Jurisdiction resources / Canada
Working alone in British Columbia
A starting point for working alone or in isolation.
Authority and scope
Working alone or in isolation
Who and what this covers: Working alone or in isolation
Sections 4.20.1-4.23 apply where assistance is not readily available. Before the assignment, section 4.20.2 requires hazard identification and elimination or, where elimination is impracticable, risk reduction to the lowest practicable level through engineering or administrative controls. The written well-being check procedure specifies intervals and missed-contact rescue steps; a designated person records checks, including at the end of the work shift.
Put the guidance to work
Questions for your plan
Who will check on the worker, at what risk-appropriate interval, and what happens after a missed check?
What to review
Consult the worker on intervals and the applicable committee or representative on the procedure; train the worker and checker. Section 4.23 requires review at least annually, and sooner after changes that could adversely affect safety or effectiveness, or reports that the procedures are not working effectively. For lone or isolated work at covered late-night retail premises with violence risk, section 4.22.1 additionally requires written money-handling procedures and, during 11 p.m.-6 a.m., one or more specified protections: a locked barrier preventing public access, another worker, or the prescribed violence-prevention program. That program has equipment, premises and independent security-audit requirements.
Some work requires another person on site. Remote monitoring does not replace that requirement or the organization's own assessment, training and emergency procedures.
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Official sources
Sources listed November 6, 2026. Links and requirements can change.
Discuss your work
Talk through your team's plan
Be Safe can explain how check-ins, human monitoring and Emergency Contacts fit your team's work. Your organization remains responsible for determining its requirements and procedures.
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