If you work at heights – it’s time to look up the new training standard for working at heights

Anyone performing under the construction regulations must receive the mandatory training – aimed at preventing falls and fatalities

Workplace falls are responsible for 20 deaths in Ontario a year

Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MOL)  is introducing a mandatory new training standard for the province’s construction sector, aimed at preventing injuries and fatalities associated with those who work at heights.

According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), 20 Ontarians die a year from falls in the workplace.

It was Christmas Eve 2009 in Toronto when four workers died after a high-rise scaffold collapsed.1 worker was seriously injured. This tragic workplace incident prompted the Ministry of Labour to appoint an expert advisory panel to review Ontario’s occupational health and safety system. The panel played a huge role in creating a new mandatory health and safety awareness training program, which is now a law in the province. The panel also had a part in developing a new Working at Heights Training Program Standard, which has not been passed into law. The new Working at Heights Training Program Standard legislates specific requirements for specialized training and training providers.

The new legislation means that ONLY approved providers are allowed to offer training for working at heights. This includes classroom training and a hands on component.

Shawn Kirwan, Emergency Services Specialist with Ontario Mine Rescue says the new Ontario Working at Heights Standard offers 3 main benefits (share via WorkPlace Safety North)

1. Less injuries and fatalities from falls. How? With mandatory training, the standard prescribes curriculum content, learner outcomes, delivery guidelines, minimum equipment and training hours for each learner.

2. Prevent falls by providing basic theory instruction on fall protection and prevention. A significant increase in the time it takes to teach the basic theory (3 hour module). This is much more training exposure than workers were receiving.

3. Smaller class sizes allowing for a stronger method of teaching and more one on one time. The practical equipment module will be taught face to face and will be very specific to each particular industry/working at heights

During the one day course, workers will learn about the current information, with hands-on instructions from industry exerts and trained educators.

 

As of April 1st, it is mandatory for anyone working at heights on construction projects to comply with a new training standard.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL)  announced changes to Regulation 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training that officially came into effect on April 1, 2015. Workers on construction sites now need to complete a working at heights training program that has been approved by the Chief Prevention Officer before they can work at heights.

Anyone working under the construction regulations, will be forced to comply with the new training standard, which requires training travel restraint systems, fall restricting systems, fall arrest systems, safety nets, work belts and safety belts. Training providers will also have access to a companion standard.