The WHSC’s blueprint for expanding capacity to deliver working at heights training is based on a philosophy shared by many—that workers learn best from workers.
 
“Our members look to their experienced co-workers almost daily on the job for advice,” says Nick Ciccone, Training Director, Labourers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 837. “We see a similar level of respect and reliance between them and worker instructors who deliver WHSC training.”
 
Much of Local 837’s health and safety curriculum is developed by the WHSC.
 
“With Working at Heights, the WHSC has again proven they can help us meet the training needs of our members and signatory contractors,” says Ciccone. “Though with thousands of members still needing this mandatory and life-saving training, we are looking to the WHSC to help us expand and expedite delivery.”
 
To this end, WHSC is now qualifying greater numbers of Local 837 members as instructors, ready to deliver Working at Heights and other WHSC training. The union feels this will add even more credibility to the learning environment and further ensure learning—an important consideration, given the risk to health posed by work at heights.
 
Falls from heights are a leading cause of traumatic worker death and critical injury in the construction sector.
 
To help put a stop to this preventable suffering, recent regulatory changes in Ontario require employers to ensure untrained or inadequately trained construction workers complete a Ministry of Labour-approved, Working at Heights training program before they can work at heights and use fall protection equipment and systems. This requirement came into force April 1, 2015.
 
The WHSC Working at Heights training program was one of the first to receive MOL approval. The WHSC workers training workers delivery model was also approved. With a well-established training relationship with the WHSC, LIUNA Local 837 was quick to schedule this training for their members. 
 
“Our longstanding and growing relationship is built on trust and prompt service,” says Ciccone.
 
Working at Heights, Confined Space Entry and Forklift Operator training are just some of the health and safety training programs developed by the WHSC and delivered almost weekly at the LIUNA Local 837 training facility.
 
In addition to these and other WHSC-supported, in-house training programs, we continue to run scheduled Working at Heights programs in communities across Ontario.
 
Register now for any one of our scheduled courses.

With enough participants and an appropriate training venue we are also able to work with other industry unions and employers to bring training to you.

To learn more:
Visit www.whsc.on.ca or
Call 1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak to a training services representative.
 
Need more information? Want to help us spread the word about this potentially life-saving training? Be sure to check out our online Working at Heights information resources.

Please note: Scheduled courses are offered in English. Should you require training in French or another language, please contact a WHSC training services representative (see above).