Working alone policy: what each province and territory asks for
A service tech on a call, a night cleaner, an operator at a remote site: when nobody can see or hear a worker, a missed check-in may be the only sign something went wrong. Below is what each province and territory says, quoted from the official text, and what a written procedure covers.
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Working alone rules by province and territory
The quote under each line is copied word for word from the official text.
British Columbia
Before assigning work alone or in isolation, the employer must identify the hazards and eliminate or minimize them, and develop and implement a written procedure for checking the worker's well-being: check intervals, a designated person who makes contact and records the results, a check at the end of the shift, and what to do if the worker cannot be contacted. The procedure is developed with the worker and the committee or representative and reviewed at least annually. (OHS Regulation, ss. 4.20.1-4.23)
“The employer must develop and implement a written procedure for checking the well-being of a worker assigned to work alone or in isolation.”
Alberta
Working alone is a hazard to be assessed under the hazard assessment rules. Where help is not readily available, the employer must provide an effective communication system with regular contact at intervals suited to the hazard, or visits or check-ins where electronic communication is not practicable. These sections do not themselves require a written working alone procedure. (OHS Code, AR 191/2021, ss. 393-394)
“An employer must, for any worker working alone, provide an effective communication system consisting of”
Saskatchewan
Where a worker works alone or at an isolated place, the employer must identify the risks with the committee, representative or workers, take reasonably practicable steps to eliminate or reduce them, and set up an effective communication system. A written check-in procedure is required for late-night retail with one worker alone between 11 pm and 6 am (Regulations s. 3-27(6)). (OHS Regulations, 2020, s. 3-24)
“must include the establishment of an effective communication system that consists of:”
Manitoba
Where a worker works alone or in isolation, the employer must identify the risks, develop and implement safe work procedures that include an effective communication system, train workers in them, post a copy at the workplace, and review them at least every three years. (Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, M.R. 217/2006, Part 9 (ss. 9.1-9.3))
“An employer must review and revise the procedures not less than every three years or sooner if circumstances at a workplace change”
Ontario
No general working alone regulation found in the OHS Act or its construction, industrial and health care regulations. (OHSA, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1; O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects); Reg. 851 (Industrial); O. Reg. 67/93 (Health Care) (whole texts searched))
New Brunswick
An employer must establish a code of practice for any employee who works alone at any time, provide the equipment it requires, make sure it is followed, and train each employee who works alone and their supervisor. (Code of Practice for Working Alone Regulation, N.B. Reg. 92-133, ss. 2, 4, 6)
“An employer shall establish a code of practice to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of an employee who works alone at any time”
Nova Scotia
No general working alone regulation found in the OHS Act, the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations or the Occupational Safety General Regulations. (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations (all Parts) and Occupational Safety General Regulations, N.S. Reg. 44/1999 (searched))
Prince Edward Island
Where a worker works alone, the employer must develop and implement written procedures that include check-in intervals, who makes the checks, what to do if there is no contact, and an end-of-shift check, and train workers and supervisors in them. (OHS Act General Regulations, EC180/87, Part 53, ss. 53.1-53.5 (EC43/06))
“Where a worker is working alone, the employer shall develop and implement written procedures”
Newfoundland and Labrador
Where a worker is assigned to work alone or in isolation, the employer must develop and implement a written procedure for checking the worker's well-being, with a check-in interval, what to do if there is no contact, and emergency response, and review it at least annually. (NLR 5/12, s. 15)
“An employer shall develop and implement a written procedure for checking the well-being of a worker assigned to work alone or in isolation.”
Yukon
No general working alone regulation found in the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations. The only working alone rule found there is for chain saw operators in a forestry operation. (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, O.I.C. 2006/178 (full text searched))
Northwest Territories
Where a worker works alone or at an isolated work site, the employer must identify the hazards with the committee, representative or workers and take reasonable measures to eliminate or reduce the risks, including an effective communication system. The text does not require a written procedure. (OHS Regulations, R-039-2015, s. 33)
“If a worker is required or permitted to work alone or at an isolated work site, an employer, in consultation with the Committee or representative”
Nunavut
Where a worker works alone or at an isolated work site, the employer must identify the hazards with the committee, representative or workers and take reasonable measures to eliminate or reduce the risks, including an effective communication system. The text does not require a written procedure. (OHS Regulations, Nu Reg R-003-2016, s. 33)
“If a worker is required or permitted to work alone or at an isolated work site, an employer, in consultation with the Committee or representative”
Not covered here: Quebec and federally regulated workplaces. We have not read those rules for this topic, so we do not quote them.
What goes in a working alone procedure
The procedure in the kit has a blank for each of these. Fill them in with the worker who works alone.
- Who it covers: the jobs, places and times where someone works alone.
- The hazards of that work and how each one is reduced.
- How the worker stays in contact: phone, radio, satellite device or app, and the plan where there is no signal.
- The check-in schedule: the first check, how often after that, and the end-of-shift check.
- Who makes the checks, a backup, and how each check is recorded.
- What happens if there is no contact: each step, who does it, and the time limit.
- How the worker gets emergency help.
- Training for the worker, the supervisor and the contact person.
- When the procedure is reviewed next.
Setting the check-in interval
No single interval fits every job, so the kit leaves it blank for you to set. Alberta ties it to the hazard:
Alberta: Working alone is a hazard to be assessed under the hazard assessment rules. Where help is not readily available, the employer must provide an effective communication system with regular contact at intervals suited to the hazard, or visits or check-ins where electronic communication is not practicable. These sections do not themselves require a written working alone procedure. (OHS Code, AR 191/2021, ss. 393-394)
Whatever you set, write it in the procedure, give the contact person the check-in log, and record every check, the missed ones too.
Questions
What counts as working alone?
Each province words it differently. One example:
Saskatchewan: To work alone means to work at a worksite as the only worker of the employer or contractor at that worksite, where help is not readily available in the event of injury, ill health or emergency. (OHS Regulations, 2020, s. 3-24)
Which provinces ask for a written working alone procedure?
- British Columbia: Before assigning work alone or in isolation, the employer must identify the hazards and eliminate or minimize them, and develop and implement a written procedure for checking the worker's well-being: check intervals, a designated person who makes contact and records the results, a check at the end of the shift, and what to do if the worker cannot be contacted. The procedure is developed with the worker and the committee or representative and reviewed at least annually. (OHS Regulation, ss. 4.20.1-4.23)
- Prince Edward Island: Where a worker works alone, the employer must develop and implement written procedures that include check-in intervals, who makes the checks, what to do if there is no contact, and an end-of-shift check, and train workers and supervisors in them. (OHS Act General Regulations, EC180/87, Part 53, ss. 53.1-53.5 (EC43/06))
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Where a worker is assigned to work alone or in isolation, the employer must develop and implement a written procedure for checking the worker's well-being, with a check-in interval, what to do if there is no contact, and emergency response, and review it at least annually. (NLR 5/12, s. 15)
See the table above for the other provinces and territories.
Is there a working alone rule in Ontario?
Ontario: No general working alone regulation found in the OHS Act or its construction, industrial and health care regulations. (OHSA, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1; O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects); Reg. 851 (Industrial); O. Reg. 67/93 (Health Care) (whole texts searched))
How often should a lone worker check in?
No single interval fits every job. The kit leaves the interval blank so you set it for the work.
What does the kit cost?
CA$19 in Canadian dollars, one time, with an instant download of the PDF and an editable Word file.
More for Canadian crews
FLHA form for Alberta and BCToolbox talk topics for Canadian crews