Working Alone Check In Procedure

The Working Alone Check In Procedure establishes a mandatory, time-bound communication protocol for any employee who performs tasks in isolation — whether at a remote job site, after hours, or in a segregated workspace. This program directly addresses WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation Part 11 (Isolated Workers) and OSHA 1910.269(g)(3) (Lone Worker Communication). Every working alone scenario must have a documented check-in interval not exceeding 60 minutes, a secondary means of communication, and a formal escalation tree if a check-in is missed. The employer is legally obligated to maintain a verifiable log of all check-ins, missed check-ins, and escalation actions for a minimum of two years. This policy applies to all full-time, part-time, and contract personnel operating under the organization's health and safety jurisdiction.

This procedure applies to every employee, supervisor, contractor, and subcontractor who performs work alone, as defined by the OHS regulation, at any facility, field location, or client site under the organization's operational control. "Working alone" means any situation where a person is not in direct visual or verbal contact with another person who can provide immediate assistance in an emergency. This includes but is not limited to: after-hours maintenance, remote site inspections, solo warehouse shifts, field service calls, and any task where the risk assessment identifies a lone worker hazard. The procedure does not apply to telework-from-home arrangements where the employee has immediate access to emergency services via standard telecommunications — though a separate check-in policy may apply. All exceptions must be documented in writing by the department head and approved by the Health & Safety Director.

• DIRCheck-in frequency must not exceed 60 minutes between contacts; higher-risk tasks (e.g., electrical, confined space) require intervals of 30 minutes or less as determined by the job-specific risk assessment.
• REQEvery lone worker must carry at least two independent means of communication (e.g., company cell phone and two-way radio, or satellite device) and confirm both are functional before commencing work.
• REQMissed check-in triggers a mandatory 5-minute grace period followed by immediate escalation: first to the supervisor, then to designated emergency contact, and finally to local emergency services if no contact within 15 minutes.
• DIRAll check-ins must be logged in the company-approved digital system (or paper form as backup) with timestamp, worker name, location, and status (OK / Assistance Required / Emergency).
• REQAnnual training and competency verification is mandatory for all workers and supervisors who participate in or oversee lone work. Training records must be retained for the duration of employment plus three years.

• Health & Safety Director — Owns this policy, conducts biennial program audits, approves all risk assessments for lone work, and ensures compliance with regulatory changes from WorkSafeBC and OSHA.
• Supervisor / Lead Hand — Assigns lone worker status, verifies communication equipment is operational, monitors check-in logs in real time, initiates escalation protocol on any missed check-in, and documents all incidents.
• Lone Worker (Employee/Contractor) — Performs check-in at prescribed intervals, reports any change in risk level immediately, maintains communication devices in working order, and stops work if communication is lost.
• Safety Coordinator / Dispatch — Maintains the master check-in log, triggers escalation if supervisor is unreachable, and keeps emergency contact information current for all active lone workers.