Working at Heights & Fall Protection Training Explained

Are you looking at heights training but wondering about the many options? Let me break it down by explaining the difference between Working at Heights and Fall Protection.

What is Working at Heights Training?

Let’s start with Working at Heights. This program has become a regulatory requirement for people working in Ontario's construction industry. It is now mandatory for any construction worker who works with fall protection equipment to have completed the Working at Heights Ministry of Labour–approved course. This training requirement is part of the O. Reg. 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training. This is not the same as Fall Protection, however, many companies, employers and contractors unfortunately still refer to the training as Fall Protection or Fall Arrest Training, which creates some confusion. It’s important to know that the Working at Heights MOL-approved training is the only valid training for the construction industry in Ontario.

What is Fall Protection Training?

If Working at Heights is the standard, who would need a Fall Protection training course? Fall Protection training courses remain useful because, in Ontario, mining operations, industrial establishments, health care and residential facilities, and other workplaces not designated under the Construction Projects regulations are required to take Fall Protection training. Also, only two provinces have mandatory training programs for the use of fall protection equipment: Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador. All other provinces do not have requirements that specify a specific training standard to be met. 

People are often unsure whether they – or the particular project they’re working on – fall under the regulations of the construction industry. I recommend that you check out how the MOL defines “construction” in the OHSA. This is determined on a case-by-case basis, subject to the specific workplace conditions and an initial assessment of the given project. If you have a question about your requirements, contact your provincial jurisdiction responsible for health and safety for information, or feel free to contact our office for help.