Working Alone in Ontario: Employer Duties and Policy Guide

Ontario has no regulation written specifically for working alone. That does not mean there are no rules: under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers must take every reasonable precaution to protect workers, and working alone is a hazard they are expected to assess and control. This guide explains what that means in practice and how to build a working alone policy for an Ontario workplace.

Is there a working alone law in Ontario?

No single regulation covers working alone in Ontario, unlike Alberta or British Columbia. The obligation comes from the general duty in clause 25(2)(h) of the OHSA: the employer must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker. When an employee works alone, that duty covers the specific risks of being alone: no one to notice an injury, raise the alarm or help.

When is working alone restricted in Ontario?

Working alone is allowed in general, but some regulations require another person to be present for specific work. The best-known example is confined spaces: under Ontario Regulation 632/05, an attendant must be stationed outside the confined space while a worker is inside. Sector regulations can set similar requirements for other high-risk tasks, so check the regulation that applies to your industry.

Working alone and workplace violence

The OHSA requires employers to assess the risks of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work, and to put a workplace violence policy and program in place. Working alone, at night, with cash or with the public, is one of the conditions that increases that risk. In practice, your working alone measures often belong in your workplace violence program as well.

What Ontario employers should do

1. Identify who works alone, when and where: night shifts, field visits, remote sites, after-hours work.
2. Assess the hazards of each situation: injury, sudden illness, violence, travel, environment.
3. Eliminate or reduce the risk: avoid lone work for high-risk tasks, pair workers or change schedules where possible.
4. Provide a reliable way to call for help at any time, suited to the site and the coverage available.
5. Set up a check-in procedure with intervals matched to the risk, and a clear plan when a worker does not respond.
6. Train workers and supervisors, involve the joint health and safety committee or the health and safety representative, and review the measures regularly.

How to write a working alone policy in Ontario

A working alone policy is not mandatory as a separate document in Ontario, but it is the simplest way to show that you have taken every reasonable precaution. It should cover:

• the jobs and situations that count as working alone;
• tasks that must never be done alone, such as confined space entry;
• the hazard assessment and the controls chosen for each job;
• the communication method and the check-in interval;
• the escalation steps when a worker misses a check-in;
• training, records, and a review at least once a year.

How often should a lone worker check in?

Ontario law does not set a fixed interval. The interval must match the risk: a low-risk task may only need a check at the start and end of the shift, while hazardous, remote or violence-prone work calls for frequent checks and an automatic alarm if one is missed. Write down who checks, how, how often, and what happens after a missed check-in.

Can a worker refuse to work alone in Ontario?

Under section 43 of the OHSA, a worker can refuse work they have reason to believe is likely to endanger them. The refusal must be reported to the employer or supervisor, who must investigate. Some workers, such as police, firefighters or certain health care workers, have limited refusal rights.

How a lone worker app helps

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

• the Lifeline runs timed check-ins: if the worker does not reset the countdown, the alarm goes off, even if the phone is broken or out of coverage, because it 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;
• a discreet SOS, from the app or the VigieTouch button, helps in situations of violence;
• every alarm is time-stamped, so you keep a record of your procedure.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to work alone in Ontario?

Yes. Working alone is legal in Ontario, except for specific tasks where a regulation requires another person, such as confined space entry. The employer must still take every reasonable precaution to protect the worker.

Do I need a working alone policy in Ontario?

No regulation requires a document with that name, but a written policy and check-in procedure is the clearest way to show that you meet your general duty and to align working alone with your workplace violence program.

Who is responsible for a lone worker's safety?

The employer, with supervisors applying the procedure on a daily basis. Workers must follow the procedure and report hazards.

Sources

• Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1
• Ontario Regulation 632/05, Confined Spaces
• CCOHS, Working Alone: General

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 in your jurisdiction, and consult a qualified legal or occupational health and safety professional before making decisions for your organization.