CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY & SECURITY MANAGEMENT Due diligence is what we promote, risk management is what

we support
Document Name: Document Type: Policy/Guideline: Related Policy: Measure: File Code: Approved: Last Update: Next Review: Working Alone or in Isolation Guideline UEHS-GL_015 UEHS-PO_001 KOH, WEPP UEHS L 2008 10 September 2009 2010 or as required

Purpose
While there are legal restrictions (Ontario OHS Act and related regulations) on working alone in specific conditions on the basis of risk to health and safety, the University recognizes the need to establish reasonable risk management practices which support continuity of University activity in a diversity of circumstances where faculty, staff or students work alone or in isolation. The working alone guidelines are designed to promote awareness of the hazards specific to the circumstance and to facilitate risk management measures through documented personal risk management plans where appropriate.

Statement
Working alone or in isolation under certain circumstances, situations or environments may increase the risk to health and safety. Measures to assess, communicate and address such known or predictable risk shall be established through the development of a documented risk management plan, completion of training or instruction and implementation through the internal responsibility system as outlined in the University Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management System Policy and Risk Assessment Guidelines established by the Centre for Environmental Health, Safety and Security Management. As directed by regulatory provisions, working alone is prohibited for activity outlined in Appendix A.

Scope
The guideline applies to faculty, staff, students and others who work or participate in University activity on or off campus under the direction of a member of the Ryerson community. Specifically, the provisions and related procedures shall be in effect where such activity has the potential to result in exposure to hazardous materials, equipment or devices, situations or environments that may cause physical injury, health impairment or harm from violence or adverse conditions.

350 Victoria Street, JOR-1118, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3 Tel: 416-979-5000 x 7096 Fax: 416-979-5205 Email: cehsmadm@ryerson.ca Web: www.ryerson.ca/cehsm

Definitions
Working alone or in isolation means working in a situation where the individual can not be seen or heard by another person and when they cannot expect contact from an employee or approved contact person for over an hour. This can include, but is not limited to, working: i. ii. iii. in an office or laboratory outside of normal occupancy hours; in situations where employees are called in at night after normal occupancy hours; and on field trips and in research or other University business conducted in remote locations.

Outside of Normal Occupancy Hours means undertaking work, study or recreation in any part of a University controlled space, outside of general open hours specified for individual buildings or locations on campus.

Roles and Responsibilities

Consistent with the University EHS internal responsibility system outlined in the University EHS Management System Policy, Deans and Senior Directors shall ensure the effective implementation of these guidelines and related procedures through the EHS management and accountability systems of their respective faculties and departments. As these systems apply to due diligence in working alone or in isolation, the following actions are outlined: Chairs/Academic Directors/Managers shall ensure that a risk assessment has been completed and a plan to address the risk as required has been developed, endorsed and communicated to those faculty, staff, students, guests or visitors working alone or in isolation. Faculty/Principal Investigator/Supervising Staff shall complete a risk assessment, develop a personal risk management plan and provide related training or instruction as needed and ensure that the plan is updated to reflect any changes in conditions or circumstances, for working alone or in isolation for staff, students, guests or visitors performing any activity under their direction or supervision which requires working alone or in isolation. The related risk assessment forms are available online at http://www.ryerson.ca/cehsm/forms/index.html. The individual working alone or in isolation must participate in the risk assessment and management planning process, follow the safe work practices outlined in the plan, carry identification and advise of any changes in conditions, lapses or deficiencies in the risk management plan or safe work practices.

Guideline Review
Periodically, under the University EHS Management System Audit Program, these guidelines and supporting programs shall be reviewed to maintain its currency and effectiveness.

Jurisdiction
Administration and interpretation of these guidelines rests with the Centre for Environmental Health, Safety and Security Management.

Procedures
1. Risk Assessment Before undertaking any working alone or in isolation activity, a working alone risk assessment (http://www.ryerson.ca/cehsm/forms/index.html) must be completed to determine if a formal risk management plan is required. 2. Low Risk Working Alone If a risk assessment indicates that a formal risk management plan is not required, the faculty, staff, students, contractors, guests, volunteers, and visitors working alone on campus are advised to take personal security measures. These measures are outlined online at http://www.ryerson.ca/security/.

3. Where Presence of Others is Recommended Some activities which are not legally prohibited while working alone are generally recognized as unsafe practices within the meaning and intent of the Ontario OHS Act. The presence of others is therefore strongly recommended for activity involving: large volumes of flammable solvents; X-Rays or isotopes; exposed, energized electrical or electronic systems; bio level 2 pathogens; radioactive substances; research work involving substances or materials acutely hazardous to health; work with animals; extreme temperature environments; handling of cash; dealing directly with the public; work in isolated regions off campus. other activity identified through the working alone risk assessment.

4. Personal Risk Management Plan As determined by completing the working alone risk assessment, a personal risk management plan must be developed for the circumstances involving working alone or in isolation and shall include consideration of: the procedure for security; the system for notification and communication; communication equipment; emergency measures; the procedure for response to an incident; any special training required; and requirements of other health and safety procedures.

The department of Security and Emergency Services is available to provide assistance with the development of such plans. 5. Training and Instruction Supervising faculty or staff must ensure the delivery of instruction and or training on the specific risk management protocols outlined in personal risk management plans for faculty, students, staff guests or visitors working alone or in isolation. Records of such instruction or training must be documented and retained on file within the respective Faculty or department.

Appendix A Activity Where Working Alone is Prohibited

As directed by regulatory provisions, working alone is prohibited for activity involving: confined space entry; an installation, equipment, or conductor operating at a nominal voltage of 300 volts or more, except while testing equipment or trouble-shooting; electrical systems rated at more than 750 volts; trenches; a portable ladder that exceeds 6 metres in length and is not securely fastened, or work with a ladder that is likely to be endangered by traffic; the use of fall arrest equipment and scaffolds; machine and power tools that could cause critical injury, e.g., lathes, table saws, and chain saws; quick-acting acutely toxic material as described by the Material Safety Data Sheet, e.g., inorganic cyanides, fumigants, etc.; the use of supplied air respiratory equipment or self-contained breathing apparatus; risk from drowning; use of a vehicle, crane or similar equipment near a live power line where it is possible for any part of the equipment or its load to make contact with the live power line; a vehicle, crane, mobile equipment, or similar material handling equipment where the operator does not have full view of the intended path of travel; use of open flames associated with flammable solvents; welding operations where a fire watcher is required; handling of animals capable of causing critical injury or paralysis and life- threatening zoonotic disease; and tasks which, based on the risk assessment conducted by the supervisor in consultation with the affected individual and the Centre for Environmental Health, Safety and Security Management, is deemed to require more than one person.