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Working Alone Safety Policy
Intent:
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is committed to providing a safe and healthy
working and learning environment for individuals required to work alone. This
policy helps ensure the safety and well-being of individuals permitted/required to
work alone is monitored through regular communication methods as described in
this policy and associated procedure.
Scope:
This applies to all faculty, staff, students and/or volunteers working alone or in
isolation, both on and off campus, including field research activities, under the
direction of an authorized member of the University community and the activity
has the potential to result in exposure to hazardous materials or equipment, or to
environments that pose a risk of injury or illness due to violence or unsafe
conditions.
Definitions:
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP): This refers to as the laboratory safety standard
which specifies the mandatory requirements to protect laboratory workers from
harm due to hazardous chemicals.
Working Alone-Per OSHA: A person is "alone" at work when they are on their own;
when they cannot be seen or heard by another person. It is important to consider
all situations carefully. Working alone includes all employees who may go for a
period where they do not have direct contact with a co-worker.
High Risk Activities: Work that places an individual at an increased risk of
physical or psychological harm, uses potentially dangerous machinery, or exposes
the individual to a hazardous location or material.
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Risk Assessment: A process that involves the identification of hazards, analysis or
evaluation of the risk associated with the hazards, and the development of
appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazards.
Table of Contents:
1. Responsibilities
2. Working Alone Plan
3. Communication
4. Check-In Procedure
5. Working Alone Prohibited
6. Best Practices for Management
7. Training
Procedures
The supervisor of individuals working alone should seek ways to reduce risk and
eliminate or mitigate hazards a worker may face while performing their job duties.
The procedures and guidelines for situations listed below should be followed by
anyone working in an isolated environment.
Responsibilities
Risk Management, Safety and Sustainability (RMSS)
Step
Responsibilities
1
Be responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of this
policy
2
Provide necessary resources as available to carry out the program
3
Provide consultation to supervisory staff in the development of
departmental and site-specific working alone plans
4
Assist respective departments to conduct a risk assessment to identify the
risks associated with potential hazards
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Department Chairs/Heads
Step
Responsibilities
1
Provide the resources and direction required to support the Working
Alone Policy
2
Ensure that faculty, staff, and students are aware of, and have been
trained on the requirements for working alone
3
Use appropriate hazard controls, follow your department CHP, and/or use
the Working in Isolation e-form for working alone
4
Establish general rules for working alone within the department/unit
Faculty and/or Supervisors
Step
Responsibilities
1
Identify situations where workers, including themselves, work alone and
conduct risk assessments accordingly with the proper mitigation
measures
2
Identify all workers who work alone or in isolation to ensure they know
the associated risks
4
Ensure workers attend required training programs to ensure their safety
and that all new workers that will work alone receive orientation
5
Ensure procedures are developed, maintained, and communicated to all
workers that work alone
6
Ensure work performed alone or in isolation has a completed risk
assessment that has been shared with the lone worker
7
Ensure lone workers understand the risks associated with their work and
that the necessary safety precautions are carried out
9
Implement controls to eliminate or control hazards prior to lone work
Faculty, Employees, and Students
Step
Responsibilities
1
Obtain supervisor approval before working alone
2
Communicate any unsafe conditions to the immediate supervisor
3
Recognize the hazards associated with job tasks and mitigate the potential
hazard
4
Work alone only when necessary, rescheduling assignments (when
possible) to minimize working alone
5
Follow the protocols put in place and adhere to safe work practices
6
Communicate any changes in unsafe conditions or protocols
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Working Alone Plan
Departments are required to develop a methodical Safe Working System for
employees who work alone. Although there is no specific format for a Safe
Working System, it should address the following information:
Safe Working System
Step
Action
1
Name of individual or job positions that are required to work alone
(complete Working in Isolation Eform)
4
Identification of which type of activities may be conducted while working
alone and stating any limitations and/or prohibitions on certain activities
5
Procedures to control (minimize) the identified risks. This will involve
implementing engineering and/or administrative controls (see Control
Measures for more information)
6
Implementing control measures to eliminate or reduce the risks of injury
or harm, and ensure they are monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis
7
Ensuring the worker understands the hazards that may be associated with
the work and the procedures that should be followed to reduce risk
9
Any individual working alone should receive departmental permission
prior to the occurrence. In the event the immediate supervisor cannot get
in touch with the employee/student working alone, notify campus police
or security right away. The immediate supervisor must be notified of the
situation in writing prior to its occurrence in case of an emergency.
Communication
A Working Alone or Isolation Safety Plan may include the following to ensure the
most practical and effective means of communication:
Step
Action
1
Methods of communication by which employees can secure emergency
assistance and how emergency assistance will be provided in the event of
an incident or accident
2
Portable or cellular telephone and radio
3
Walkie-talkie
4
E-mail, instant message, or text message
5
Check-in system and requirement for updating an individual’s status while
working alone
6
Any other method that may be considered effective in the specific
department's safe operations
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Check-In Procedure
It is important to account for individuals who are working alone. Medium and high
risk working alone activities should require that a check-in procedure be
established. Consider the following factors when developing a check-in procedure:
Step
Action
1
Determine who will be the main contact person and a backup individual
• Ensure the designated contact person is willing to participate and
knows the procedure if they are unable to contact you
2
Determine if a verbal check-in is adequate or must the employee be
accounted for by a visual check
3
Define under what circumstances the lone employee will check in and how
often
• The frequency of the communication increases as the risk of the
activity increases
• The schedule must be determined and clearly communicated to the
lone worker and to the contact person
4
Have the lone worker call the designated contact individual at the
beginning and completion of the activity
5
Have the contact person call or visit the lone employee periodically to
make sure everything is OK. You may wish to have a written log of contact
6
Develop an emergency action plan to be followed if contact with the lone
worker is not achieved within a certain timeframe
Working Alone Prohibited
There are certain situations where working alone will not be permitted. Working
alone will be prohibited under the following circumstances:
Step
Action
1
Confined space entry: 29 CFR 1910.146
• Permit-required Confined Spaces
2
Working on energized electrical conductor or equipment: 29 CFR 1910.333
• High energy materials (radioactive, high temperature)
• High pressure or high voltage systems
3
Power line hazards: Use of a vehicle, crane, or similar equipment near a
live power line where it is possible for any part or the equipment or its
load to contact the live power line
4
Fall Protection System: 29 CFR 1910. 29
• Using fall arrest equipment and scaffolding
5
View obstruction: A vehicle, crane, mobile equipment, or similar material
handling equipment where the operator does not have full view of the
intended path of travel
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Best Practices for Management
There are many steps that should be taken to help ensure the safety of those who
are working alone. Best practices for a situation where individuals work alone
include:
General Best Practices
Step
Action
1
Assessing the hazards of the work to identify existing or potential working
alone hazards on campus.
2
Taking corrective actions or measures to prevent or minimize hazards or
incidents from occurring
3
Assessing the requirements for emergency equipment, emergency aid and
practical means of obtaining assistance based upon the nature and degree
of exposure to the hazard
4
Ensuring emergency aid is available and compatible with the work
assignment
5
Training and educating students of the hazards and methods used to
control or eliminate them so they can perform their work safely
6
Evaluating safety measures on a regular basis to ensure that these
measures are effective, considering any new changes in the operation
7
Providing an effective system of communication between any individual
who works alone and a person capable of assisting the individual
Best Practices for Student/Employees
Step
Action
1
Report all accidents of work site incidents immediately to campus security
and his/her supervisor
2
Participate in work area hazard assessments and the implementing of
procedures to eliminate or control hazards of working alone
3
Adhere to appropriate measures established for working alone
4
Follow all safety instructions provided
5
Report suspicious activity to campus security
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Training
Training is available to those staff in high-risk situations. Risk Management, Safety
and Sustainability can help coordinate safety training to include raising awareness
of potential dangers, avoiding, and reducing risks, and dealing with emergency
situations while working in isolation.
Related Policy:
UW-System Administrative Policy 620: Working in Isolation
Administration:
Approval Details
Approval
Authority:
UW-System Administrative Policy 620: Working in Isolation
General Working Conditions: OSHA General Duty Clause,
Section 5(a)(1)
Approved By:
Approval Date:
10/14/2022
Version no:
V2.0
Date of next
Review:
The practice directive and procedure review should be
scheduled annually from the approval date.
Revision History
Version
Revision Date
Description of changes
Author
2.0
09/29/2022
Procedure Established
Chaizong Lor
Contact Person/Department
Contact Person:
Brian Drollinger, Director of Risk Management, Safety & Sustainability
Keywords:
Working Alone or Isolation Policy
