Failing to comply with fall protection obligations often leads to critical injuries and deaths along with related business delays. Training can help prevent these costly outcomes.
 
In many cases, training related to fall protection is mandatory and Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) inspectors continue to visit workplaces and work sites to ensure compliance. Inspectors are also on the lookout to ensure other fall protection obligations are being met and when they deem there is an immediate risk of worker injury, they will order work to stop. 
 
Fall hazards, and related training, was the focus of a MLITSD province-wide enforcement campaign that began on April 1, 2023, and ended on March 31, 2024. Inspectors visited almost 3,000 work sites in the single-family residential construction sector and issued more than 15,000 orders to comply with fall protection requirements under the Construction Regulation (O. Reg. 213), including 1,685 stop work orders. In these cases, work cannot resume until fall hazards are addressed. Employers know all too well the impact these interruptions have on the bottom line of any business.

WHSC Working at Heights training. Get ahead of a potential stop work order!

Fall protection obligations

Under a number of circumstances construction sector employers must comply with a range of fall protection obligations including the installation of a guardrail designed by an engineer and meeting several specific requirements. When this cannot be done, employers must ensure the highest ranked, “practicable” method of fall protection is used, the highest being a travel restraint system, and the lowest, a safety net [s. 26.1, O. Reg. 213].  The employer must also develop fall rescue procedures before a fall arrest system or safety net is used by a worker at a project.
 
Workers in sectors outside of construction can face similar fall hazards when not adequately protected. In fact, MLITSD tells us approximately one-third of all worker deaths from falls from heights happen in workplaces covered by Ontario Industrial Establishments regulation (O. Reg. 851). This regulation spells out specific fall protection obligations employers must meet including use of guardrail systems (s. 13.1, O. Reg. 851) and fall arrest systems (s. 85, O. Reg. 851). Employers in other sectors include mining and health care are also governed by various fall protection obligations (O. Reg. 854 and O. Reg. 67). 

Training obligations 

Regulations in Ontario also require employers to ensure workers required to use fall protection equipment are trained in its care and use. Workers who work on construction projects, for instance, must complete a working at heights (WAH) training program approved by the MLITSD’s Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) before they work at heights (O. Reg. 297). This training must take place before a worker uses a fall restricting system, fall arrest system, safety net, work belt or safety belt. And for continued compliance, employers must ensure workers they employ complete an approved WAH refresher program every three years.

Workers in other sectors require similar training. For instance, the Industrial Establishments regulation requires employers to ensure workers who must wear or use a fall arrest system, or any other protective clothing, equipment or device be trained in its use and care before use (s. 79, O. Reg. 851). There are similar requirements for employers in the mining and health care sectors.  

WHSC can help now!

As Ontario’s only government-designated occupational health and safety training centre, Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) is a leading provider of WAH training and WAH refresher training. Our programs are CPO-approved, affordably priced, and delivered by experienced instructors who ensure critical learning is achieved, including:

• the hazards of WAH, legal rights and duties of all workplace parties, along with relevant regulations governing fall hazards and fall protection equipment,
• the safe use, inspection, limitations and storage for travel restraint, fall restricting and fall arrest systems,
• the key components of a fall rescue plan and emergency procedures, and
• hands-on experience on fall prevention equipment and systems.

REGISTER FOR WAH TRAINING NOW

Don’t see a date that works for you, wish to discuss onsite WAH training or just a have a question, connect with a training services representative in your area.
 
WHSC is also a leading provider of many other safety and health programs for the construction sector. This includes general health and safety awareness for construction workers scheduled this fall in a WHSC virtual classroom. This comprehensive one-day program provides ideal entry level health and safety awareness training for workers new to construction and offers a good refresher for more experienced workers too.

REGISTER FOR CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARENESS NOW*
*registration deadline for Sept. 26 class is Sept. 12 
 
Need other essential and legally mandated training such as joint health & safety committee certification, GHS-WHMIS, workplace violence and harassment, and supervisor awareness and competency? Check out our complete in-person and virtual training schedule.

Related resources:
MLITSD Fall protection compliance campaign 2023/2024 results
MLITSD health and safety inspection compliance plans 2024/2025
Standardized working at heights training improves safety, study
WHSC working at heights resources

Need more information? 
Contact a WHSC training services representative in your area.
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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