Employees working alone or in isolation may be injured or at risk for violence when assistance is not readily available to them.
Amendments to BC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation took effect February 1, 2008, requiring employers to take measures to protect all workers and reduce the potential risks associated with late night and isolated shifts.
The new requirements are aimed at improving safety for employees who work alone, in isolation, and during late night hours. The call for improved conditions for people working alone followed the tragic 2005 death in Maple Ridge of late night gas attendant Grant De Patie.
The new requirement applies to all workers in the province. As a result, restaurants, coffee shops, fast food outlets, pubs, bars, private liquor stores, and hospitality employers are wise to sharpen their knowledge of the amendments to ensure compliance.
The amendments fall under three categories:
- working alone or in isolation
- late night hours and late night retail premises
- prepayment for fuel
The amendments included in the first and second categories are those most likely to impact some hospitality employers.
The first category is relevant to all employers and applies to working alone or in isolation. Before a worker is assigned to work alone or in isolation employers must identify, eliminate and control hazards. Employers must also develop and implement a procedure for checking the well-being of any worker assigned to work alone or in isolation. The frequency of checks will depend upon the hazards and risks identified.
Working alone or in isolation includes the following tourism and hospitality occupations:
- Retail (convenience store) employees
- Delivery drivers
- Cleaning staff
- Maintenance staff and custodians
- Taxi drivers
- Security guards
- Warehouse workers in cold rooms or freezers
The second category applies to staff working alone during late night hours at a late night retail premise. Late night hours are defined as the hours between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am; a late night retail premise is defined as a retail location that is open to the public during these hours. For this group, employers must develop and implement a written procedure for handling money safely and train workers in the procedures. During late night shifts, a physical barrier must be installed or a door locked between the worker and the customers.
Examples of late night retail premises:
- Self-serve restaurants, coffee shops, and fast-food outlets
- Private liquor stores
- Pubs and bars
- Pool halls and bowling alleys
Late night retail premises DO NOT include:
- Taxi cabs or limousines
- Hotel check-in desks
- Street vendors (food or merchandise)
WorkSafeBC offers many tools to help employers understand the new requirements and to implement any required changes. An employer handbook offers tips for conducting a risk assessment, controlling and minimizing hazards, safe work practices and training workers, plus various forms to implement a protection plan.
