Working Alone

By Jim Zaichkowski, P.Eng., Project Coordinator, CSAO

 

In construction there are situations where personnel sometimes work alone. Examples include

"Working alone" can take place in an electrical vault on the main floor of a building in downtown Toronto or at a remote site outside Kapuskasing. It may involve work done by the only employee of a contractor on a jobsite or work done by a worker who is not directly supervised. Working alone may also involve working beyond the visual or audible range of any other individual for more than a few minutes at a time or working where the worker cannot be readily heard or seen in the event of an accident.

The greatest risk in working alone is that no one is available to help a worker who may be injured, trapped, or unconscious. Even if co-workers realize that someone is missing, it may be difficult to locate an incapacitated worker. In addition, studies have shown that personnel working alone are more likely to take risks by cutting corners or not following established procedures.

Construction people working alone have died from injuries or conditions that might have been treated and prevented from becoming fatal if the victims had only been located sooner. Coroners have accordingly recommended that employers implement procedures to safeguard personnel working alone.

Planning

It's impossible to eliminate all of the real or potential hazards on a construction site. But it is possible to reduce or control them. That includes the hazards of working alone.

Planning is the first step. For working alone, this means inspecting the jobsite for real and potential hazards and taking whatever steps are required to safeguard workers. If any personal protective equipment or clothing is required in addition to hard hat and safety boots, it should be provided, along with instruction in its proper use. All safety and work-related procedures should be reviewed with workers to ensure that each procedure is clearly understood. The procedures should also be spelled out in the company's health and safety policy.

Common sense can help to determine whether a job should be done by someone working alone or not. In some situations ­ confined spaces, for instance ­ regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act prohibit entry or work without another person standing by outside the area.

Communication

Communication is crucial in accounting for personnel working alone. A system must be established where, at regular intervals, someone checks on the worker or the worker reports to a designated person. Where hazard exposure is high, intervals should be kept short. Again, working alone should not even be considered in some cases.

Means of communicating between worker and outside contact should be predetermined and understood by both parties. If a site telephone is involved, it should be clearly identified, conveniently located, and working properly. The number of the individual to be contacted should be clearly posted near or on the phone.

Cellular phones or two-way radios can also provide effective communication. Test the units on-site to ensure that reception is reliable.

One arrangement requires a person working alone to phone an answering service at regular intervals. If the worker fails to report at one of the designated times, the answering service phones the employer, who goes to the project, or sends someone there, to check on the worker.

Checklist

The employer or supervisor should ensure that any worker working alone is aware of real and potential hazards in the area. The worker should be trained in hazard recognition and in the procedures and equipment required to do the job safely. The employer or supervisor must also ensure that

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