Working Alone Legislation for Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, employers and contractors must comply with section 35 of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in place for employees required to work alone or at an isolated place of employment where assistance is not readily available in the event of injury, illness, or an emergency. The legislation requires employers and contractors to identify all the risks associated with working alone or in isolation and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or reduce those risks. Controls must include an effective communication system, such as radio, telephone, cellular communication, or another method appropriate to the risks. Additional measures may include regular contact, restrictions on certain activities, competency requirements, safe work procedures, personal protective equipment, and emergency supplies for severe weather conditions.

Work Alone Resources for Saskatchewan

Working Alone or at an Isolated Place of Employment

35. Working Alone

35(1) Definition

In this section, “to work alone” means to work at a worksite as the only worker of the employer or contractor at that worksite, in circumstances where assistance is not readily available to the worker in the event of:

• Injury;

• Ill health; or

• Emergency. 

35(2) Risk Identification

Where a worker is required to work alone or at an isolated place of employment, an employer or contractor, in consultation with the committee, the representative or, where there is no committee or representative, the workers, shall identify the risks arising from the conditions and circumstances of the worker’s work or the isolation of the place of employment.

35(3) Risk Reduction

An employer or contractor shall take all reasonably practicable steps to eliminate or reduce the risks identified pursuant to subsection (2).

35(4) Required and Additional Controls

The steps taken to eliminate or reduce the identified risks:

(a) Must include the establishment of an effective communication system that consists of:

(i) radio communication;
(ii) phone or cellular phone communication; or
(iii) any other means that provides effective communication in view of the risks involved.

(b) May include:

(i) regular contact by the employer or contractor with the worker working alone or at an isolated place of employment;

(ii) limitations on, or prohibitions of, specified activities;

(iii) establishment of minimum training or experience, or other standards of competency;

(iv) provision of personal protective equipment;

(v) establishment of safe work practices or procedures; and

(vi) provision of emergency supplies for use in travelling under conditions of extreme cold or other inclement weather conditions.

Key Requirements

Saskatchewan requires employers and contractors to identify the risks associated with working alone, take all reasonably practicable steps to eliminate or reduce those risks, and establish an effective communication system appropriate to the hazards involved.

Regular contact with a lone worker is specifically identified as a possible control measure, along with activity restrictions, competency requirements, PPE, safe work procedures, and emergency supplies for severe weather.