Alberta working alone regulations: what employers need to know
Alberta allows people to work alone, as long as the employer has assessed the hazards and put a reliable way of checking on them in place. The rules sit in Part 28 of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code, with general employer duties under the OHS Act.
Who counts as working alone in Alberta?
A worker is working alone when they work by themselves and help is not readily available if they are injured, become ill or face an emergency. That includes a single night-shift operator at a treatment plant, a home care worker on a client visit, or a technician driving between remote sites.
What Part 28 requires
- Hazard assessment (section 393). Assess the hazards of working alone for each role and put controls in place to eliminate or reduce them.
- Effective communication (section 394). Give each lone worker a way to contact the employer or a designated person, and check on them at intervals suited to the hazard.
- When electronic contact is not practicable (section 395). Arrange regular visits or scheduled contact so the worker's well-being is still checked.
- Workplace violence (Part 27). Where lone workers deal with the public, the violence hazard assessment and procedures also apply.
How OnGuard meets Alberta's requirements
| Requirement | How OnGuard covers it |
|---|---|
| Hazard controls by role | Assign check-ins, fall detection, idle detection or panic alerts by role |
| Effective communication | Panic alert with live location and escalation calls |
| Check-ins at set intervals | Scheduled and geofence-triggered check-ins with automatic escalation when one is missed |
| Response when a worker cannot call | Automatic fall, crash and idle detection raise the alert on their own |
| Records for audits and COR | Audit trail of every check-in, alert and response |
Simple to set up, easy to use
Push the app to company phones through your MDM, set your geofences and escalation contacts, and your team is protected the same day. Workers carry the phone they already have. No hardware to buy. Start with a free 30-day team pilot.
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Frequently asked questions
Is working alone legal in Alberta?
Yes, when the employer has assessed the hazards and has a way to check on and reach the worker.
How often must I check on a lone worker in Alberta?
The OHS Code ties the interval to the level of hazard. Higher-risk tasks call for more frequent checks.
Does an app count as effective communication?
A phone-based system with check-ins, alerts and escalation is a common way to meet the requirement, provided the worker has coverage at the work site.
Does OnGuard support COR audits?
OnGuard's audit trail gives you the records auditors ask for on lone worker procedures.
Source: Alberta OHS Code, Part 28. This page summarizes the rules for general guidance and is not legal advice.
Pilot OnGuard with your team
Run OnGuard free for 30 days with 15 or more of your workers on real shifts, including our Call Centre where available.
Fewer than 15 lone workers? Talk to our team. Questions? Call 1-855-289-5892.