Working Alone Legislation for Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, employers have a general legal duty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every precaution that is reasonable in the circumstances to protect the health and safety of workers and others at or near the workplace. This duty applies to workers who work alone, requiring employers to assess the risks associated with working alone and, in consultation with the applicable Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee or Health and Safety Representative, implement reasonable measures to control those risks. Depending on the hazards involved, appropriate controls may include training, effective communication systems, emergency procedures, physical security measures and other safeguards designed to protect lone workers.

Work Alone Resources for Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Working Alone Requirements

General Occupational Health and Safety Duties

Nova Scotia does not have a single, standalone regulation governing working alone across all workplaces. Instead, employers have broad duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act that apply to lone-worker situations.

OHS Act — Section 13(1)(a)

Every employer must take every precaution that is reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the health and safety of persons at or near the workplace.

This requires employers to assess workplace hazards and, where applicable, consult with the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee or Health and Safety Representative and implement reasonable measures to protect workers.

For lone workers, this means assessing the risks associated with working alone and implementing appropriate controls, which may include:

• Training;

• Effective communication;

• Physical security measures; and

• Other measures appropriate to the identified risks.

Employee Responsibility to Report Hazards

OHS Act — Section 17(2)

Where an employee believes that a workplace condition, equipment, material, or other aspect of the workplace may be dangerous to the health or safety of an employee or another person, the employee must:

(a) immediately report the concern to a supervisor;

(b) if the matter is not remedied to the employee’s satisfaction, report it to the committee or representative, if any; and

(c) if the matter remains unresolved, follow the additional reporting process established under the Act.

Workplace Hazard Identification

For workplaces required to have a written occupational health and safety program, the program must include a hazard identification system that addresses:

Evaluation of the workplace to identify potential hazards;

Procedures and schedules for regular inspections;

Procedures for reporting hazards and establishing accountability for correcting them; and

Identification of circumstances in which hazards must be reported to the committee or representative and procedures for doing so.

This provides a framework for organizations to identify working alone as a potential workplace hazard and incorporate appropriate controls into their existing health and safety program.

Violence in the Workplace

Violence in the Workplace Regulations — Sections 5 and 7

Employers covered by Nova Scotia’s Violence in the Workplace Regulations must conduct a violence risk assessment for each applicable workplace and prepare a written report detailing the extent and nature of identified risks.

Where a significant risk of violence is identified, the employer must establish and implement a workplace violence prevention plan.

These requirements apply to certain workplaces and industries and are not specific to lone workers. However, workplace violence may be an important consideration when assessing the risks faced by workers who work alone, particularly in environments involving interactions with members of the public.

First Aid Requirements

First Aid Regulations — Section 5(1)

Where a full-time employee regularly works in circumstances where no one is available who could administer first aid or summon assistance within a reasonable length of time, the employee must hold a valid emergency first aid certificate.

For lone-worker programs, employers should also consider how workers can summon assistance and how first aid will be provided when no other person is immediately available.

Remote Worksites

Under First Aid Regulations, section 18(1), employers or constructors at remote worksites must maintain a written first aid remote location plan where the applicable requirements are met.

The full regulation should be consulted to determine whether the requirements apply to a particular workplace or worksite.

Key Requirements

Nova Scotia's approach to working alone is primarily based on the employer's general duty to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances, supported by hazard identification, risk assessment and appropriate controls. Depending on the workplace and hazards involved, additional requirements relating to workplace violence, first aid, emergency communication and remote worksites may also apply.

Nova Scotia — General Duty & Risk Assessment

Unlike provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia does not establish a universal lone-worker check-in procedure or prescribed monitoring interval. Employers must instead determine appropriate protective safety measures based on the hazards and circumstances of the work.