Construction sector employers must review working at heights (WAH) training records for workers they employ to ensure compliance with mandatory training obligations.
 
Should this review uncover a need for initial WAH training or refresher training, the Workers Health and Safety Centre (WHSC) can help now. WHSC has added Working at Heights and WAH Refresher training to scheduled courses in communities across Ontario. Spots are currently available through the spring and into the summer months. With these classes filling fast though, we encourage you to register and secure your seat today.

Employer WAH training obligations

Ontario health and safety law requires employers to ensure all construction workers in their employ secure WAH training before working at heights and using a fall protection system. This training must meet strict standards, be approved by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development's (MOLTSD) Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) and delivered by an approved provider.
 
Approved WAH training is valid for three years from the date of successful completion. For continued compliance, employers must ensure workers complete an approved WAH refresher training prior to the expiration of this three year period and every three years thereafter.
 
Both our WAH Training and WAH Refresher are:

• priced competitively,
• designed to ensure critical learning is achieved,
• delivered by experienced instructors from the trades, and
• supported by complete training records and replacement cards when needed.

WHSC can help now, safely!

Please note, we are now experiencing particularly high interest in WAH Refresher as a result of the Ontario government’s response to the COVID pandemic. Last year the government offered a one year compliance extension for those who completed initial training between February 28, 2017 and August 31, 2017. Employers must now ensure this group, in addition to those who completed training during the same time period in 2018, complete WAH Refresher prior to their fourth or third anniversary of training respectively.
 
Recognizing this double cohort will test the capacity of the training delivery system, the WHSC, a leading provider of WAH approved training, is ready to help.

Due to the nature of WAH training, in-person classes are required to ensure learning is achieved and observed by highly qualified instructors. In light of the current public and occupational health crisis, we have taken steps to ensure safe learning environments for participants and instructors. This includes strict adherence to COVID-19 precautions, including limiting class size, screening, masking, physical and physical distancing.
 
Again, we encourage you to register today to secure a spot at a location and date meeting your needs.

Don’t see a date and location that works for you? 
Contact a WHSC training service representative nearest you. We are working hard to expand our scheduled offerings and working directly with unions and employers to bring this proven, life-saving training to all with an appropriate and safe training facility.

Need more information still?
Check out our online Working at Heights resources
Regulated working at heights training works and needed: studies
 
To keep current on a range of workplace health and safety issues follow us on the Web, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.