Section 5.3
WORKING ALONE POLICY

Approved by Richard DeBusk
Revised 10/12

5.3.1  Policy

It is the policy of Berkeley Lab to perform all work safely with full regard to the well-being of workers, contractors, affiliates, the public, and the environment. Due to the presence of significant potential hazards in many Laboratory spaces, some operations are not permitted when working alone in these locations. Specifically, workers at the Laboratory are not allowed to work alone when the mitigated hazards associated with their work could incapacitate them to such a degree that they cannot “self-rescue” themselves or activate emergency services.

5.3.2  Scope

The Working Alone Policy is implemented through the Work Authorization (e.g., Activity Hazard Document [AHD], Radiological Work Authorization [RWA]) and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) processes at the division level. Each division will assess its work activities and identify activities where the severity of mitigated hazards may prevent workers from self-rescuing or activating emergency services in the event of an accident. Authorizations for the identified work activities will place restrictions on working alone.

During the Work Authorization development and review process, authors and reviewers will determine whether and when a Working Alone restriction is necessary and include it within the controls listed in the Work Authorization Document. This Working Alone restriction will then flow down to individual workers through their JHA or other authorization, e.g., AHD. Work Leads may also determine that a Working Alone restriction is necessary for individual workers whose assignments are not covered by a Formal Authorization and place the restriction in the individual’s JHA. For construction activities, the policy is implemented through the Construction Safety review process; and for nonconstruction subcontractors, it is implemented through the Subcontractor Job Hazards Analysis and Work Authorization (SJHAWA) process.

5.3.3  Applicability
This policy applies to all Berkeley Lab employees, casual and participating visitors, affiliates, and subcontractors performing work at Berkeley Lab.

The policy does not address activities “Commonly Performed By the General Public” with hazards commonly accepted by the public, the control of which requires little or no specialized guidance or training to perform the work safely, including walking or driving while alone, or to the consequences of personal medical conditions that may appear while a person is at work.

This policy must be included in division safety documents, (e.g., the Division ISM Plan) by February 29, 2012. Divisions are to complete reviews and revisions of their Authorization Documents and JHAs to implement this policy by September 30, 2012.

5.3.4  Roles and Responsibilities

5.3.4.1  Division Directors

• Ensure that the Working Alone Policy is implemented within the division
• The policy should be included in the Division Integrated Safety Management (ISM) Plan.

5.3.4.2  Division Safety Coordinators

• Assist in the implementation of the Working Alone Policy, as requested by the Division Director
• Act as a conduit between Division Work Leads and the EH&S Division for coordination of Work Authorization and JHA activities that include Working Alone hazard assessments, as requested

5.3.4.3  Work Leads

• Utilize the Work Authorization and JHA processes as a mechanism to prohibit working alone for work under their control when the tasks, locations, and hazards have been properly analyzed and appropriate controls are implemented and utilized

5.3.4.4  Workers

• Exercise prudent judgment when performing potentially hazardous work activities alone
• Perform work only as analyzed in and authorized by the Work Authorization
• Stop work when the tasks, hazards, and/or required controls differ from those authorized in the Work Authorization

•  Do not resume work until the JHA accurately describes the work and has been reauthorized.

• Continually review work and assure that the JHA has analyzed and authorized the work appropriately
• Engage the Work Lead to modify the JHA  hazards profile and Work Authorization as appropriate

5.3.4.5  Division Liaisons

• Act as the primary representative of the EH&S Division to the Division Safety Coordinator
• Act as the Work Lead for assisting with Work Authorization and JHA activities that include Working Alone hazard assessments
• Obtain assistance from EH&S Division Subject Matter Experts, as necessary, to properly identify hazards and controls for tasks (including obtaining assistance with Jobs Hazard Analysis) as requested by the Work Lead or Division Safety Coordinator

5.3.4 6  EH&S Division Director

• Maintains software, procedures, and other support tools necessary to address the Working Alone Policy in the Work Authorization and JHA processes

5.3.5  Definitions

Working Alone: Occurs when a worker performs work when there is nobody within sight or earshot who can assist the worker in the event of an emergency

Working Accompanied: Occurs when a worker performs work when:

• There is a second person within sight or earshot
• The second person is available, agrees to, and understands his or her responsibilities
• If the second person has to leave the area, the activity is considered to be Working Alone, and must terminate if prohibited in the Work Authorization.

5.3.6 Required Work Processes

Work where a plausible failure of hazard controls could result in an injury or exposure that may render an individual unable to take appropriate emergency actions should never be performed alone. Examples include:

• Individual may be splashed with a corrosive chemical that blinds him or her (volume used and concentration, etc., should be considered)
• Individual may be exposed to a chemical or trauma that impairs consciousness
• Individual may be set on fire
• Individual may receive severe electrical shock or arc-flash injury
• Individual may fall from an elevation above six feet
• Individual may be struck or trapped by a heavy object of suspended load
• Individual may become trapped in or by moving machinery
• Individual may be injured by a powered cutting tool

5.3.7  References

Standards
10 CFR 851.21, Hazard Identification and Assessment

Requirements Source Documents

Related PUB-3000 Chapters:

• Chapter 4, Section 4.18, Exposure Assessment
• Chapter 6, Safe Work Authorizations
• Chapter 10, Construction Safety Manual Administrative Policies
• Chapter 31, Non-Construction Safety Assurance for Subcontractors, Vendors, and Guests
• Chapter 32, Job Hazards Analysis

Implementing Documents

Working Alone FAQs, LBNL Safety Advisory Committee, October 2012

Best Management Practices

National Research Council. Prudent Practices in the Laboratory:  Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. National Academy Press, 1995, Section 3.A, Evaluating Hazards and Assessing Risks in the Laboratory, and Section 5.C.10, Responsibility for Unattended Experiments and Working Alone.

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