On April 1, 2015, mandatory working at heights training came into effect under the Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training Regulation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for workers on construction sites using any of the following methods of fall protection:
- Travel restraint systems;
- Fall restricting systems;
- Fall arrest systems;
- Safety nets; and
- Work belts or safety belts.
The Regulation now requires employers to ensure the completion of a working at heights training program by these employees.
The working at heights training program must be one that is approved by the Chief Prevention Officer. It must also be delivered by an approved training provider before workers can work at heights.
Workers who, prior to April 1, 2015, met the fall protection training requirements in subsection 26.2(1) of the Construction Projects Regulation under the OHSA will have a period of two years to complete an approved working at heights program. Accordingly, these workers will have until April 1, 2017, to complete this new mandatory training in addition to the training requirements of the Construction Projects Regulation.