Fall Protection

What is Fall Arrest?

Fall Arrest includes travel restraints such as a harness, a lanyard and an anchorage point. In some instances it can include a safety net underneath the worker.

Where can I find the Fall Arrest regulations that apply in my province?

These are provided for you to review in the WHMIS.ca Fall Arrest Training Course.

How often myst I be trained in Fall Arrest?

Neither the Legislation nor the CSA states a training interval. OLE recommends that retraining should be performed at 2 year intervals. We have observed poor safety behaviour in even the most experienced operators after long periods without training. A periodic reminder of safety practices is a wise precaution for due diligence purposes.

When do I need Fall Arrest / Fall Prevention?

Most provinces define this as “where a worker is exposed to the hazard of falling”. If a worker has to work at a height above the ground or floor, and the hazard cannot be eliminated through an enclosure, guardrails, work platforms or fall restraint, fall protection is required.

What is Fall Protection Prevention or Restraint?

Fall Protection consists of passive measures such as guardrails designed to protect workers from the risk of falls when working at elevated heights. Fall restraint systems are used to keep workers safely away from where they might fall. It can be either a full-body harness or a waist belt attached to a lanyard attached to an anchorage point.

At what working height do I need Fall Arrest Equipment?

Provincially regulated workplaces in Canada require that anyone who faces a hazard of falling more than three metres (10 feet) is required to use fall arrest equipment that meets the legal standards. In Federally regulated workplaces the specified height is reduced to 2.4 metres. See http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/regu/sor-86-304/latest/sor-86-304.html Section 12.10

After a fall, can I use the harness/lanyard again?

Most provinces have words to the effect that after a fall protection system has arrested the fall of a worker, an employer must ensure that the system is not returned to service until it has been inspected and certified as safe by the manufacturer or a professional engineer.

Where can I review the CSA Standards for Fall Arrest Systems?

CSA Standard Z259.16-04, Design of Active Fall-Protection Systems and CSA Standard Z259.13-04, Flexible Horizontal Lifeline Systems

What about Fall Arrest in Confined Spaces?

Confined space entry systems are a category of equipment designed to retrieve the wearer if he or she is incapacitated inside a confined space. They consist of a full-body harness attached at the shoulders to a lifeline. The lifeline itself is attached to a winch, usually on a tripod to allow rescuers to reel in the worker should he or she become incapacitated.