Work Alone Rules

Directive

All Qualico Employees working alone must:

  1. Have effective means of communication on or nearby at all times. A cell phone and panic button are to be used.
  2. Inform a “work alone buddy” of intent to work outside of normal work hours and establish a communication routine with breaks no longer than 1 hour between contact to ensure well-being.
  3. Must conduct a Hazard Assessment upon arrival at the Work Site to determine hazards and to either eliminate or control risks.

Workers should never be out of touch with someone for more than 3 hours while working alone. If there has been no contact in accordance with the established routine then the work alone buddy attempts to contact the Worker. If contact cannot be made, emergency protocol must be activated. Contact the designated emergency contact (i.e. Regional Safety Manager).

There are four steps required by Applicable Legislation in regard to working alone:

  1. Conduct a daily Hazard Assessment or when required.
  2. Eliminate or control all risks.
  3. Ensure Employees are trained and educated in working along and for the tasks they will complete when alone.
  4. Establish an effective means of communication (i.e. a Work Alone Plan).

Work Alone Procedure

  • To work alone anytime, a communication link must be established with someone in a position to act as a work buddy without exception. This applies to all Workers in all hours of the day and night, seven days a week.
  • When a Worker is called out or is remaining on a site after normal business hours, it is the Worker’s responsibility to establish a communication link with the Worker’s work alone buddy and advise the work buddy of their location and other pertinent information.
    • E.g. I am leaving home now. I am going to XYZ. When I get there, I will let you know of how long I expect the job to take and how I how assessed my risk level while I am there.
  • It is also necessary to maintain a list of designated work alone buddies is in case of an emergency.
  • Upon arrival at the destination the Worker again calls the work alone buddy and advises:
    • “I have arrived at the job site and completed my risk level assessment. I will contact you every X hour(s).

Check-In Procedure

  • Workers should never be out of touch with their work alone buddy for more than 3 hours while working alone.
    • Before the duration of risk level time is up, the Worker must call the work alone buddy and either extend the stay at the location or, if leaving the designated location, notify the work alone buddy of their next destination.
    • If the job is completed prior to the next scheduled call in, the Worker again phones the work buddy and advises that they are going home.
    • When the Worker has arrived home or at their destination, they phone once more to the work alone buddy.
  • If there is no link established by the Worker; the work alone buddy is to attempt to contact the Worker.
  • If there is no response, the work alone buddy is to call the designated emergency contact.
  • The emergency contact will go to the Worker’s last known location to confirm the Worker’s condition.
  • All communication and action is to be recorded for an assessment of the system.

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