A fill-in-the-blanks written fall protection program for Canadian employers, structured around the height triggers and written-plan duties in the Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia OHS regulations. Built for construction, industrial maintenance and utility work.
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Part 1 of 2 — Written fall protection program
This program sets out how protects workers from falls, and applies to all work described below.
Work activities covered:
Sites / work areas covered:
Record the trigger that applies to your jurisdiction and work type. Confirm against the current regulation before you rely on it — requirements change.
| Jurisdiction | Principal regulation | General height trigger and common additional triggers |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario (construction) |
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 26.1 | Fall of 3 m or more; also where a fall is into operating machinery, into water or another liquid, into or onto a hazardous substance or object, or through an opening in a work surface. |
| Ontario (industrial) |
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, s. 85 | Where a worker is exposed to the hazard of falling and the fall would be more than 3 m, or into an operating machine, or into a hazardous substance. |
| Alberta | OHS Code, Part 9 | Fall of 3 m or more; also at less than 3 m where there is an unusual possibility of injury, and where a worker may fall into or onto a hazardous substance, object or moving equipment. |
| British Columbia | OHSR, Part 11 | Fall of 3 m (10 ft) or more; also from a lesser height where there is an unusual possibility of injury greater than injury from landing on a flat surface. |
| Our applicable jurisdiction(s) |
Work down this order. Record why any higher control was rejected before moving to the next.
| # | Control | Where we use it | If not used, why not |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eliminate the work at height (do it at ground level) | ||
| 2 | Guardrails / permanent engineered barrier | ||
| 3 | Travel restraint (worker cannot reach the edge) | ||
| 4 | Fall restricting system | ||
| 5 | Fall arrest (full body harness + connecting device) | ||
| 6 | Safety net |
| Role | Name / position | Responsibility under this program |
|---|---|---|
| Employer / senior management | Provide equipment, training and supervision; fund the program; review it annually. | |
| Program owner | Maintain this document, equipment register and training records; lead the annual review. | |
| Supervisor | Confirm the site plan is complete before work starts; verify training and pre-use inspection; stop unsafe work. | |
| Competent person (anchorage / plan) | Identify and approve anchorage; sign off the site fall protection plan. | |
| Worker | Use the system as trained; inspect equipment before each use; report defects and remove equipment from service. |
Equipment used under this program conforms to the applicable CSA standards adopted by our jurisdiction. Standards we specify:
| ID / serial | Item | In service date | Manufacturer life limit | Assigned to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Anchor points are identified and approved by the competent person named in Section 4 before use, and are rated for the system in use.
| Location / structure | Type (permanent / temporary) | Rated capacity | Approved by / date |
|---|---|---|---|
Ontario construction workers who use fall protection must hold a valid Working at Heights certificate from a Chief Prevention Officer–approved training provider under O. Reg. 297/13, and it must be renewed on the prescribed cycle. Other jurisdictions and sectors set their own competency requirements — record what applies to you.
| Worker | Training / certificate | Provider | Completed | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
This program is reviewed at least annually, and after any fall, near miss, equipment failure, change in work method, or change in the applicable regulation.
Part 2 of 2 — Site fall protection plan
Task:
Fall distance / height: Surface or hazard below:
Required clearance below the anchor: Available clearance:
| Worker | Harness ID | Connecting device ID | Pre-use check |
|---|---|---|---|
A suspended worker must be reached quickly — calling 911 alone is not a rescue plan. Write down who does what, with what equipment, and how long it will take.
Rescue method:
Rescue equipment on site and its location:
Trained rescuers on site: Target time to reach worker:
Emergency contact / muster point:
| Name (print) | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
This template is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm every requirement against the current regulation in your jurisdiction before relying on it.