Working Alone on Farms

admin • June 10, 2025

Farm workers are often working alone and in an isolated location where there is no assistance from others and often limited or no communication.

Remote or isolated work often includes working alone and outdoors and it may be difficult to get help in an emergency. Access can be long and difficult and there may be limited access to resources. On top of this, there is less access to support networks and communication and technology may be unreliable or absent.


All these factors can add to the risk of the work. These unique challenges should all form part of the thinking when working to create a safer workplace for those working on farms.


The duty to provide a safe workplace sits with the employer, who has a legal requirement to provide a safe workplace for the workers on the farm. Often the employer may also work on the farm themselves, and the same hazards will pose a risk to them too. Implementing some controls to help reduce the risk of working alone on farms can help ensure that everyone gets home alive and well, including the employer/ farm owner.


The control measures will depend on the exact type of work being conducted on the farm, but things to think about may include:

  • Monitoring weather conditions and emergency warnings
  • Ensuring some form of communication is available
  • Providing personal distress beacons
  • Ensuring all personnel have a first aid kit and are trained in how to use it
  • Implementing a buddy system to reduce the time spent working alone
  • Additional training provided to reduce the impact of isolated work
  • Mental health support


Farming will usually involve work which is dangerous, including machinery, powerlines, heights, animals, chemicals, and the list goes on. All these risks need to be controlled to a level which is reasonably practicable, but they become more dangerous when the worker is working alone or in an isolated location. Often even the most basic issue is not adequately dealt with – how to call for help?


One of the most important issues is to consider is: Is there are reliable means of emergency communication? You must consider how you will know if something has gone wrong and how to locate the person in the case of an emergency. You may like to think about:

  • Is there a check in procedure?
  • Do you have a location system?
  • Do you have a satellite communication or radio if there is no phone signal?
  • Do you have an Emergency Locator Beacon with GPS for use in case of an emergency?
  • If you have mobile coverage, have you considered using Emergency Phone Apps?



For more information on this topic, including on how to develop emergency procedures, take a look at:

Working alone on farms | WorkSafe Victoria and Working alone or in remote areas | Safe Work Australia


It really is important to take the time to consider the risk of working on farms, especially when alone and in isolation. Not only do we need to do this to fulfil the legal duties under the OHS Act - but most of all, to make sure we all make it home at the end of the day.

The Hazelwood Mine Fire

By admin • February 2, 2026
The 9 th February 2014 was the day that The Hazelwood mine caught fire. It was during a period of extreme fire danger that a bushfire started nearby and sent embers into the open cut coal mine. The fire burnt out of control for 45 days and it took another 72 days for the fire to be put out. The impact on the community and on the workers who helped to fight the fire was horrific. The fire was a large scale environmental and health disaster, with ongoing ramifications for those in the vicinity. It would later become the subject of an inquiry, multiple prosecutions and has been the subject of two books by Tom Doig which make very interesting reading. From an OHS perspective, this event makes an interesting case study. The fire was preventable, and the safety failures resulted in workers being exposed to hazardous conditions, with long term effects. Firefighters and mine personnel faced extreme occupational hazards while responding to the event. These included toxic smoke inhalation, fatigue from prolonged shifts, extreme heat exposure and direct contact with burning coal and ash. Also impacted were volunteers and emergency personnel, as well as members of the public. Inadequate PPE, lack of training and inadequate water infrastructure all added to the hazardous conditions. The physical and psychological impacts continue to this day. It was found that there had been systemic failures in Occupational Health and Safety at the site. The mine operator (Hazelwood Power company, co-owned by Engie and Mitsui & Co) was found to have failed to: Adequately assess the risk of fire in the mine, as a result of external sources such as bushfires Adequately maintain vegetation buffers Have sufficient firefighting water infrastructure Have sufficient and adequately skilled staff on site to respond to fire Have an updated fire mitigation plan and to activate it during periods of extreme fire danger In the words of Colin Radford, WorkSafe CEO: "This was an entirely foreseeable event that has led to significant adverse health impacts” The adverse health impacts were felt by workers and by the broader community. The massive smoke plumes which blanketed Morwell and the Latrobe valley for a prolonged period resulted in many suffering acute and chronic health effects. The Hazelwood mine fire exposed issues with crisis management, safety and health governance and emergency response. The operator of the mine, Hazlewood Power Corporation Pty Ltd was eventually prosecuted by WorkSafe and found guilty and fined. The penalty was $1.56 million for breaching sections 21 and 23 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Hazelwood Pacific Pty Ltd, Australian Power Partners B.V, Hazelwood Churchill Pty Ltd and National Power Australia were found guilty of breaching the Environment Protection Act. They each were fined $95,000 for offences relating to pollution, totalling $380,000. There continues to be ongoing environmental concerns regarding the remaining mine pit. The owner of the mine, French owned company Engie, is required to rehabilitate the site of the now closed open-cut pit. The process for determining the appropriate 'rehabilitation' is still ongoing, with concerns regarding the use of the Latrobe River water for this purpose, the instability of the pit and potential toxicity of the water. The hazards associated with this mine continue to cause concern. For those interested in finding out more about the Hazelwood Mine disaster, Tom Doig’s books are highly recommended reading: Hazelwood by Tom Doig - Penguin Books Australia The Coal Face: Penguin Special by Tom Doig - Penguin Books Australia For more information relating to the ongoing Hazelwood concerns, take a look at: Hazelwood Mine Rehabilitation – Update 2025 Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project

Bushfire

By admin • January 27, 2026
Australia is a fire-prone country, and workplaces in many areas are at risk of being impacted by bushfires in some way. The effects of bushfires may include direct exposure to fire, as well as smoke exposure and psychological impacts. As with any workplace hazard, employers have a duty to manage and control the risk of injury. A bushfire risk assessment should therefore be undertaken. Through this process, employers should: Identify whether there is a potential bushfire hazard Assess the risk of bushfires affecting the health and safety of workers, including smoke exposure Identify appropriate control measures Review control measures to ensure they are effective and that no new hazards have been introduced Consultation with workers should occur at each stage of this process. When developing a bushfire risk assessment and policy, employers should consider the following: How will fire danger ratings be monitored throughout the bushfire season? How vulnerable is the workplace location? What actions will be taken on days of extreme or catastrophic fire danger? Are there workers who travel for work or spend significant time on the road? Are there workers who operate alone or in isolated locations? What emergency and evacuation plans are in place? Once a bushfire policy has been developed in consultation with workers, appropriate training must be provided. Employers are legally required to ensure workers receive the necessary information, instruction, and training to remain safe at work, including in relation to bushfire risks. For more information, take a look at: Working outside - Working near bushfires | Safe Work Australia