injury (e.g. microtome or centrifuge) and taking into account the competency of the individual worker for that activity.  No laboratory worker should work more than 12 hours in a 24 hour period.

List of high-risk hazards (AS2243.1:2005)

High-risk hazard areas or activities, that may be encountered, include the following:

• Operating equipment or machinery, including workshop machinery, capable of inflicting serious injury, such as chainsaws, firearms, lathes and power saws.
• Handling venomous reptiles, insects, arthropods or fish.
• Working with large animals other than for the purpose of feeding or observation.
• Working with, or near, toxic or corrosive substances where there is a significant risk of exposure to the substance, taking into account the volume and concentration used.
• Using apparatus that could result in explosion, implosion, or the release of high energy fragments or significant amounts of toxic or environmentally damaging hazardous material.
• Climbing towers or high ladders.
• Working with exposed energized electrical or electronic systems with nominal voltages exceeding 50 V AC. or 120 V ripple-free DC.  NOTE: These limits are for dry, indoor conditions and a more conservative approach should be taken in other conditions.
• Working with radionuclides requiring a high level laboratory in accordance with AS 2243.4 for Australia and the National Radiation Laboratory Code of safe practice for the use of unsealed radioactive materials, NRL C1, for New Zealand.
• Working with microorganisms of Risk Group 3 and higher, or which require the use of a Containment Level 3 facility or higher containment level in accordance with AS/NZS 2243.3.
• Operating lasers of Class 3 and above.
• Working in environments not at atmospheric pressure.
• Anything else that has the potential for causing serious injury or death.

For other area-specific hazards consult your workplace hazard and risk register.