Working Alone in Saskatchewan: Rules and Employer Duties

In Saskatchewan, working alone is legal, but it is treated as a hazard. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 include specific working alone provisions in Part 3, under The Saskatchewan Employment Act. This guide explains when they apply and what employers must do.

When is a worker working alone?

The rules cover workers who work alone or at an isolated place, in circumstances where assistance is not readily available in case of injury, illness or emergency. Being out of sight of colleagues is not enough on its own: the question is whether someone would notice a problem and come in time.

What employers must do

The employer must take measures to eliminate or reduce the risks of working alone. According to the provincial government, these measures must include an effective communication system, and they may include:

• regular contact with the worker;
• minimum training or experience for the job;
• safe work practices or procedures;
• limits on specified activities;
• personal protective equipment and emergency supplies for inclement weather.

The regulations do not set a fixed check-in interval. The frequency of contact should match the hazard, with shorter intervals for remote or hazardous work and a check at the end of the shift.

Harassment and violence

Saskatchewan employers must also have a harassment and violence policy. Working alone, especially at night or in contact with the public, is a factor to consider when assessing the risk of violence.

Regulations under review

The Government of Saskatchewan launched a review of the OHS Regulations in 2025. Check the current text before updating your procedure.

What to put in your work alone policy

• the jobs and situations where people work alone or in isolated places;
• the hazard assessment and the controls chosen;
• the communication system and the check-in interval for each job;
• what happens when a worker misses a check-in: who calls, after how long, and when to send help;
• training, records, and a regular review.

How a lone worker app helps

A lone worker app does not make you compliant on its own, but it helps you implement your procedure reliably. With VigieApp, Neovigie's lone worker safety app:

• timed check-ins raise an alarm if the worker does not respond, even if the phone is broken or out of coverage, because the countdown is enforced by the server;
• missed check-ins escalate automatically to up to 10 supervisors per level, across 5 levels, by SMS, email, call and push;
• fall and no-movement detection raise the alarm when the worker cannot;
• every alarm is time-stamped, so you keep a record of your procedure.

For rural and northern sites with no cell signal, Neovigie also works with satellite messengers, and alarms can be routed to a professional 24/7 monitoring centre.

Sources

• Government of Saskatchewan, review of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (discussion paper, 2025)

Disclaimer: this article is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Neovigie is not a law firm and does not provide legal or regulatory compliance advice. Regulations change over time: always refer to the current legislation, and consult a qualified legal or occupational health and safety professional before making decisions for your organization.