Barn Safety - Manitoba Pork Council

Working Alone or in Isolation
If employees work alone or without supervision, policies and procedures should be set to
ensure that they are not injured or forgotten by other co-workers. According to
Workplace Safety and Health “Working alone” means the performance of any work
function by a worker who is the only worker for that employer at that workplace at any
time; and not directly supervised by the employer, or another person designated as a
supervisor by the employer, at any time. “Working in isolation” means working in
circumstances where assistance is not readily available in the event of injury, ill health or
emergency.
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It is important to identify risks of particular job tasks well in advance of employees
having to work alone or in isolation, and then take steps to eliminate or reduce those
risks. Safe work procedures for employees working alone must be developed and
implemented and workers must be trained. The establishment of an effective
communication system may consists of: Radio; phone or cellular phone; or other means
that provides effective communications given risks involved and any of the following:
System of regular contact by employer and worker, limitations or prohibitions of specific
activities, establishment of training requirements.
Where applicable, provision of emergency supplies for use in traveling or working under
extreme cold or other inclement weather conditions.
Confined Spaces
Ontario, August 16, 2000 (Reuters)- Three farm workers, ages 23, 32 and 33, died after
they climbed into an 18,000 liter liquid manure tank. Police believe inhaling methane gas
killed them when they climbed into the nearly empty tank to repair a faulty part. One
man entered the tank to make the repair, but failed to return. A second man went in
to rescue him and the third was then prompted to go in after the other two failed to come
out. The three men were pronounced dead at the scene after the bodies were removed by
firefighters wearing air tanks.