CPO-Approved Working at Heights Training in Ontario

In Ontario, the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) is the provincial official responsible for establishing the standards that protect workers' safety. When a course is "CPO-approved," it means the curriculum and the provider have been vetted by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to ensure they meet the highest safety benchmarks. Under Ontario Regulation 297/13, employers are legally required to ensure that workers on construction projects complete a CPO-approved Working at Heights (WaH) training program before they work at heights and use fall protection equipment.

Who Requires CPO-Approved WAH Training?

While fall protection is a good idea for anyone, CPO-approved training is mandatory for anyone working on a construction project (as defined by the Occupational Health and Safety Act) who is required to use travel restraint systems, fall-restraining systems, fall arrest systems, safety nets, work belts, or safety belts.

Common Roles Requiring Certification

• Construction Workers: From general labourers to specialized trades.
• Contractors & Subcontractors: Essential for anyone operating as an independent entity on-site.
• Roofing Companies: Given the high-risk nature of the work, WaH certification is the industry baseline.
• Industrial Maintenance Crews: If your maintenance involves construction-style repairs or renovations.

What’s Covered in a CPO-Approved WAH Course?

A certified course is divided into two distinct modules to ensure both head-knowledge and hands-on skills. Theoretical Module (Classroom/Knowledge)

• Rights & Responsibilities: Understanding the roles of the employer, supervisor, and worker.
• Hazard Identification: Learning to spot risks like unprotected edges, fragile surfaces, and weather-related hazards.
• Hierarchy of Controls: Prioritizing safety through elimination, substitution, or engineering before relying on PPE.
• Legal Obligations: A look at Ontario-specific safety laws.

Practical Module (Hands-On)

• Harness Inspection: Learning how to identify "pass/fail" criteria for webbing, buckles, and D-rings.
• Connecting to Anchors: Understanding safe vs. unsafe anchor points and the physics of a fall.
• Fall Arrest Systems: Learning how to properly wear and adjust a full-body harness for a snug, safe fit.
• Rescue Awareness: Understanding the basics of rescue and suspension trauma.

Why Choose Worksite Safety?

Our instructors are safety experts who bring years of real-world field experience into the classroom, ensuring your team learns from practical, relatable scenarios.

• Subject-Matter Experts: “Our instructor was engaging and very clear when conveying information. This made my experience very smooth and enjoyable 10/10 would definitely recommend." - Huey Henry
• Practical Knowledge: "I learned a lot about safety. Learned how to use a safety harness, how to be safe on different types of machinery equipment. Our teacher was great and very informative." - Harsh Chauhan
• Comprehensive Training: "Our instructor explained the material clearly, used real-world examples, and made sure everyone understood both the safety requirements and practical applications." - Ramanteg Singh Janda