Falls are a major cause of injury and death in Ontario workplaces. The vast majority of these accidents are falls from heights—even though the height may be no more than two or three metres. Most of these injuries and deaths have happened because fall protection was either missing or not used.
In Ontario, employers are required to provide workers with fall-protection training if the workers will be exposed to fall hazards. The links below contain helpful information about fall protection training, and ways to prevent fall accidents and fatalities.
Training
If your workers face fall hazards, youre required to provide them with fall-protection training. Register them for IHSAs new program Working at Heights Fundamentals of Fall Prevention. We also offer a Working at Heights Instructor Workshop.
Products
- Construction Health and Safety Manual (M029)
- Cover Floor Openings Poster (W204)
- Elements of a Safe Scaffold Poster (W205)
- Elevating Work Platforms: Training Kit (M058KIT)
- Elevating Work Platforms: User's Guide (M058)
- Elevator/Escalator Health and Safety Manual (W020)
- Erecting and Dismantling Frame Shoring Towers (M049)
- Fall Protection DVD (FD046)
- Fall Protection Equipment Inspection Safety Meeting Pkg (SMP003)
- Fall Protection for Roofing Poster (W201)
- Fall Protection Poster Vinyl (Large) (P042)
- Fall Protection Stickers (S052)
- Falls Are Killing Us Poster (Small) (P044)
- Guardrails Poster (P026)
- Health and Safety Advisory: Roof Openings and Skylights (W250)
- Homebuilding Health and Safety Manual (M063)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.10 Issue 3 (IHSAV103)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.11 Issue 1 (IHSAV111)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.11 Issue 2 (IHSAV112)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.11 Issue 3 (IHSAV113)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.11 Issue 4 (IHSAV114)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.12 Issue 1 (IHSAV121)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.12 Issue 2 (IHSAV122)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.12 Issue 3 (IHSAV123)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.12 Issue 4 (IHSAV124)
- IHSA Magazine Vol.13 Issue 1 (IHSAV131)
- Prevent Falls From Ladders Poster (W203)
- Product Catalogue (IHSA017)
- Residential Roof Truss Installation Procedures (W210)
- Safety Talks Manual (V005)
- Tie Off It's the Law Poster (IHSA004)
- Tie Off Poster (Small) (P043)
- Training Catalogue (IHSA002)
- Training Requirements Chart (W001)
- Use Your Harness Sticker (S042)
Construction Health and Safety Manual
Safety Talks
Articles and Documents
- Ladder use in Construction Guideline
- Residential framers: How to prevent falls (Health & Safety Magazine, Vol 11, Issue 2)
- Fall protection: What to use when (Health & Safety News, Aug 2010)
- Protecting Young Workers (IHSA Magazine, Vol 13, Issue 1)
- Wind turbines (IHSA Magazine, Vol 13, Issue 1)
- MOL Blitz Results 2012 (IHSA Magazine, Vol 13, Issue 1)
Policy and Program Resources
A company's health and safety policy and program should include safe work practices or safe job procedures, requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE), an emergency response plan, and regular inspections. The sample documents below are a guide to help you create these elements with regards to fall hazards. For more resources, visit the Policy and Program Templates section.
Safe Work Practices/Safe Job Procedures
Personal Protective Equipment
Emergency Response Plan
Workplace Inspections
MOL videos
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Safety on Swing StagesA Ministry of Labour health and safety inspector explains what he looks for during a swing stage inspection. |
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Spot the Fall Hazards: ConstructionThis tool, created by the Ministry of Labour, presents some common hazards that could lead to falls at low-rise construction projects. |
Research and Statistics
- MOL Report Statistical information on construction fatalities and critical injuries in 2007. Comparisons with data from 2001 to 2006. Analysis by worker age and construction sector.
- Guardrail Report Research Document
- Fall Protection Guidelines: Masonry Scaffold Erection Procedures Research Document

