Farm Safety Association
Sorry this tale doesn't speak of cowboys or horses, there
is no glamorizing working alone when it comes to landscaping,
traditional farming or horticulture work. Often times, working
alone is not by choice but rather, because there is no other
reasonable alternative when seasons are short, days are long
and assistance is scarce. While some tasks performed are inherently
designed to be performed alone, using landscaping equipment
or tractor operation for example, other tasks should intrinsically
be done with others to improve the level of personal safety,
as well as others'.
Working alone may result in injury, health impairment or victimization
through criminal violence or other adverse conditions. Employers
should provide and implement a plan to ensure, as far as reasonably
practical, safety of the worker from risks arising out of
workplace activities are prevented. This aside, consider your
day and the activities you perform. Now consider the number
and ways you work independently throughout your day. If mechanical
break down were to occur or operational assistance is required
who is able to assist you and by what means do you have of
communicating to them? Who would be able to assist you if
medical attention was required? Who would be able to provide,
first aid, CPR or call a paramedic, if by chance something
ill fated were to happen? Often times when we hear about accidents
related to landscape, agriculture or horticulture operations,
the circumstances could have considerably improved, if emergency
or even casual help was there to attend the needs of the victim
before the situation had escalated.
There are many feasible practices you can do everyday,
which can benefit everyone, in your workplace. Control measures
should include;
- A clear and concise working alone policy
- Instruction and training on working alone practices
to all staff
- Appropriate supervision
- And by providing staff with communication equipment
such as cell phones, pagers, calling cards or two-way radios.
Things to think about
- Are there safe working arrangements for lone workers?
- Can one person adequately control the risks of the job?
- Is the person medically fit and suitable to work alone?
- What training is required to ensure competency of staff?
- How will the person be supervised?
- What happens if a person becomes ill, has an accident,
or there is an emergency?
Work of a clearly hazardous nature, i.e. tasks involving high-energy
sources whether electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, toxic,
reactive, flammable or while using highly pressured materials
should never be conducted alone. It should go without saying
that confined space work should never be conducted alone either.
Transversely work which is considered a low risk environment,
such as administration or clerical work, should have time
limitations placed on it, to ensure employee accountability
as well as personal safety.
From a supervisor's perspective, the notion of "checking up"
on others can be done by a simple walk around, a standard
inspection, a phone call, prearranging a meeting at certain
breaks, or by using paging or two-way communication devices.
As an employee, any time, work is assigned to be completed
alone, ensure a conscientious effort is made on your part
to regularly "check-in" at appropriate intervals. Check-ins
may be visual or by phone. Appropriate checks should include,
timed intervals throughout the day, such as lunchtime, coffee
breaks or end of work shift check-ins.
Working alone safely can mean happy trails for you, until
you... meet again!
Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in
NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included
in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright
holder. More
NASD Review: 11/2003
The information and recommendations contained in this publication
are believed to be reliable and representative of contemporary
expert opinion on the subject material. The Farm Safety Association
does not guarantee absolute accuracy or sufficiency of subject
material, nor can it accept responsibility for health and safety
recommendations that may have been omitted due to particular
and exceptional conditions and circumstances.
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