When the signal drops in the South Island backcountry, so does your ability to fulfil your duty of care to your workers. In both Australia and New Zealand, organisations operating in remote areas face increasing scrutiny regarding the safety of lone workers, and a reliance on cellular coverage alone is demonstrably insufficient. The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Australia) and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (New Zealand) place a clear obligation on PCBUs to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers – and that extends to reliable communication in all operating environments.
Effective Works of Communication Are Not Optional
Both Australian and New Zealand legislation requires PCBUs to provide effective means of communication for lone workers. Simply *having* a policy stating workers should check in is not enough. The HSWA in New Zealand specifically calls for “effective works of communication,” and this is interpreted as a proactive system, not a reactive expectation. A mobile phone app reliant on cellular coverage, or a PLB that only signals in an emergency, does not meet this standard when workers are operating outside of network range.
The Gap Between Emergency Signaling and True Lone Worker Protection
We consistently see organisations relying on Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) or basic satellite communicators as a ‘good enough’ solution for lone workers. These devices offer one-way emergency signaling, but lack the proactive features required for genuine safety management. They don’t provide check-in capabilities, No-Motion Alerts, two-way communication, or integration with a professional monitoring centre – meaning help is dispatched *after* an incident, not proactively to prevent one. This gap between policy and practice is where liability exposure sits.
Iridium Satellite Communication: The Only Reliable Network for Lone Worker Safety
In our experience, the only satellite network you can rely on for lone worker protection is Iridium. Its constellation of 67 satellites, combined with forwarding technology, ensures alerts are received even if the initial satellite doesn’t have a direct line of sight to an earth station. Devices like the Garmin inReach and Blackline G7X leverage this network, but crucially, the G7X is the only true ‘cellular + satellite’ solution, offering seamless connectivity and a monitored service. Devices such as the inReach do not have No-Motion Alert or professional monitoring centre integration, and are therefore not a complete solution for workplace safety.
Guardian Angel Safety: Turning Policy Into Real Protection
For over 12 years, Guardian Angel Safety has been designing, implementing, and monitoring lone worker protection systems across Australia and New Zealand. We don’t just sell devices; we deliver a complete, managed service – satellite-connected devices, 24/7 professional monitoring, and a platform designed to convert your compliance obligations into a demonstrable safety outcome for your people. We understand the unique challenges of the South Island backcountry and provide the peace of mind that comes with knowing your workers are truly protected.
Content prepared by Guardian Angel Safety — lone and remote worker protection across Australia and New Zealand.