Free lone worker safety checklist
Free lone worker safety checklist (PDF-ready). Risk assessment, communication plan, check-in schedule, emergency response and PPE. Download free.
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Updated 26 Oct 2026
Lone Worker Safety Checklist
Risk controls and communication plan for workers operating alone
Risk Assessment
Communication Plan
Check-in Schedule
Emergency Procedures
Competency
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Short answer
A lone worker safety checklist records the task, location, risks, communication plan, check-in times, emergency and duress arrangements, PPE and the worker's fitness and competence before working alone. Workers complete it before each lone work session, and the risk assessment is reviewed when conditions change. Regulation 48 of the model WHS Regulations requires the risks of remote or isolated work to be managed, including effective communication.
Checked against Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011) on by the MapTrack templates team. How we check templates
Key takeaways
- The MapTrack lone worker safety checklist contains 23 checks across 5 sections. Sections covered: Risk Assessment, Communication Plan, Check-in Schedule, Emergency Procedures, Competency.
- Regulation 48: manage remote or isolated work risks with a system of work that includes effective communication with the worker.
- Set check-in intervals by task risk, and test radios, phones or duress alarms before each lone work period starts.
- Plan for areas without coverage: carry a satellite or other suitable device and agree what happens when a check-in is missed.
- Name who responds to a missed check-in, how fast, and when to escalate to emergency services.
- AS/NZS 4801 is superseded by AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018, an optional management system standard.
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What is a lone worker safety checklist?
A lone worker safety checklist is a structured tool used to assess, plan for and manage the risks that arise when a worker performs tasks without direct supervision or the immediate presence of other workers. It covers the identification of lone working situations (remote field work, after-hours maintenance, security patrols, home visits, truck driving, work at isolated sites), risk assessment for the specific tasks and environment, communication planning (check-in schedules, communication devices, dead zones), emergency response procedures (duress alarms, GPS tracking, escalation protocols), personal protective equipment requirements, and worker fitness and competence verification. Under the WHS Act s19, the PCBU owes a primary duty of care to all workers, and this duty does not diminish because a worker is alone. The PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the lone worker health and safety is protected.
Lone workers face a heightened risk profile compared to workers in supervised or team environments. If a lone worker is injured, falls ill, is threatened or encounters an unexpected hazard, there may be no one nearby to provide immediate assistance, raise the alarm or administer first aid. Delays in discovering an incident can turn a survivable injury into a fatality. The risks are compounded in remote locations where mobile phone coverage is unreliable, medical services are distant and environmental hazards (wildlife, extreme heat, flooding) are present. This checklist ensures that every lone working arrangement is assessed before work begins, that a reliable communication and check-in system is in place, and that both the worker and the supervisor know exactly what to do if contact is lost or an emergency occurs. MapTrack supports lone worker safety by providing GPS-enabled check-in functionality, automated escalation when check-ins are missed, and a complete audit trail of every lone working session.
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Benefits of using this lone worker safety checklist
- Worker safety: ensures that risks specific to lone working are identified and controlled before the worker begins their task, reducing the likelihood and severity of incidents.
- Regulatory compliance: demonstrates that the PCBU has fulfilled their duty of care under the WHS Act s19 for workers who perform tasks alone.
- Reliable communication: the checklist establishes a clear check-in schedule and communication plan, ensuring that a missed check-in triggers an immediate and defined response.
- Faster emergency response: documented emergency procedures, GPS location sharing and escalation protocols reduce the time between an incident and the arrival of help.
- Risk-based approach: not all lone work is equal. The checklist requires a risk assessment for each specific situation, ensuring controls are proportionate to the actual hazard.
- Competence verification: confirms that the lone worker has the training, experience, fitness and equipment needed for the specific task.
- Audit trail: completed checklists provide documented evidence of lone worker risk management for regulators, clients and insurers.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move your checklists from paper to MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Email the right people when a form is submitted, with an automation you set up.
- File every completed form against the asset, location or person it covers.
- Download any completed form as a PDF, with failed answers listed at the top.
- Fill in forms offline; they upload when the device is back online.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Set who can view, fill in or edit forms with user roles.
- Upload a paper form (PDF, Word, Excel or a photo) and MapTrack's AI builds a digital version for you to check.
- Email safety managers when a hazard report is submitted, with an automation you set up.
- Keep every hazard and incident report against the site it came from, with photos.
- Turn a hazard report into a corrective-action work order with its own review step.
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What to include in a lone worker safety checklist
This lone worker safety checklist covers 10 key areas:
- Worker details: name, role, contact number, vehicle registration (if applicable), next of kin contact.
- Lone work details: date, planned start and finish time, location (address, GPS coordinates or site name), description of tasks to be performed, reason for working alone.
- Risk assessment: hazards specific to the task and location (manual handling, heights, electrical, confined spaces, hostile environment, violence or aggression, animals/wildlife, extreme weather, remote location), risk rating for each hazard, existing controls in place.
- Communication plan: primary communication device (mobile phone, satellite phone, two-way radio, duress alarm), backup communication method, known dead zones or areas of poor coverage, check-in schedule (frequency and times), designated contact person and backup contact.
- Check-in protocol: check-in method (phone call, SMS, app-based), check-in frequency (e.g. every 30 minutes, every hour), overdue check-in escalation procedure (e.g. attempt contact, send someone to location, notify emergency services), maximum time before escalation.
- Emergency response: emergency procedures for likely scenarios (injury, vehicle breakdown, medical event, threatening behaviour, environmental emergency), location of nearest hospital or medical facility, emergency services access instructions (especially for remote locations).
- Personal protective equipment: PPE required for the specific task, PPE condition verified, first aid kit present and stocked.
- Worker fitness and competence: worker is physically fit for the task (no medical conditions that increase lone working risk), worker has completed relevant training (first aid, task-specific competencies, communication equipment), worker has been briefed on check-in procedures and emergency plan.
- Vehicle and equipment: vehicle roadworthy and fuelled, emergency equipment in vehicle (first aid kit, water, torch, fire extinguisher, blanket, signage), GPS tracker or location-sharing active.
- Sign-off: worker sign-off confirming they understand the plan and will follow check-in procedures, supervisor sign-off confirming the plan has been reviewed.
How to use this lone worker safety checklist
- Identify all lone working situations and assess the risks specific to each task, location and worker.: Before assigning lone work, list every task that will be performed and the location where it will occur. Identify the hazards specific to working alone in that context: Can the worker be injured and unable to call for help? Is the location remote with limited communication coverage? Are there environmental hazards (heat, cold, flooding, wildlife)? Is there a risk of violence or aggression from clients or the public? Rate each risk considering the likelihood and consequence if the worker is alone. Use this assessment to determine whether the task can be performed safely by a lone worker or whether additional controls, a buddy system or task redesign is needed.
- Establish a communication plan with check-in schedule, designated contacts and escalation procedures for missed check-ins.: Select a communication device appropriate to the location: a mobile phone is sufficient in areas with reliable coverage, but a satellite phone, EPIRB or satellite-connected GPS device is required in remote areas. Set a check-in schedule based on the risk level: high-risk tasks may require check-ins every 15 to 30 minutes, while lower-risk tasks may require hourly check-ins. Designate a primary contact person and a backup. Define the escalation procedure clearly: if a check-in is missed by [X minutes], the contact person calls the worker; if no answer within [Y minutes], the contact person sends someone to the worker location; if the worker cannot be located within [Z minutes], emergency services are notified. Write the schedule and escalation steps on the checklist so both the worker and the contact person have the same document.
- Verify the worker fitness, competence and equipment. Confirm they understand the check-in protocol and emergency procedures.: Confirm that the worker is physically fit for the task and has no medical conditions that would increase the risk of working alone (e.g. epilepsy, insulin-dependent diabetes, cardiac conditions). Verify that the worker holds the necessary competencies for the tasks (licences, tickets, first aid certificate). Check that the communication device is charged, functional and has coverage at the planned location. Confirm that the vehicle (if used) is roadworthy, fuelled and equipped with emergency supplies. Brief the worker on the check-in schedule, the escalation procedure, and what to do in each emergency scenario documented on the checklist.
- Execute the check-in schedule during the lone work period. Monitor for missed check-ins and follow the escalation procedure immediately.: The designated contact person must be available and actively monitoring for check-ins throughout the entire lone work period. When a check-in is received, log the time and the worker status on the checklist or in the monitoring system. If a check-in is missed, begin the escalation procedure immediately. Do not assume the worker is simply busy. Even a short delay in escalation can be critical in remote locations or for medical emergencies. If using MapTrack or a similar system, automated alerts can be triggered when a check-in is overdue, removing the reliance on manual monitoring.
- Close out the lone work session. Confirm the worker has returned safely and complete the checklist with any observations or issues for review.: When the worker completes their tasks and returns (or checks in as finished), the contact person logs the time and confirms the session is closed. The worker should report any hazards encountered, near misses, equipment issues, communication problems or other observations during the lone work period. Record these on the checklist for review. If any issues are identified, raise corrective actions with responsible persons and due dates. File the completed checklist as part of the lone worker risk management records.
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Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full lone worker safety checklist as a PDF.Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
A lone worker safety checklist should be completed before every lone work session. The underlying risk assessment should be reviewed whenever the task, location, worker or conditions change, and as part of a routine review at least annually.
Safe Work Australia guidance on working alone recommends that the risk assessment be reviewed whenever the worker's role, location, hours or communication arrangements change. WHS Regulations 2011 regulation 48 requires the PCBU to manage risks associated with remote or isolated work under Part 3.1 and to provide a system of work that includes effective communication with the worker. Organisations should set minimum check-in frequencies based on the hazard profile of each lone work activity, and verify that all communication devices and duress alarms are tested and functional before each lone work period begins.
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Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template is a starting point. Check the current requirements that apply to your equipment, work and location. The template alone does not establish compliance.
| Standard | Edition | Clauses this template relies on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Work Health and Safety RegulationsManaging remote or isolated work with a system of work that includes effective communication. Model law: check your state's version. | Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011) |
| Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee) |
| Model Work Health and Safety Act (Model Work Health and Safety Bill)Primary duty of care, so far as is reasonably practicable, which applies in full to workers who work alone. | Model WHS Bill as at 5 December 2025 (includes the Model WHS Legislation Amendment (Incident Notification) 2025) |
| Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee) |
| Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilitiesModel Code guidance including remote or isolated work. It has legal effect only where a jurisdiction has approved it. | December 2025 version | Whole instrument | Safe Work Australia |
| Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements with guidance for useOptional management system standard that superseded AS/NZS 4801. It does not replace WHS duties. | AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 (incl. Amd 1:2024) | Whole instrument | Standards Australia and Standards New ZealandSold by the publisher |
Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
Edition: Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011)
Managing remote or isolated work with a system of work that includes effective communication. Model law: check your state's version.
- reg 48: Risks of remote or isolated work must be managed, including a system of work with effective communication.
- Part 3.1: Managing risks to health and safety: identify hazards, eliminate or minimise risks using the hierarchy of controls, maintain and review controls.
Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee)
Model Work Health and Safety Act (Model Work Health and Safety Bill)
Edition: Model WHS Bill as at 5 December 2025 (includes the Model WHS Legislation Amendment (Incident Notification) 2025)
Primary duty of care, so far as is reasonably practicable, which applies in full to workers who work alone.
- s 19: Primary duty of care: a PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others, including safe plant, systems, training and supervision.
Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee)
Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities
Edition: December 2025 version
Model Code guidance including remote or isolated work. It has legal effect only where a jurisdiction has approved it.
Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements with guidance for use
Edition: AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 (incl. Amd 1:2024)
Optional management system standard that superseded AS/NZS 4801. It does not replace WHS duties.
Standards Australia and Standards New ZealandSold by the publisher
Each source was read at its publisher and the page checked on 26 October 2026. The publisher's current text is the authority.
Lone worker safety checklist preview
The numbers behind this lone worker safety checklist
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<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Lone worker safety checklist</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Worker details: name, role, contact number, vehicle registration (if applicable), next of kin contact.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Lone work details: date, planned start and finish time, location (address, GPS coordinates or site name), description of tasks to be performed, reason for working alone.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Risk assessment: hazards specific to the task and location (manual handling, heights, electrical, confined spaces, hostile environment, violence or aggression, animals/wildlife, extreme weather, remote location), risk rating for each hazard, existing controls in place.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Communication plan: primary communication device (mobile phone, satellite phone, two-way radio, duress alarm), backup communication method, known dead zones or areas of poor coverage, check-in schedule (frequency and times), designated contact person and backup contact.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Check-in protocol: check-in method (phone call, SMS, app-based), check-in frequency (e.g. every 30 minutes, every hour), overdue check-in escalation procedure (e.g. attempt contact, send someone to location, notify emergency services), maximum time before escalation.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Emergency response: emergency procedures for likely scenarios (injury, vehicle breakdown, medical event, threatening behaviour, environmental emergency), location of nearest hospital or medical facility, emergency services access instructions (especially for remote locations).</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/lone-worker-safety-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Lone worker safety checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.
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The MapTrack lone worker safety checklist contains 23 checks across 5 sections.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Lone worker safety checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/lone-worker-safety-checklist
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Lone worker safety checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/lone-worker-safety-checklist
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/lone-worker-safety-checklist.
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