Working Alone

[vickyp]

#102618

Is there a CSA or other standard that Canadian regulators have adopted for working alone’ Or, can you point me to provincial regulations on working alone as requested in a previous question for Saskatchewan?

[vickyp]

#102995

I don’t believe CSA or any of the other nongovernment standards associations has published a standard for working alone. (If anybody knows of such a standard, I’d be grateful if you’d let me know. glennd@bongarde.com). The source of working alone and in isolation requirements thus comes from the OHS regulations of the particular jurisdiction. In Sask., that’s Section 35 of the OHS Regs., which I’ve pasted in below. As you can see, the Regs. do define what “working alone” means–as do the similar Regs. in other jurisdictions.
Hope that helps and if it’s not what you’re looking for, let me know. Glenn glennd@bongarde.com
*****
Working alone or at isolated place of employment
35(1) In this section, “to work alone” means to work at a worksite as the only
worker of the employer or contractor at that worksite, in circumstances where
assistance is not readily available to the worker in the event of injury, ill health or
emergency.
(2) Where a worker is required to work alone or at an isolated place of employment,
an employer or contractor, in consultation with the committee, the representative or,
where there is no committee or representative, the workers, shall identify the risks
arising from the conditions and circumstances of the worker’s work or the isolation
of the place of employment.
(3) An employer or contractor shall take all reasonably practicable steps to eliminate
or reduce the risks identified pursuant to subsection (2).
(4) The steps to be taken to eliminate or reduce the risks pursuant to subsection (3):
(a) must include the establishment of an effective communication system
that consists of:
(i) radio communication;
(ii) phone or cellular phone communication; or
(iii) any other means that provides effective communication in view of
the risks involved; and
(b) may include any of the following:
(i) regular contact by the employer or contractor with the worker working
alone or at an isolated place of employment;
(ii) limitations on, or prohibitions of, specified activities;
(iii) establishment of minimum training or experience, or other
standards of competency;
(iv) provision of personal protective equipment;
(v) establishment of safe work practices or procedures;
(vi) provision of emergency supplies for use in travelling under conditions
of extreme cold or other inclement weather conditions.

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