Working Alone Legislation for Prince Edward Island

In Prince Edward Island, employers must comply with Part 53 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, which specifically addresses workers who work alone when assistance is not readily available in the event of an injury, illness or emergency. Employers must develop and implement written procedures that identify the risks associated with working alone, establish measures to minimize those risks, and explain how workers can obtain assistance in an emergency. The procedures must also establish check-in intervals, designate who is responsible for contacting the worker and recording the results, outline what happens if the worker cannot be contacted—including emergency rescue provisions—and require a check at the end of the worker's shift. Employers must also provide training on the procedures to lone workers and their supervisors.

Work Alone Resources for Prince Edward Island

Part 53 — Working Alone

53.1 Definition

In this Part, “working alone” means a worker working at a workplace who is the only worker of the employer at that workplace, in circumstances where assistance is not readily available to the worker in the event of:

Injury;

Ill health; or

Emergency.

53.2 Written Procedures

53.2(1) Employer Responsibility

Where a worker is working alone, the employer shall develop and implement written procedures to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of the worker from risks arising out of, or in connection with, the work assigned.

53.2(2) Required Information

The written procedures must include:

(a) The name, address, location and telephone number of the workplace;

(b) The name, address, location and telephone number of the employe

(c) The nature of the business conducted at the workplace;

(d) Identification of the possible risks to each worker working alone that arise from or in connection with the work assigned;

(e) The steps to be followed to minimize the identified risks; and

(f) Details of the means by which a worker working alone can secure, and the employer can provide, assistance in the event of injury or other circumstances that may endanger the worker’s health or safety.

53.2(3) Check-In and Emergency Procedures

The procedures for minimizing risks must:

(a) Specify the time intervals for checking on the worker;

(b) Specify the person responsible for contacting the worker and recording the results of the contact;

(c) Outline the process to be followed if the worker cannot be contacted, including provisions for emergency rescue; and

(d) Provide for checking with the worker at the end of the worker’s shift.

53.3 Compliance

The employer and the worker who is working alone shall comply with the procedures developed under section 53.2.

53.4 Training

The employer shall implement a training program covering the procedures established under section 53.2 for:

Each worker who is working alone; and

Each supervisor responsible for a worker working alone.

53.5 Availability of Procedures

The employer shall ensure that a copy of the procedures established under section 53.2 is available to an officer on request.

Key Requirements

Prince Edward Island has specific requirements for working alone. Employers must develop and implement written procedures that identify the risks associated with lone work, establish measures to minimize those risks, and explain how workers can obtain assistance in an emergency.

Importantly, the procedures must establish specific check-in intervals, identify who is responsible for contacting and recording contact with the worker, establish an emergency rescue process if the worker cannot be reached, and require a check at the end of the worker’s shift.

Workers and supervisors must also be trained on the procedures.

Prince Edward Island — Specific Check-In Requirements

PEI is more prescriptive than jurisdictions that rely primarily on a general duty to protect workers. Its regulations specifically require written lone-worker procedures with defined monitoring intervals, designated contacts, missed-contact response procedures and end-of-shift checks.