Lone Worker Legislation & Policy in Canada
Here are the acts and regulations on lone working in Canada, covering all relevant policies and legislation, along with guidance from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), Canada’s national worker protection agency, defines a lone worker as "a person is 'alone' at work when they are on their own; when they cannot be seen or heard by another person."
While there are no specific federal laws mandating lone worker monitoring, The Westray bill (Bill C-45) addresses employer responsibilities and applies to the Code of Liabilities for Corporations. Introduced in 2004, this amendment to the Canadian Criminal Code imposes strict penalties for workplace health and safety violations resulting in injury or death. Non-compliance with Work Alone Regulations may lead to higher WCB premiums, fines, legal actions, or even criminal charges for the responsible organization or individual.
Canada’s regulations vary by jurisdiction, encompassing one federal, ten provincial, and three territorial authorities. Several provinces require employers to consider lone worker safety through health and safety legislation that outlines the roles and responsibilities of employers, supervisors, and workers. However, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Yukon have no specific regulations on lone workers, so employers must consider regional requirements when developing their policies.
The CCOHS offers valuable resources on lone worker safety, available at: CCOHS - Working Alone.
Please see the legislation for each province in their own page below.
Legislation for Lone Working in British Columbia
Information about British Columbia lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working in Alberta
Information about Alberta lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working in Quebec
Information about Quebec lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working in Saskatchewan
Information about Saskatchewan lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working in Manitoba
Information about Manitoba lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working in Ontario and Nova Scotia
Information about Ontario and Nova Scotia lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working in Yukon
Information about Yukon lone worker legislation and regulations
Northwest Territories and Nunavut Safety Act
Information about The Northwest Territories and Nunavut lone worker legislation
Lone Working Northwest Territories
Legislation for Lone Working in Newfoundland and Labrador
Information about Newfoundland and Labrador lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working in New Brunswick
Information about New Brunswick lone worker legislation and regulations
Legislation for Lone Working on Prince Edward Island
Information about Prince Edward Island lone worker legislation and regulations
Lone Working Prince Edward Island
Assessing Risk in Your Workers
When employees work alone or in remote or isolated areas, employers must carefully consider various factors to meet their duty of care for staff safety.
Who is at Risk?
Extra precautions are needed for workers operating solo or away from a central office, as unfamiliar and unexpected situations can heighten the risk of accidents or violence. Roles at risk include:
- Real estate agents
- Social workers
- Inspectors
- Enforcement officers
- Home or health care workers
- Service or repair workers
- Sales personnel
Examples of High-Risk Activities
Certain tasks expose workers to elevated risks due to their nature, such as:
- Working at heights
- Entering confined spaces (e.g., tanks, grain bins, culverts)
- Handling electricity or other hazardous energy sources
- Using hazardous substances
- Operating dangerous equipment, like chainsaws or firearms
- Home visits for Healthcare workers
Employer Responsibilities
Remote and isolated work often involves lone workers. Assessing each role and situation is essential to ensure employee safety. Employers can:
- Establish a check-in procedure (refer to Working Alone - General for more details)
- Offer training on avoiding violent situations and resolving conflicts
- Enable a "buddy system" for high-risk scenarios, making sure employees know this option is available
- Share information on high-risk geographical areas with staff
- Restrict visits to high-risk areas or clients to specific times of day
- Maintain client records, informing staff if a client may be aggressive, hostile, or potentially violent
- Prepare daily work plans so colleagues are aware of where and when workers are expected on-site
Stacey Manclark
As an expert in lone worker content management, I possess an extensive knowledge base and experience in the area of lone working and safety monitoring. My expertise in this field encompasses a wide range of areas, including risk assessment, training, communication, and technology. I have a deep understanding of the unique risks associated with lone workers and have researched and written many projects and articles to educate people in how to mitigate these risks.
Throughout my time with OK Alone, I have kept up to date with technological developments, legislative changes and regulations that have been introduced to help organizations ensure the safety of their lone workers.
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