Working Alone or in Isolation
This Policy section pertains to the following WCA
Part 3 Division 3, Sections 115(b) (c) General duties of employers
Part 3 Division 10 Sections 172-177 Accident Reporting and Investigation
This Policy and Procedure section pertains to the following OHS Regulation:
Part 3 Contents of a Health and Safety Program Section 3.3 Contents of program sub section (e)
Part 3 Rights and Responsibilities
Section 3.4 Incident investigation reports
Policy Statement and Scope
The definition of working alone according to WorkSafeBC is that working alone or in isolation means to work in circumstances where assistance would not be readily available to the worker
(a) in case of an emergency, or
(b) in case the worker is injured or in ill health.
Northern Lights College establishes normal working hours at all of its campuses and does recognize that there are situations where workers must work alone or in isolation. The following situations will be considered an isolated environment or instances of “working alone”:
- Any worker assigned, required or choosing to work alone beyond or in advance of the normal hours of work.
- Any worker assigned to work alone in a remote location during normal hours of work.
- Any worker assigned to a high risk task whereby they may be in unable to contact others for help should they become imperilled.
- Any worker required to travel
Any worker falling under the above mentioned categories will be informed by his/her supervisor of the procedures established by Northern Lights College for an employee working alone or in isolation.
The procedures and system for checking a worker’s well being will be reviewed annually by the Health, Safety & Environment Advisor (HSEA) in conjunction with the relevant supervisor or supervisor designate and the joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSC’s). These procedures may be reviewed more frequently if there is a change in the work circumstances which could affect the worker’s well being; ability to summon assistance or the system is not working effectively.
-- Created June 2007 | Revised Septemenber 2009 | Review Date September 2010 -----