March 15, 2017
Working At Heights training deadline April 1
The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) is reminding all workers who use fall protection on a construction project that an approved working at heights training program must be completed by April 1.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training Regulation in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), anyone who is required to use a travel restraint system, fall restricting system, fall arrest system, safety net, work belt or safety belt must complete the training.
Once training is successfully completed, the training agent will issue a proof of completion card to each participant and register them with the Ministry of Labour. An employee should then provide the card to their employer, who is required under the OHSA to have training records on file.
Training is valid for three years from the date of completing of an approved program and a half-day refresher training program must be successfully completed in order to renew the training.
Introduced on April 1, 2015, the deadline comes at the end of a two-year transition period for training to be completed under subsection 26.2(1) of the Construction Projects Regulation.
A full list of Ministry approved training providers can be found on the Ontario Ministry of Labour website at gfl.me/h3iY.