Working At Heights – Waterloo Full Day*

*Time: 8:30am- This training session will include both in-class theory and practical exercises. This course is a full day course, due to class discussion, class size, and experience of participants, the course timing is subject to some variability. Participants must attend the entire course to receive a certificate of completion.

This is a full day course.

Prerequisites: None

ACUTE delivers training in English and participants need to demonstrate an independent understanding and comprehension of the course content to successfully complete the training.

Note: With the extension provided by the MLITSD for WAH Refresher due to the pandemic, there will be a significant number of workers in Ontario requiring refresher over the coming year (those granted extension and those that would require refresher training 3 years after completion of initial WAH training).

The Ministry has identified this increased “double cohort” may exceed the capacity of Ontario’s approved training providers if workers delay refreshing their Working at Heights certification.

The Working at Heights Training standard sets out maximum class sizes, so it is not as simple as just expanding the number of participants per session.

We encourage our clients to arrange for refresher training as soon as possible to prevent being unable to work at heights compliantly due to an inability to find available Refresher training.

Training program topics include:

Working at Heights (Theory Module 3hr)

• Working at Heights [WAH] and legislation
• WAH hazards
• Safe Work Plans & assessing and controlling WAH hazards
• The hierarchy of controls – application to WAH
• Fall prevention strategies and systems
• Fall protection systems
• Ladder safety
• Written evaluation

Working at Heights (Practical Module – 3.5hr)

• Fall prevention / protection system requirements and limitations
• A-B-C component selection, inspection, use
• Harness inspection and fitting exercise & evaluation
• Lanyard inspection exercise and evaluation
• Travel restraint, fall arrest set-up exercise & evaluation
• 100% tie-off exercise and evaluation
• Ladders, scaffolds and elevating work platforms
• Rescue plan – components and purpose
• Safe work strategies and safe anchor exercise
• Written evaluation

You will learn by:

• Classroom interaction with experienced instructors
• Table top scenarios and hands-on exercises
• Demonstration and hands-on training in the care and use of equipment
• Detailed handouts, videos and quizzes
• Practical performance evaluations

As of April 1, 2015, employers in Ontario must ensure that workers on Construction Projects who may use any of the following fall protection equipment:

• travel restraint systems
• fall restricting systems
• fall arrest systems
• safety nets
• work belts or safety belts

must successfully complete an approved training program, delivered by an approved training provider before worker can work at heights.

Any person who may be exposed to fall hazards during their work will find this training beneficial. Although the Working at Heights training program is geared toward those working on construction sites, those working in industrial, mining or heath care sectors will find the content comprehensive and relevant for their workplaces. A shorter duration, Fall Protection training program is also offered to those whose work is not covered under the Ontario Regulation 213/91 – Construction Projects.

Program Content

ACUTE’s Working at Heights training program has been approved by the Chief Prevention Officer’s Working at Heights Training Program Standard and the Working at Heights Training Provider Standard. The ACUTE Working at Heights training provides theory and hands on practical training and evaluation facilitated by highly skilled and competent instructors.

The Working at Heights training is valid for three years from the date the worker completes an approved training program delivered by an approved training provider.

Objective: The purpose of a Working at Heights training program is to:

• Strengthen workplace safety culture by elevating the profile and importance of preventing falls from heights.
• Provide workers who may be exposed to the hazard of falling with adequate knowledge about fall hazards and general safety practices to work safely at heights.
• Provide workers who use personal fall protection equipment with sufficient knowledge about its purpose and use; and
• Reduce the number of fall-from-heights incidents, injuries and fatalities.