CrewRingCheck-ins for controllers who work alone.
A controller on a quiet rural road or a night closure can be a long way from help. WHS regulations expect a system of work with effective communication. Here’s how to build a check-in and escalation plan that holds up.
| Time | Step | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | Start of shift | Arrived, set up, mobile coverage OK |
| 08:00 | Check-in | “All good, traffic light” |
| 10:00 | Check-in missed | No reply within 10 minutes |
| 10:10 | Supervisor calls | No answer. Try the UHF channel |
| 10:20 | Escalate | Nearest crew member sent to site |
| 10:34 | Resolved | Phone flat. Spare battery pack issued |
Illustrative example data.
Isolated work needs a communication system.
Queensland’s WHS Regulation, section 48 is a clear example. A business must manage the risks of remote or isolated work, and in doing so must provide a system of work that includes effective communication with the worker.
The definition, section 48(3)
“Remote or isolated work, in relation to a worker, means work that is isolated from the assistance of other persons because of location, time or the nature of the work.”
Outside Queensland
Every jurisdiction except Victoria has adopted the model WHS laws, with some local variations. Check your own state’s WHS regulations for the equivalent provision, or ask your regulator. Safe Work Australia’s remote and isolated work page notes that working alone or remotely can increase the health and safety risks of any job.
Three ways a traffic controller ends up isolated.
The definition turns on location, time and the nature of the work. In traffic management, all three show up.
Location
A single controller on a rural stop/slow, a long way from the rest of the crew or the nearest hospital.Time
Night closures and early starts, when fewer people are around and the office is shut.Nature of the work
Standing at a lone position for hours, where nobody would notice quickly if something went wrong.
Six steps to a check-in system that works.
Decide who is isolated
Go through your regular site types and positions using the three tests: location, time and nature of the work.
Check the signal before the shift
Confirm mobile coverage at each position. Where it’s patchy, plan a fallback such as UHF radio or a satellite device.
Set the check-in rhythm
At the start, at regular intervals matched to the risk, and at the end of the shift. Riskier sites get shorter gaps.
Write the missed check-in plan
Who calls, how long they wait, who drives out, and when to call 000. Put names and numbers on it, not job titles.
Make sure someone is watching
A check-in only works if a real person notices it’s missing, including at 3 am on a Sunday.
Test it, then review it
Run a drill, and look at every missed check-in afterwards: flat phone, no signal, or a gap in the plan?
Pick the method the site allows.
Most crews need more than one. The right mix depends on coverage, distance and how long someone is alone.
| Method | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled phone call or SMS | Good for: Everyone already has a phone. Easy to log. | Watch out for: Useless without coverage. Phones go flat. |
| UHF radio | Good for: Works without mobile coverage within range. Instant. | Watch out for: Limited range. Someone has to be listening. |
| Satellite messenger or PLB | Good for: Works almost anywhere with a view of the sky. | Watch out for: Cost per device. Workers need training. |
| Working in pairs | Good for: Help is immediate. Removes the isolation. | Watch out for: Costs a second person on the shift. |
CrewRing doesn’t run safety check-ins today.
It’s built for shift confirmations and callouts, which happen before a shift, not during it. We’d rather tell you that than have you rely on it for something it doesn’t do.
What CrewRing does
- Reaches workers by SMS and voice call, and logs every reply with the time.
- Keeps worker phone numbers and site details, including contacts and access notes, in one place.
What it doesn’t do
- Run scheduled check-ins during a shift.
- Notice a missed check-in or escalate it.
- Work where there’s no mobile coverage.
- Replace a duress alarm, radio or emergency beacon.
Would in-shift check-ins be useful to your crew? Tell us how you run them now.
Sources
- 1.Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld), section 48: Remote or isolated work, Queensland Legislation
- 2.Remote and isolated work, Safe Work Australia
- 3.Model WHS laws, Safe Work Australia
Checked September 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. WHS laws differ between states and territories, so confirm the details with your regulator.
Related guides
Licence & ticket tracking
What NSW requires before someone does traffic control work, and how to keep every ticket and expiry date on file.
Fatigue management
Your duty under WHS laws, the roster patterns the national Code of Practice flags, and the records worth keeping.
Automated shift confirmation
A text the day before, a call if it goes unanswered, and every reply on one board.
Know who’s on tomorrow before they leave home.
CrewRing confirms every shift the day before and finds cover fast when someone drops out. See it with your own roster.