6-40 Working at heights
This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act(OHSA) and its regulations and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Health and safety inspectors apply and enforce these laws based on the facts they find in the workplace. We have included links to other websites, but this does not mean that we endorse their information as compliant with the OHSA or the regulations.
Background
There are circumstances where fire department personnel are working at heights at a fire station, a construction project, or other workplaces.
Concerns/hazards
Firefighters who work at heights are exposed to the hazard of falling.
Actions for employers
Employers should:
- establish procedures to protect firefighters from the hazard of falls
- develop standard operating procedures/operating guidelines that address worker training, including who needs to take the ministry’s Working at Heights training program
Risks
There are times when fire personnel may be working at heights.
Examples of job functions which may involve working at heights include:
- fire prevention
- inspection
- investigation
- pre-planning
- training
- working around the fire station
Examples of situations which may involve working at heights, include:
- temporary structures/scaffolds
- unguarded openings or edges in the structure floor/roof
- unstable/unfinished work surfaces
Construction projects
If a firefighter on a construction project performing work will be exposed to the hazard of falling and is required by regulation to use certain types of fall protection, the firefighter must complete a working at heights training program approved by the Ministry of Labour’s Chief Prevention Officer.
You can find out more about working at heights training on the Ministry of Labour website.
Knowledge of major or unique construction projects in the community may assist firefighters in identifying unique situations that they may encounter at the project and increase their situational awareness.
Applicable regulations and acts
Read:
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
- section 1 for definitions of “construction” , “project” and "industrial establishment"
- clause 25(2)(a) for providing information and instruction to a worker
- clause 25(2)(h) for taking every precaution reasonable to protect workers
- O. Reg. 213/91 – Regulation for Construction Projects
- section 26 for hazards where fall protection must be used on a construction project
- O. Reg. 297/13 – Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training Regulation
- section 6 for when working at heights training is required on construction projects when using one of these methods of fall protection - travel restraint system, fall restricting system, fall arrest system, safety net, work belt, or safety belt
- section 7 for information on approved working at heights training programs
- Regulation 851 – Industrial Establishments
- section 85 for where fall protection must be used at an industrial establishment
Related
Read firefighters guidance notes: