Do I need to provide my staff with a lone worker alarm under the NZ Health and Safety at Work Act?
The NZ Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 doesn’t mandate a specific device, but it does require employers to eliminate or minimise risks to lone workers so far as is reasonably practicable[cite: 187]. Providing a monitoring device is one of the most effective and expected controls for workers in isolation [cite: 188].
What the NZ HSWA 2015 Requires of Employers
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 places a primary duty of care on PCBUs to ensure workers are not put at risk[cite: 190]. For lone workers, the hazard is being unable to summon help in an emergency[cite: 191]. WorkSafe NZ expects employers to have considered this hazard and implemented controls that address it[cite: 192]. An organisation that has done nothing to monitor its lone workers will struggle to demonstrate it has met its duty of care [cite: 193].
What WorkSafe NZ Expects to See
- A documented risk assessment that identifies lone working as a hazard [cite: 195]
- Controls proportionate to the level of risk — higher risk requires more robust monitoring [cite: 196]
- Evidence that workers were consulted in developing the solution [cite: 197]
- A clear process for what happens when a worker misses a check-in or triggers an alert [cite: 198]
- Records demonstrating the system is actively used and maintained [cite: 199]
Helping New Zealand Businesses Meet Their Duty of Care
Guardian Angel Safety gives New Zealand businesses a complete lone worker monitoring solution with a full audit trail[cite: 201]. Our platform automatically logs check-ins, alerts, and escalations[cite: 202]. We provide WorkSafe-ready documentation to support your compliance position[cite: 203].