The deadline to complete approved working at heights training may have been extended, but the time to enrol is now!

For those who, prior to April 1, 2015, had met previous fall protection training requirements under the Regulation for Construction Projects (O. Reg 213/91), April 1, 2017 was the original deadline to complete a Ministry of Labour (MOL)-approved working at heights training program. Feedback from construction sector stakeholders led the MOL to extend this deadline by six months to October 1, 2017.
 
However, this one-time extension comes with conditions. For those who have yet to comply, workers must be enrolled in a MOL-approved training program scheduled prior to October 1, 2017. Employers must have written proof of enrollment, which must be made available to a Ministry inspector upon request. Further, the proof of enrollment must include the name of the worker, the name of the approved training provider, the date on which the approved training is scheduled to be complete, and the name of the approved training program.

WHSC can help!

As Ontario’s only legally designated health and safety training centre, Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) is a MOL-approved working at heights training provider, in fact one of the first to be approved. For those registered in our program, we are ready to provide proof of enrollment. More important, we are ready with programs scheduled throughout this coming month and throughout the province.
 
Working at Heights is the leading cause of traumatic deaths in the construction sector. To address this unacceptable situation, working at heights training requirements for workers on construction projects came into force April 1, 2015. The Ministry took a phased-in approach. First, employers were immediately required to ensure untrained or inadequately trained workers on construction projects complete a MOL-approved working at heights training program before working at heights and using a fall restricting system, fall arrest system, safety net, work belt or safety belt. Second, those who had met previous fall protection training requirements would be granted time to get into compliance.
 
As such, the time for compliance is upon us. Register today!
 
Don’t see a WHSC scheduled program that fits your needs? Be sure to call us at 1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak to a Training Services representative. WHSC is committed to ensuring you get the training you need, when and where you need it. As scheduled courses fill, we are opening new ones. We are also working closely with construction unions and employers to bring training directly to workers.
 
To learn more about working at heights, visit our dedicated Working at Heights resources page.
 
Also, be sure check out our product sheets listing all programs suited for the Construction Sector and those specifically for equipment operators.