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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Working Alone Safety Program

Some job functions in agriculture require individuals to work alone or in isolated areas. This program is to encourage awareness and promote safe work procedures for employees who work alone. Whenever an employee is working alone, the employer shall account for each employee throughout each workshift, appropriate to the job assignment, to ensure the employee's safety and health.

Working alone describes situations during the course of employment when an employee is:
- The only worker at the workplace
- Not directly supervised by the employer
- Working at a site where assistance is not readily available
- In an area where direct contact with a co-worker or supervisor is not available
- In a dangerous area (either due to work processes or likelihood of being robbed)
- Traveling away from the base office to an off-site work location or to meet clients

The objectives of the Working Alone Safety Program are:

Identify hazards to workers working alone and to try to eliminate, minimize or control them.

Provide assistance for workers working alone in the event of an accident or emergency.

Identify responsibilities of employees and supervisors.

Recognize who should not work alone.

Provide training assistance.

Resources:
OSU Working Alone Safety Program
Working Alone Safety Checklist
Working Alone Hazard Assessment

Contacts:

If you have any questions, please contact Kent McGuire (CFAES Safety and Health Coordinator) at mcguire.225@osu.edu or (614) 292-0588. You may also contact the OSU Environmental Health and Safety Office online at http://ehs.osu.edu/ or by phone at (614) 292-1284.

 

Reviewed / Updated: 10/28/20 K. McGuire