By Theresa Jachnycky
Throughout my career, I never gave working alone or in isolation much thought. In retrospect, I likely sought out such times of solitude to get away from interruptions and other demands that come from working in the presence of others. Personal safety wasn’t of concern to me—even when working in an empty building well past midnight, or coming to work at dawn.
Last year, after being interviewed by the CBC about the discovery of new information into the 3-year disappearance of an area resident, I realized I made subconscious changes in my routine to reduce risk of a violence-related incident happening (1). To better protect myself I made simple changes such as moving my vehicle closer to the door before everyone leaves for the day, having my keys ready and checking my surroundings before leaving or entering the business in off hours (2).
What is meant by working alone? Generally speaking, a worker is alone at work (i) when they are on their own for a period of time, (ii) where they do not have direct contact with a co-worker or member of the public, or (iii) when they cannot be seen or heard by another person such that assistance would not be readily available to the worker in case of an emergency, injury or ill health. The person working alone may be an employee, self-employed person, contractor or employer. The term isolated generally implies working alone in remote locations or a long way from the primary workplace.
Today, working alone is a growing trend a host of reasons—personal preference, the gig economy, new startups and the spike in demand for speed and customer convenience that, in turn, is giving rise to extended business hours and on-demand mobile services from the likes of Skip the Dishes, GoOil, On Demand Mobile Truck Repair, Custom Car Wash, Fuelster and many other soon to be invented on-demand services (3).
For the aftermarket industry, examples of workers who may regularly work alone include receptionists, customer service representatives, estimators, shuttle drivers, car jockeys, technicians and building maintenance personnel including custodians.
Working alone is often safe when hazards are known and safety measures are followed. People who work alone face the same hazards in their daily work as other workers except the potential for harm may be greater for the lone worker. Understanding which hazards are more likely to cause serious consequences and taking action to reduce risk before the person begins working alone protects both employers and workers.
Working alone, in itself, is not against the law but under workplace safety legislation employers have general duties to provide a safe and healthy workplace when lone work is performed. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island have specific safety regulations and Ontario, Quebec and the Yukon have practice guidelines for working alone (4). Canada also has Bill C-45 where working alone is generally understood to be a hazard and is protected under the general duty clause (5).
In the aftermarket industry, when might working alone not be a good idea? When the job requires two people, when the chance of serious injury is greater if unsupervised, or where exposure to a serious hazard makes working alone especially dangerous by putting the worker at risk of:
- Electrocution (hybrid & electric vehicles)
- Falling (ladders, lifts)
- Burns (welding)
- Violence (robbery, assault)
- Exposure to extreme heat or cold (paint booth)
- Lifting heavy objects (e.g. catalytic converter)
Both employers and employees have responsibilities when it comes to lone or isolated work. Employees are responsible for taking reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their work activities and to cooperate with employers with meeting their obligations under the regulations. Employers, in all Canadian jurisdictions, must confirm:
i. a means of communication is available and maintained in the event of an emergency (6)
ii. a procedure exists for regular check-in or contact with the lone worker; and
iii. workers are specifically trained in the following
a. to carry out all work activities safely without direct supervision
b. manage events likely to occur when working alone
c. follow procedures to obtain emergency assistance if needed
d. follow procedures for establishing regular contact
Communication with lone workers requires both regular contact and a means of communicating. With today’s technology it is much easier to have access to reliable communication systems with mobile phones, two-way radios, panic buttons and many other types of telematics systems now available through cellular, cloud-based solutions or satellite technology. Landlines are also acceptable. It all depends on the degree of risk, practicality and what system both the employer and workers are comfortable with.
A policy and procedure should also be in place. It needs to include the conditions working alone is permitted, if authorization from a supervisor is required, what activities may be performed and prohibited, and for check-in, if contact is to be by visual or voice contact, how often and with whom check-in will be made.
Lastly, the employer must provide proof employees have been trained and are capable of safely performing activities alone and if required enlisting help in emergency situations. For instance, has the
person to work alone received the information and training they need to avoid panic reactions in unusual situations? Does the information outline the risks associated with the work or job, precautions and protective equipment needed to do the job safety and in the case of an emergency, does the lone worker know what they should do?
Working alone practices need not be complicated. An open discussion in the workplace with a “to do/not to do list” telephone or other communication device plus regular monitoring of working alone practice at the business make up the the basics.
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/thelma-krull-investigation-1.4224195
[2] https://www.findresumetemplates.com/personal-safety-arriving-early-or-leaving-work-late.html
[3] https://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/ondemand-business
[4] safetylineloneworker.com/blog/work-alone-legislation-canada/
[5] Bill C-45 is also known as the Westray Bill. For more about employers’ duties under this Bill see “Instilling the Spirit of Safety.” Collision Repair Magazine 17, 12 Dec. 2018, pp. 32–34.
[6] Guarda Security was found liable and fined under the Alberta Workplace Safety & Health
