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ACUTE Working at Heights Training

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

Course Details

Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm

Prerequisites: None

ACUTE recommends that learners participate in Basic Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training (as per O. Reg. 297/13), prior to Working at Heights training.


fall protection trainingProgram Content

ACUTE’s Working at Heights training program has been approved by the Chief Prevention Officer under the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development ’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.

Many workers use EWPs (Elevating Work Platforms) on their job site to access project work at heights. The Construction Projects Regulation requires that “An elevating work platform shall not be moved unless all workers on it are protected from ejection by being attached to an adequate anchorage point on the elevating work platform by a method of fall protection”

[O. Reg. 213/91 s. 148 (1) (d)]

The Construction Projects regulation requires all workers who use/wear fall protection to have received Working at Heights training from a training facility which is approved by the Ontario Chief Prevention Officer as an Approved Training Provider.

As such, all operators AND passengers on elevating work platforms used on project sites must have Working at Heights training.

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.

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

Who should enroll in this training program?

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 theOntario Regulation 213/91 – Construction Projects.

Training Program Duration

1 Day (8 Hours)