diff --git a/scheduler/helpers/timeouts.py b/scheduler/helpers/timeouts.py
index 298ceb6..76dcedc 100644
--- a/scheduler/helpers/timeouts.py
+++ b/scheduler/helpers/timeouts.py
@@ -121,3 +121,11 @@ def cancel_death_penalty(self):
             return
         self._timer.cancel()
         self._timer = None
+
+
+def get_default_death_penalty_class() -> type[BaseDeathPenalty]:
+    """Returns the default death penalty class based on the platform."""
+    if hasattr(signal, "SIGALRM"):
+        return UnixSignalDeathPenalty
+    else:
+        return TimerDeathPenalty
diff --git a/scheduler/types/settings_types.py b/scheduler/types/settings_types.py
index 3ec1478..0e1e3ed 100644
--- a/scheduler/types/settings_types.py
+++ b/scheduler/types/settings_types.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import Callable, Dict, Optional, List, Tuple, Any, Type, ClassVar, Set
 
-from scheduler.helpers.timeouts import BaseDeathPenalty, UnixSignalDeathPenalty
+from scheduler.helpers.timeouts import BaseDeathPenalty, get_default_death_penalty_class
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 11):
     from typing import Self
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class SchedulerConfiguration:
     DEFAULT_MAINTENANCE_TASK_INTERVAL: int = 10 * 60  # The interval to run maintenance tasks in seconds. 10 minutes.
     DEFAULT_JOB_MONITORING_INTERVAL: int = 30  # The interval to monitor jobs in seconds.
     SCHEDULER_FALLBACK_PERIOD_SECS: int = 120  # Period (secs) to wait before requiring to reacquire locks
-    DEATH_PENALTY_CLASS: Type[BaseDeathPenalty] = UnixSignalDeathPenalty
+    DEATH_PENALTY_CLASS: Type[BaseDeathPenalty] = get_default_death_penalty_class()
 
 
 @dataclass(slots=True, frozen=True, kw_only=True)
diff --git a/scheduler/worker/worker.py b/scheduler/worker/worker.py
index b664ce6..1ee0fcc 100644
--- a/scheduler/worker/worker.py
+++ b/scheduler/worker/worker.py
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ def execute_job(self, job: JobModel, queue: Queue) -> None:
         The worker will wait for the job execution process and make sure it executes within the given timeout bounds, or
         will end the job execution process with SIGALRM.
         """
-        if self.fork_job_execution:
+        if hasattr(os, "fork") and self.fork_job_execution:
             self._model.set_field("state", WorkerStatus.BUSY, connection=self.connection)
             self.fork_job_execution_process(job, queue)
             self.monitor_job_execution_process(job, queue)
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ def _ensure_list(obj: Any) -> List[Any]:
 
 
 def _calc_worker_name(existing_worker_names: Collection[str]) -> str:
-    hostname = os.uname()[1]
+    hostname = socket.gethostname()
     c = 1
     worker_name = f"{hostname}-worker.{c}"
     while worker_name in existing_worker_names: