Worker deaths, critical injuries and convictions for at-fault employers continue where fall protection obligations are not met. Training can help prevent these outcomes.
 
A Vaughan construction company was recently fined $175,000 after being convicted for failing, as an employer, to provide a scaffold, suspended work platform, boatswain’s chair or multi-point suspended work platform that met the requirements of the Construction Regulation [s. 125(1) O. Reg. 213/91]. A wooden support system was constructed on a garage at a residential build to help keep roof trusses upright. A worker climbed on to reposition the trusses and the support system broke leading to a fatal fall to the ground below. The system was not intended to function as a work platform and the worker was not wearing any fall protection.
 
Another recent conviction led a $97,500 fine for a St. Catharines roofing contractor for failure to ensure the top and bottom of a ladder were secured to prevent movement as prescribed by section 82(2) of O. Reg. 213/91. The top of the ladder was secured to the access point of a roof while the bottom was not despite the presence of snow and ice. As the worker was descending the ladder, its base slipped causing the worker to fall to the ground below suffering a critical injury.

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Fall protection obligations

Under several circumstances employers on construction projects 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. 213/91]. 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. Employers covered by the Industrial, Mines and Mining Plant, and Health Care Regulations are also governed by various fall protection obligations (O. Reg. 851, O. Reg. 854 and O. Reg. 67).

Working at heights training obligations

Regulations in Ontario also require employers to ensure workers in their employ on construction projects who may use fall protection equipment must complete a working at heights (WAH) training program. This training must be approved by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) and must take place before a worker uses a fall restricting system, fall arrest system, safety net, work belt or safety belt. (O. Reg. 297). 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 and 85, 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, fall arrest systems, and ladders
• the key components of a fall rescue plan and emergency procedures; and
• hands-on experience on fall prevention equipment and systems.

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Need other essential training such as joint health & safety committee certification, GHS-WHMIS, operation of equipment, workplace violence and harassment, supervisor awareness and competency, and First Aid and CPR?

Want to know more about WAH?
Workplace fatality results in fine for Vaughan company
Workplace injury results in fine for St. Catharines company
WHSC working at heights resources
Standardized working at heights training improves safety, study

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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