Saskatchewan Working Alone and Safety Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: Saskatchewan's safety law and who enforces it

Workplace safety in Saskatchewan is set by Part III of The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020. The Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety enforces them. You can reach it at 1-800-567-7233 (1-800-567-SAFE).

Workers have duties too. You must know and follow the Act and regulations, take reasonable care for your own safety and others', cooperate with others on safety, and never harass or commit violence against another worker.

Who does what

Body	Tungkulin
Occupational Health and Safety Division	Enforces the Act and regulations, takes reports of serious injuries and decides unresolved work refusals
Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)	Handles injury claims and compensation
Occupational health committee or representative	Workplace group that inspects, hears concerns and investigates incidents

Lesson 2: Working alone under section 3-24

Section 3-24 of the regulations says you work alone when you are the only worker of your employer at the worksite and help is not readily available if you are injured, become ill or face an emergency. Many night guards, mobile patrol officers and site guards fit this definition.

What the employer must do

Identify the risks of the conditions and the isolation, in consultation with the occupational health committee, the representative, or the workers if there is neither.
Take all reasonably practicable steps to remove or reduce those risks.
Set up an effective communication system: radio, phone or cell phone, or any other means that works for the risks.

The steps may also include regular contact by the employer, limits on some activities, minimum training or competency, personal protective equipment, safe work procedures, and emergency supplies for travel in extreme cold or other bad weather.

Late night retail

Section 3-27 adds rules for late night retail premises, open to the public between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Where one worker works alone in those hours, the employer must have a check-in system with a written procedure and provide a personal emergency transmitter. Guards posted in these stores should know how the system works.

Lesson 3: Violence and harassment policies

Section 3-26 lists workplaces that must have a written violence policy statement. Security services are on the list, along with police, corrections, health care, late night retail, financial, taxi and transit services.

A violence policy must include

The employer's commitment to minimize or eliminate the risk
The worksites where violence has happened or may be expected
A recommendation that any worker exposed to a violent incident consult their physician
The employer's commitment to provide training for workers

The policy must be readily available to workers and reviewed every 3 years (and when circumstances change), and revised if needed.

Harassment

Under section 3-25, every employer must have a written harassment policy, put it into practice and post a copy in a conspicuous place. Harassment is inappropriate conduct, comment, display, action or gesture that threatens a worker's health or safety. It includes harassment based on grounds in the human rights code and personal harassment that harms a worker's well-being. Employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers, including from clients and the public.

Lesson 4: Your three rights and how to refuse

Every Saskatchewan worker has three rights: the right to know about hazards, the right to participate in health and safety, and the right to refuse unusually dangerous work.

Workplaces with 10 or more workers must have an occupational health committee of 2 to 12 members, at least half of them workers. Some prescribed workplaces with 5 to 9 workers need an occupational health and safety representative.

Refusing unusually dangerous work (section 3-31)

Tell your supervisor or employer which task you refuse and why you think it is unusually dangerous. Writing it down helps.
Stay at the worksite unless the employer allows you to leave.
If it is not resolved, the occupational health committee investigates. Its decision must be unanimous.
If it is still not resolved, call Occupational Health and Safety at 1-800-567-7233. An occupational health officer investigates and gives a written decision.
An officer's decision can be appealed in writing to the Director within 15 business days.

Section 3-35 bans discriminatory action, such as firing, warnings, suspension, demotion or loss of wages, for using your safety rights.

Lesson 5: Reporting injuries and dangerous occurrences

If you are hurt

Report the injury to your employer immediately.
Send the WCB a Worker's Initial Report of Injury (W1) as soon as possible.
Under section 52 of The Workers' Compensation Act, 2013, your employer must notify the WCB in writing within five days after becoming aware of an injury that stops you earning full wages or needs medical aid.

Serious injuries and dangerous occurrences

What happened	What the employer must do
An accident causes or may cause a worker's death	Notify OHS as soon as reasonably possible (s. 2-2). For a death, phone an officer first, then send written notice.
A worker is admitted to hospital as an in-patient for 72 hours or more	Notify OHS as soon as reasonably possible (s. 2-2)
A dangerous occurrence, such as a structure collapse or an uncontrolled spill of a toxic, corrosive or explosive substance	Notify OHS as soon as reasonably possible, whether or not anyone was hurt (s. 2-3)

A copy of each notice goes to the committee co-chairs or the representative. Call 1-800-567-7233 and press 1.

When a check-in is missed

A check-in system only works if missed calls are acted on. The monitor tries to reach you right away, then follows the written steps, which may include sending someone or calling 911. If you know you will miss a check-in, tell dispatch as soon as it is safe.