ONTARIO · O. REG. 213/91 · WORKING AT HEIGHTS

Fall Protection in Ontario: The Rules, Training & Rescue

What Ontario's construction regulation actually requires: when fall protection kicks in, the order you have to use it in, Working at Heights training, anchor strengths and the written rescue procedure. Plain language, with the section numbers and official links.

Quick answerOn an Ontario construction project you need fall protection where a worker could fall more than 3 m (and in several situations below that). A guardrail comes first; harness systems are only allowed when a guardrail is not practicable, and every worker using one needs CPO-approved Working at Heights training and a written rescue procedure in place.
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  • O. Reg. 213/91 s. 26
  • Working at Heights
  • Guardrail first
  • Written rescue
ONTARIO FALL PROTECTION ◆ O. REG. 213/91 SS. 26–26.9 ◆ WORKING AT HEIGHTS: 3-YEAR CARD ◆ GUARDRAILS FIRST ◆ WRITTEN RESCUE PROCEDURES

Ontario fall protection at a glance

THE NUMBERS THAT MATTER

Trigger heightMore than 3 mAlso lower: 1.2 m over a wheelbarrow path, and any height into machinery, water, hazardous substances or through an opening.
Order of protectionGuardrail firstThen the highest practicable of travel restraint, fall restricting, fall arrest, safety net (s. 26.1).
TrainingWorking at HeightsCPO-approved program and provider, valid 3 years, plus in-person equipment training (s. 26.2, O. Reg. 297/13).
RescueWritten procedureRequired before anyone uses fall arrest or a safety net (s. 26.1(4)).
Fixed support, fall arrest8 kN / 6 kN8 kN static, or 6 kN with a shock absorber (s. 26.7).
Fixed support, restraint2 kNTravel restraint; fall restricting 6 kN (s. 26.7).

Who regulates fall protection in Ontario

REGULATOR · LAW · OFFICIAL TEXT

Fall protection on Ontario construction projects is enforced by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The working rules are in O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects), sections 26 to 26.9. Working at Heights training is set by O. Reg. 297/13. Industrial workplaces that are not construction projects fall under Reg. 851 (Industrial Establishments).

When fall protection is required in Ontario

O. REG. 213/91 S. 26

Under section 26, a worker needs fall protection where they could fall:

  • more than 3 m;
  • more than 1.2 m if the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment;
  • into operating machinery;
  • into water or another liquid;
  • into or onto a hazardous substance or object;
  • through an opening in a work surface, at any depth: an opening needs a guardrail or a cover.

Balcony edges with a fall of 2.4 m or more need guardrails (s. 26.3).

The order of protection Ontario requires

GUARDRAIL FIRST, THEN THE HIGHEST PRACTICABLE

Section 26.1 sets a ranking. Use a guardrail wherever it is practicable. Only if it is not, use the highest practicable of:

  1. Travel restraint (s. 26.4): keeps the worker from reaching the edge.
  2. Fall restricting system (s. 26.5).
  3. Fall arrest system (s. 26.6): full-body harness, connector and anchor.
  4. Safety net (s. 26.8).

The ministry treats it as a contravention when a higher-ranked method was practicable and not used, and cost alone does not make a method impracticable.

Working at Heights training in Ontario

O. REG. 213/91 S. 26.2 · O. REG. 297/13

Two kinds of training are required before a worker uses travel restraint, fall restricting, fall arrest, a safety net or a work belt on a construction project:

  • Working at Heights (WAH): a program approved by the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO), delivered by a CPO-approved provider. It is valid for 3 years and renewed with an approved refresher.
  • Equipment-specific training: given in person by a competent person, with written and oral instruction on the actual system the worker will use.

Employers must keep training records and show them to an inspector. The ministry says online-only training is not accepted as complete fall protection training. Check that a provider is CPO-approved; fraudulent providers exist.

Rescue and anchors in Ontario

S. 26.1(4) · S. 26.7

Before a worker uses a fall arrest system or safety net, the employer must have a written rescue procedure (s. 26.1(4)). The ministry's guidance is blunt: relying on a cell phone is not a rescue procedure, and the window to rescue a suspended worker is short.

Fixed supports must hold a static force of at least 8 kN for fall arrest, or 6 kN if the system has a shock absorber; 6 kN for fall restricting and 2 kN for travel restraint (s. 26.7). Capacity can also be shown by dynamic testing to good engineering practice. Movable anchors and parapet clamps are not "fixed supports" by default: ministry guidance calls for a site-specific engineer's report.

Common fall protection mistakes in Ontario

WHAT INSPECTORS FIND

  • Going straight to harnesses when a guardrail was practicable (s. 26.1).
  • Leaving floor and roof openings unguarded because they are "less than 3 m deep": openings need a guardrail or cover at any depth.
  • Relying on a WAH card alone: equipment-specific, in-person training is also required (s. 26.2).
  • Letting WAH cards lapse past 3 years, or using a provider that is not CPO-approved.
  • A rescue "plan" that is just calling 911.
  • Treating a bump line as fall protection: it only marks a boundary.

Fall protection gear for Ontario jobsites

GUARDRAILS FIRST, THEN THE SYSTEM

Before you buyOntario's construction rules point to CSA Z259 standards for fall arrest components. Every product page states its actual certification (CSA or ANSI/OSHA). Check it matches what your site requires.

Official Ontario fall protection links

SOURCES

This page is a plain-language summary to help you plan, not legal advice. Regulations change: check the current official text linked above, or call your provincial regulator, before you rely on it. Summary checked October 2026.

More fall protection resources

GUIDES & CHECKLISTS

Ontario fall protection — common questions

ANSWERS YOU CAN CITE

01

How high before fall protection is required in Ontario?

On a construction project, more than 3 m, but also more than 1.2 m over a wheelbarrow path, and at any height where a worker could fall into machinery, water, a hazardous substance or through an opening (O. Reg. 213/91 s. 26).
02

How long is Ontario Working at Heights training valid?

3 years from completion of a CPO-approved program. A CPO-approved refresher renews it.
03

Is a harness enough on an Ontario roof?

Only if a guardrail is not practicable. The regulation requires a guardrail first, then the highest practicable of travel restraint, fall restricting, fall arrest and safety nets.
04

Do I need a written rescue plan in Ontario?

Yes. A written rescue procedure is required before anyone uses a fall arrest system or safety net (s. 26.1(4)). Calling 911 on a cell phone is not accepted as the procedure.