Lesson 1: What working alone means
You are working alone when no one can see or hear you, and help would not come quickly if you were hurt, became ill or faced an emergency. You can be working alone even inside a busy building. A guard on an empty floor at 3 a.m. is alone, even if a cleaner is somewhere else in the tower.
Many security jobs involve working alone: night shifts at a single post, mobile patrol between sites, vacant property checks, concierge desks and remote industrial sites.
Why lone work is risky
- Dealing with the public where violence is possible.
- Working at night, often when tired.
- Remote sites with poor cell coverage or long response times.
- Driving between sites, including breakdowns in bad weather.
- Slips, falls or sudden illness with no one nearby to help.
- Handling cash, keys or other valuables.
The goal is not to scare you. It is to make sure that if something goes wrong, someone notices quickly and help is on the way.
Lesson 2: What the law expects
Workplace safety law is mostly provincial or territorial, so the details change across Canada. The main idea is the same everywhere: your employer must look at the hazards of lone work and put controls in place. You must follow the procedures and report problems.
| Province | Main rule | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | OHS Regulation, sections 4.20.1 to 4.23 | Identify hazards first; written check-in procedure with set intervals, a designated person, an end-of-shift check and a plan if the worker cannot be reached; training; review at least once a year |
| Alberta | OHS Code, Part 28 (Working Alone) | Hazard assessment; an effective way to communicate, such as a radio or phone; regular contact at intervals that suit the hazard, or visits and scheduled check-ins |
| Ontario | OHSA, workplace violence rules | The violence program must include ways to summon immediate assistance; violence and harassment policies are reviewed at least once a year |
In BC, the check-in interval is not a fixed number in the law. It is set with the joint health and safety committee or worker representative, and with the lone worker. Higher-risk work needs shorter intervals. BC prefers visual or two-way voice contact.
Lesson 3: Check-in systems that work
A check-in system is a planned way for someone to confirm you are safe at set times. It only works if everyone follows it every time.
Parts of a good check-in plan
- A main contact, such as a dispatcher or monitoring centre, plus a backup contact.
- Set times or events for check-ins, such as every hour and at the end of each patrol round.
- A written log of each check-in.
- A code word you can say if you are in trouble but cannot speak freely.
- A clear plan for missed check-ins: who acts, when, and what they do.
- A check at the end of the shift, so no one is left unaccounted for.
Communication tools
Use tools that work where you are. A cell phone may be fine downtown but useless at a rural site. Other options include two-way radios, satellite devices, GPS trackers and lone worker apps or duress devices. Some devices send an alarm automatically if you do not reset them in time or if they detect a fall.
Lesson 4: Staying safe during the shift
Before you start
- Read the post orders and any notes from the last shift.
- Check your radio or phone, flashlight and keys.
- Confirm your check-in times and contacts with dispatch.
- Tell dispatch about any change to your planned route.
While on patrol
- Stay alert. Keep your hands free and your phone out of your face when walking.
- Vary your patrol times and routes so no one can predict them.
- Park facing out, in a well-lit spot, so you can leave quickly.
- Do not enter a building or area that looks broken into. Back off, report it and wait for police or backup.
- Do not chase or confront people on your own. Observe, keep your distance and report.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, leave and call for help.
Fatigue on night shifts
Being tired slows your reactions and dulls your judgment. Sleep well before shifts, eat regular meals, drink water and take your breaks. If you feel too tired to work safely, tell your supervisor.
Lesson 5: When something goes wrong
If you cannot be reached at a check-in time, the monitoring person should follow the written plan. A typical escalation looks like this:
- Try to reach the guard by radio and phone right away.
- Try the backup contact methods.
- Send a supervisor or mobile unit to the guard's last known location.
- Call 911 if the guard still cannot be found or there are signs of danger.
- Record each step and the time it was taken.
If you are the guard and you know you will miss a check-in, for example because you are dealing with an incident, tell dispatch as soon as it is safe. A false alarm is much better than a delayed response.
Report hazards and near misses
Report broken lights, faulty radios, dead zones and close calls. These reports help your employer improve the hazard assessment. In BC, procedures must be reviewed at least once a year, and sooner if the work changes or someone reports that the procedures are not working.