Community social services workers often work alone, and while there are safety risks, there is a lot you can do to protect your people. WorkSafe BC defines working alone as any worker who is working in a situation where they cannot readily receive emergency assistance in the event of an injury, illness, or incident.
As part of your Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management system, a strong working alone program takes the necessary precautions to reduce physical risks such as violence and overexertion. In the context of social service work, we must also consider psychosocial risks associated with working alone.
There’s a lot to consider when creating your organization’s working alone program. Check out our templates and resources, created with social service workers in mind, to help your process.
Program Builder: Working Alone or in Isolation Program Template
Program Builder: Working Alone or In Isolation Plan
Program Builder: Working Alone or In Isolation Online Course
Program Builder: Working Alone Manual Check in Form
Program Builder: WorkSafeBC – Working Alone or In Isolation Guide
Program Builder: Working Alone Check-In Frequency Guide
Program Builder: Working Alone App Review
WorkSafeBC Requirements
WorkSafeBC mandates that a working alone program be created and maintained.
Learn more:
What Employers Need to Know
Legal Requirements
- Risk assessment and control: Employers must complete a risk assessment and implement control measures for any worksite where people are working alone. The process involves identifying the hazards that are reasonably expected within the worksite, assessing the likelihood that each hazard will cause an incident, and assessing the severity of each incident.
Tip: Check out the CSSHSA and WorkSafeBC resources above to help determine which risk assessment approach best fits your organization. - Check-in procedures: Employers must establish a written check-in procedure for employees who are working alone. Scheduled check-ins help ensure employees are safe, and if one is missed that is a signal to the employer that assistance may be needed. A check-in procedure should include two-way communication between the employee working alone and a designated person who establishes and records the contacts.
Check with your Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC) and the worker to determine a timing interval that makes sense and is informed by a work environment risk assessment. Proactive emergency procedures should be in place in case a worker misses a check-in and contact cannot be established with them. - Worker training: Employers must train employees to work alone safely and understand the risks they face when isolated. People working alone are also responsible for conducting ongoing risk assessments and reporting any changes in their working environment to their employer. Training should include:
- Hazards and control measures present within the worksite
- Check-in procedures
- Usage of the equipment provided to reduce risk
Lone Worker Apps
- Lone worker apps can be a practical tool to include in working alone programs. They provide a simple check-in method for workers working alone and reduce human error. They offer emergency alerts if a check-in is missed and can escalate accordingly. They also provide automated audit reports to ensure compliance with WorkSafe BC regulations.
Tip: Check out our Working Alone App Review for more information.
Best Practices
Identify Lone Workers
- To decide if a worker is working in isolation, you must ask yourself the following:
- Are there other people around the worker?
- Is it reasonable to expect those people to help?
- Will the people who can help be aware of the worker’s needs?
- Would help be provided promptly?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, the worker must be considered a lone worker.
Review and Update Your Program
- Regularly monitor and update your working alone program to reflect changes in worksite risks or those that affect employee’s safety. The program must also be updated if there are reports of issues with the current procedure for working alone.
- If there are no changes to the worksite or no reports of issues, review your program annually, at a minimum.
Disclaimer:This resource is intended to help community social service organizations understand the requirements of different aspects developing of health and safety programs. It provides information on key concepts and directs users to relevant resources. The content above is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Please refer to the included links or consult official legislation and resources for current and accurate information.