Fall Arrest Planning

A worker at risk of falling certain distances (see Guardrails) must be protected by guardrails or, if guardrails are not practical, by a travel-restraint system, fall-restricting system, fall-arrest system, or safety net. This document covers personal fall protection systems. The fall protection equipment document covers the components of a fall protection system. If your workplace uses fall protection systems, please also see the documents on anchor systems and personal fall protection systems.


Before any use of a fall arrest system or a safety net by a worker at a project, the employer must develop written procedures for rescuing the worker after his or her fall has been arrested.

Training for a worker who may use a fall protection system is essential. The employer must make sure:

  • A worker who may use a fall protection system is adequately trained in its use, and be given adequate oral and written instructions by a competent person
  • The training for working at heights meets the requirements of Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training (Ontario Regulation 297/13)
  • The person providing the training and instruction prepare a written training and instruction record for each worker and signs the record. This record must include the worker’s name and the dates of training and instruction.
  • Provide the training and instruction record to an inspector when requested.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act outlines the duties of employers. Key duties include taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.

In terms of a fall protection (or any) program and plan, employers must make sure:

  • The equipment, materials, and protective devices (as prescribed) are provided, are maintained and kept in good condition, and are used
  • The measures and procedures (as prescribed) are carried out in the workplace
  • A building, structure, or any part of, regardless if it is temporary or permanent, is capable of supporting any loads that may be applied according to the Building Code (the applicable Code at time of construction), other requirements, and according to good engineering practice.
  • Information, instruction and supervision is provided to a worker to protect their health or safety
  • Acquaint a worker (or supervisor) with any hazard in the work, including the handling, storage, use, disposal, and transport of any article, device, equipment, or biological, chemical or physical agent.

For example, fall arrest planning will include preventing the worker from hitting the ground, material, equipment, or lower level of a structure. Workers may swing from side to side when they fall (called the pendulum effect) which must also be taken into consideration. Appropriate rescue steps must be developed, written, workers are made aware, equipment is available, and designated workers are trained. For more detailed information about fall arrest planning, use the resources as listed.

Construction Projects
O. Reg. 213/91

Part II GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

Section 26.1

26.1 (1) A worker shall be adequately protected by a guardrail system that meets the requirements of subsections 26.3(2) to (8).

(2) Despite subsection (1), if it is not practicable to install a guardrail system as that subsection requires, a worker shall be adequately protected by the highest ranked method that is practicable from the following ranking of fall protection methods:

1. A travel restraint system that meets the requirements of section 26.4.

2. A fall restricting system that meets the requirements of section 26.5.

3. A fall arrest system, other than a fall restricting system designed for use in wood pole climbing, that meets the requirements of section 26.6.

4. A safety net that meets the requirements of section 26.8.

(3) The components of any system listed in subsection (2) shall be designed by a professional engineer in accordance with good engineering practice, and shall meet the requirements of any of the following National Standards of Canada standards that are applicable:

1. CAN/CSA-Z259.1-05 : Body Belts and Saddles for Work Positioning and Travel Restraint.

2. CAN/CSA-Z259.2.5-12 : Fall Arresters and Vertical Lifelines

3. CAN/CSA-Z259.2.2-98 (R2004) : Self-Retracting Devices for Personal Fall-Arrest Systems.

4. CAN/CSA-Z259.2.3-99 (R2004) : Descent Control Devices.

5. CAN/CSA-Z259.10-06 : Full Body Harnesses.

6. CAN/CSA-Z259.11-05 : Energy Absorbers and Lanyards.

7. CAN/CSA-Z259.12-01 (R2006) : Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS).

8. CAN/CSA-Z259.14-01 (R2007) : Fall Restrict Equipment for Wood Pole Climbing.

(4) Before any use of a fall arrest system or a safety net by a worker at a project, the worker's employer shall develop written procedures for rescuing the worker after his or her fall has been arrested.

[O. Reg. 145/00, s. 12; 85/04, s. 5; 443/09, s. 1; 345/15, s. 5]

Section 26.2

26.2 (1) An employer shall ensure that a worker who may use a fall protection system is adequately trained in its use and given adequate oral and written instructions by a competent person.

(1.1) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), an employer shall ensure that a worker who may use a fall protection system meets the working at heights training requirements of Ontario Regulation 297/13 (Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training).

(2) The employer shall ensure that the person who provides the training and instruction referred to in subsection (1) prepares a written training and instruction record for each worker and signs the record.

(3) The training and instruction record shall include the worker's name and the dates on which training and instruction took place.

(4) The employer shall make the training and instruction record for each worker available to an inspector on request.

[O. Reg. 145/00, s. 13; 252/14, s. 1]

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT
R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1