Working Alone in Nunavut: Rules and Employer Duties

In Nunavut, distances, weather and limited cell coverage make working alone a serious hazard. Section 33 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (R-003-2016), under the Safety Act, sets out the employer's duties. The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC), shared with the Northwest Territories, enforces them.

When is a worker working alone?

Section 33(1) defines working alone as working at a work site as the only worker at that work site, in circumstances where assistance is not readily available in the event of injury, ill health or emergency.

What employers must do

1. Identify the hazards of working alone, in consultation with the committee or representative (section 33(2)).
2. Take reasonable measures to eliminate or reduce the risks, including an effective communication system: radio, telephone or cellular phone, or any other means that provides effective communication considering the risks involved (section 33(3)).

The regulation does not set a check-in interval. The WSCC code of practice explains that the level of risk determines how often the worker should be contacted.

Violence

Section 35 requires a written policy on violence where violence may reasonably be expected, in sectors such as financial services, premises selling alcohol, taxis, transit and security.

How a lone worker app helps

A lone worker app does not make you compliant on its own, but it can be part of the effective communication system the regulation requires. 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.

Outside communities with cell coverage, Neovigie works with satellite messengers connected to the same platform, and alarms can be routed to a professional 24/7 monitoring centre.

Need a written procedure? Download our free working alone policy template for Canadian employers, with a check-in procedure, a hazard assessment form and notes for every province and territory.

Sources

• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (R-003-2016)
• WSCC, Code of Practice: Working Alone (NT and NU)

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.