City of Toronto staff who recently participated in Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) Working at Heights training are giving the program a rousing “two thumbs up.”
 
Susan Jeanes, administrative coordinator for the Facilities Management division of the City of Toronto worked with WHSC to organize the training.
 
“I received first-rate service from the WHSC training representative. She was wonderful, looking after our every need in a timely and professional manner.”
 
Over 150 staff members from a variety of occupations participated in 14 sessions delivered in-house by a WHSC-qualified instructor.
 
According to Jeanes, participants were impressed with the instructor Clarence Wallace, who they felt was knowledgeable, well-organized and engaging, putting people at ease and answering all of their questions.
 
A WHSC-qualified instructor for over 16 years, Clarence brings over two decades of health and safety experience to the table.
 
“This program is very effective at raising awareness of the hazards associated with working at heights. It is surprising how many workers and supervisors do not know basic information such as the how many pounds a lanyard is weighted for. I believe this program is going to save a lot of lives,” says Wallace.
 
One participant—a foreman, said he especially liked the hands-on training with the equipment—it made the training more “practical and realistic.”
 
Others reported the program made them more aware of legislated requirements. For example, fire code inspector, Evelyn D’Orazio of CUPE Local 79 said, “This program was one of the best most comprehensive I have ever taken. As a result of the training we have installed a railing on the top of one of the buildings we inspect. Prior to this, we didn’t know a railing was required.”
 
Falls from heights are the leading cause of traumatic worker deaths and critical injuries in construction. As of April 1, 2015, Ontario regulation requires employers to ensure untrained or inadequately trained construction workers complete a Ministry of Labour-approved, working at heights training program before they work at heights and use fall protection equipment and systems.
 
WHSC was one of the first organizations to be approved by the Ministry. From the outset we have offered scheduled programs in communities throughout Ontario, adding new courses almost daily as existing courses fill. We also continue to work with several industry unions and employers, such as the City of Toronto, to bring training directly to their in-house training facilities.
 
Jeanes says she would definitely recommend WHSC’s Working at Heights training program to other departments within the City of Toronto and to anyone else who needs this training.
 
Need Working at Heights training for your workforce? Register today for any one of our scheduled courses.
 
Or call 1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak to one of our training services representatives to discuss bringing training to your work site or facility. Visit www.whsc.on.ca.