Preamble
During regular working hours there are usually several people in the vicinity of researchers and students who are able to assist if an accident occurs, but after hours and during weekends and holidays, this is less likely. This is also less likely if someone is working in the field away from
campus.
Currently, some departments have guidelines in this area, but there are neither firm rules nor consistency from individual to individual or department to department. Provincial law (NEW BRUNSWICK REGULATION 92-133, under the OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT, O.C. 92-801) requires that rules be in place to govern these situations:
鈥淎n employer shall establish a code of practice to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of an employee who works alone at any time at a place of employment from risks arising out of, or in connection with, the work assigned.鈥
As such, a policy to address concerns around working alone is required in the sciences.
Given that there are many areas in science buildings that contain a variety of hazards and potential hazards, what follows are policies and procedures for students, employees, visitors, and others who may find themselves alone in our buildings, particularly after hours and on weekends.
On-going independent research sometimes requires that individuals be present in laboratories after hours, possibly unaccompanied. This policy is not intended to obstruct the research process; it is designed to provide procedures for prudent conduct of activities during non-regular hours or
while working in the field.
Those who work alone or unsupervised outside of regular hours or off campus must comply with this policy. This stated, it is acknowledged that different work environments and situations call for different interpretations of 鈥渨orking alone or in isolation.鈥 In some situations, a worker may be working in isolation during regular working hours (e.g., if he/she is working in a location where he/she might not be heard if calling for help to others in the building).
Thus, depending on circumstances, situations, or the physical environment, specific rules or procedures may be required to limit individuals鈥 duties in order to avoid risks associated with 鈥渨orking alone or in isolation鈥, regardless of time and location, and it is the purpose of this policy to ensure that such rules or procedures are developed and followed.
Definitions
Regular hours
- Working in laboratories from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (except holidays), is defined as working during 鈥渞egular hours鈥.
- Working in laboratories from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (except during scheduled instructional time) and on weekends and holidays is defined as working 鈥渙utside of regular hours鈥.
Working alone or in isolation
According to Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, means 鈥渢o work in circumstances where assistance would not be readily available to the worker in case of an emergency or in case the worker is injured or in ill health.鈥
Worker
Can include any and all students (graduate and undergraduate), post-doctoral fellows, technicians, lab instructors, visitors, etc., working in a laboratory or at a field site (i.e., anyone other than the faculty or staff member who is the supervisor of the laboratory space or field site).
Supervisor
A faculty or staff member who is responsible for a laboratory space or field site and by the nature of their employment is responsible for supervising a worker(s) in that space or site.
Policy
General
There must be a well-understood and agreed upon procedure in place for workers who will be working alone to ensure that they are checked on regularly. The frequency of checking depends on the hazard level of the work (see below) and/or the work environment. Evaluating the hazard level should be part of the general safety training that goes on in each laboratory or field site.
Note that anyone working with chemicals must have current WHMIS training.
Departments or individual faculty or staff members may establish more restrictive rules or procedures for areas under their control. This is particularly important for workers who may be working off site 鈥渁lone鈥 or 鈥渋n isolation鈥 (e.g., first aid training may be required).
Provincial and Federal legislation require supervisors, such as Principal Investigators (PI) or Laboratory Instructors, to ensure the well-being of workers. In a research laboratory, it is the duty of the PI to determine the risk level of the work to be done alone and the monitoring necessary. Even in the case of a highly experienced worker, it falls to the supervisor to ensure that general health and safety information relating to work, WHMIS, safety policies, and emergency procedures are known and understood by the individual.
Every reasonable effort to ensure compliance must be taken by both the supervisor and the worker(s). Persistent non-compliance may result in the removal of laboratory privileges.
This policy does not apply to students working in classrooms outside normal working hours; separate university policies may apply to such work.
Students Engaged in Course Laboratory Work
Students can work in a course laboratory outside of the regular laboratory periods under the following circumstances:
- during regular hours only;
- while properly accompanied;
- and with the permission of the instructor, who is responsible for ensuring that the students receive sufficie