What's The Difference Between Working at Heights and Fall Protection?

If you work in construction, roofing, warehousing, maintenance, or any industry where employees may be exposed to falls, you’ve probably heard the terms Working at Heights and fall protection used interchangeably. While they are closely connected, they are not the same thing.

While both relate to workplace safety and preventing falls, they have different purposes, different legal requirements, and different levels of recognition under Ontario law. Understanding the distinction is important for employers, supervisors, and workers who want to stay compliant and maintain a safe workplace.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that general fall protection training can replace Working at Heights training. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the differences between these two training courses to help you determine which is right for you or your workers.

What Is Working at Heights Training?

Working at Heights (WAH) is a specific training program required by law in Ontario for certain workers on construction projects.

The requirement comes from Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Ontario Regulation 213/91. Since 2015, Ontario has required workers who may use fall protection methods on construction projects to complete an approved Working at Heights training program through a Ministry-approved provider.

This requirement was introduced to help reduce serious injuries and fatalities caused by falls, which is sadly one of the leading causes of workplace injuries in Ontario’s construction industry.

However, the good news is that WAH mandatory training is working. A study by the Institute for Work & Health found that in the three-year period after Working at Heights training became mandatory, the rate of fall-from-heights injuries that resulted in time off work fell by 19 percent!

Who Needs Working at Heights Training?

In Ontario, workers on construction projects must complete approved Working at Heights training if they use:

• Travel restraint systems

• Fall restricting systems

• Fall arrest systems

• Safety nets

• Work belts or safety belts

Some examples of industries commonly affected include:

• Roofing

• Construction

• Framing

• Electrical work

• HVAC installation

• Window installation

• Telecommunications

• Industrial maintenance

• Solar installation

Please note that the list above is not exhaustive, but meant to show the wide range of industries that may require workers to complete WAH training. Employers are legally responsible for ensuring affected workers have a valid Working at Heights certification before performing this type of work.

What Is Fall Protection Training?

Fall protection training is a broader term that refers to instruction on how to safely use fall protection equipment and work around fall hazards. Unlike Working at Heights, fall protection training is not legally required by OHSA.

Fall protection training may include:

• Harness fitting and inspection

• Lanyard use

• Anchor point selection

• Equipment limitations

• Fall clearance calculations

• Rescue procedures

• General hazard awareness

This type of training is commonly used across many industries, including (but not limited to):

• Warehousing

• Manufacturing

• Utilities

• Telecommunications

• Property maintenance

• Oil and gas

• Industrial operations

The exact content and standards of fall protection training can vary depending on the employer, the training provider, the specific industry that you work within and the types of workplace hazards you are likely to encounter on the job.

The Biggest Difference Between Working at Heights and Fall Protection Training: Legal Recognition in Ontario

The most important distinction is that Working at Heights training is a legally defined and regulated training requirement in Ontario construction, while fall protection training is a broader category of safety training.

In other words, all Working at Heights training includes fall protection concepts, but not all fall protection training qualifies as Working at Heights training.

This is where employers can unintentionally make mistakes. A worker may complete a generic fall protection course, but if it is not a CPO-approved Ontario Working at Heights program, the worker may still not meet legal requirements for construction work in Ontario.

Can Fall Protection Training Replace Working at Heights Training?

The short answer is: No.

In Ontario, general fall protection training does not replace or satisfy Working at Heights certification requirements for construction projects.

This is because Ontario’s WAH program has:

• Mandatory curriculum standards

• Practical demonstration requirements

• Approved training providers

• Specific refresher requirements

A general fall protection course may teach similar concepts, but unless it meets Ontario’s approved Working at Heights standards, it will not be legally accepted for applicable construction work. Employers should never assume that a generic fall protection certificate automatically meets Ontario’s WAH requirements.

Why Both Types of Training Matter

Even though Working at Heights has specific legal requirements in Ontario, fall protection training still plays an important role in workplace safety. Many workplaces provide additional site-specific or equipment-specific fall protection training beyond standard WAH certification.

This can help workers better understand:

• Unique hazards

• Specialized equipment

• Industry-specific procedures

• Rescue planning

• Company policies

And did you know...a worker may have valid Working at Heights certification but still require additional fall protection instruction for a particular job site or task.

What To Expect During Working at Heights Training

When you sign up for Correct Compliance's CPO-approved Working at Heights training course, you can expect to learn on topics including:

• Fall dynamics and hazard identification

• Rights and responsibilities related to working at heights

• Ladder safety

• Legislative requirements for worker fall safety

• Fall hazard control and system options

• Personal fall protection components

• Rescue requirements and planning

• Equipment care principles

Working at Heights is a full-day program. It includes practical evaluations with fall protection equipment and knowledge verification in the form of a test. An 80% passing grade is required to receive a certificate.

We are also proud to announce that Correct Compliance has recently launched public training classes for both Working at Heights and Working at Heights Refresher training courses! Check out our course calendar today to sign up.