Where Can I Get Training For Working at Heights?
If you need training for working at heights in Ontario, you must look for a training provider that offers a Chief Prevention Officer (CPO)-approved Working at Heights training program.
For workers who are required to complete Working at Heights training under Ontario law, a general fall-protection or safety awareness course is not a substitute for an approved program.
Correct Compliance offers CPO-approved Working at Heights Training for workers and employers in Southern Ontario. Public classes are available for both Working at Heights and Working at Heights Refresher training, with upcoming courses available through our online booking system.
Before you register, it helps to understand who needs this training, what an approved course includes, and how Working at Heights differs from other types of fall-protection training.
Who Needs Working at Heights Training in Ontario?
Not every Ontario worker who performs a task above ground level automatically needs Working at Heights training.
Under Ontario Regulation 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training, employers must ensure that workers on construction projects who are required to use specified methods of fall protection complete a CPO-approved Working at Heights training program.
This can apply to workers who use fall-protection equipment or systems such as:
Travel restraint systems
Fall restricting systems
Fall arrest systems
Safety nets
Work belts
Safety belts
Employers are responsible for determining the training their workers require based on the work being performed and the applicable legislation.
There may also be additional training requirements depending on the workplace, equipment being used, hazards present, and work being completed. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) sets out duties for Ontario employers, supervisors, and workers, while industry-specific regulations establish additional requirements.
If you’re unsure whether Working at Heights applies to a particular job, reviewing the applicable regulations and training requirements before work begins can help ensure workers receive the appropriate training.
Where Can You Take CPO-Approved Working at Heights Training?
Workers who need training for working at heights can complete the program through an Ontario training provider offering a CPO-approved program.
The distinction matters. Ontario has specific standards for both Working at Heights training programs and the providers that deliver them. The province maintains information about Working at Heights training requirements to help employers and workers understand the program.
Before registering for a course, confirm that you are choosing a CPO-approved Working at Heights program rather than a general course about fall safety.
Correct Compliance provides CPO-approved Working at Heights Training for Ontario workers. We serve employers and workers throughout Southern Ontario, including communities such as Fergus, Guelph, Elora, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Centre Wellington, and Wellington County.
Public classes make it possible for individual workers or employers with smaller groups to register for scheduled training without arranging a separate private course.
What Does Working at Heights Training Cover?
Working at Heights training is intended to give workers both the knowledge and practical skills they need to recognize fall hazards and understand the appropriate methods of fall protection.
Correct Compliance’s Working at Heights program covers topics including:
Fall dynamics and hazard identification
Worker rights and responsibilities
Ladder safety
Legislative requirements for worker fall safety
Fall-hazard control options and systems
Personal fall-protection components
Rescue requirements and planning
Equipment care principles
The course combines theory with hands-on learning. Participants complete practical evaluations using fall-protection equipment as well as knowledge verification through a test.
The practical component is an important part of approved training for working at heights. Reading about fall hazards or completing general safety awareness training does not provide the same training as participating in a complete CPO-approved program.
Correct Compliance’s Working at Heights program is a full-day course, and participants must achieve an 80% passing grade to receive a certificate. Classes have a maximum of 12 participants to meet the student-to-instructor ratios established by the training standard.
Is Working at Heights Training the Same as Fall-Protection Training?
Working at Heights and general fall-protection training are related, but they are not interchangeable.
CPO-approved Working at Heights training is a specific Ontario program for workers on construction projects who are required to use specified methods of fall protection.
Fall-protection training can also be required or appropriate in workplaces outside construction. Industrial workplaces, for example, may have workers using elevated platforms or performing other tasks where fall hazards need to be addressed.
Correct Compliance offers Fall Protection (Industrial) through our Health & Safety Training programs. This training helps workers understand fall-protection protocols in industrial settings, but does not meet Ontario’s Working at Heights requirements for construction.
Employers should therefore avoid assuming that any course with “fall protection” or “working at height” in its name will satisfy the requirements that apply to their workers.
For a more detailed comparison, read our guide to the difference between Working at Heights and fall protection.
How Do I Know if Working at Heights Training Is Approved?
Before paying for a course, make sure the training program and provider meet Ontario’s requirements.
Look specifically for language indicating that the Working at Heights program is CPO-approved. “Safety training,” “fall awareness,” and similar descriptions do not necessarily mean that a course meets Ontario’s Working at Heights training standard.
The Government of Ontario provides a list of approved Working at Heights training providers that workers and employers can use while looking for training.
Checking before registration is particularly important if an employer is booking training for several employees. Choosing the appropriate course from the beginning helps avoid paying for training that doesn’t meet the requirements for the work being performed.
How Long Does Working at Heights Training Take?
Correct Compliance’s Working at Heights program is a full-day course.
During the program, workers complete the theory portion of their training along with practical exercises involving fall-protection equipment. Participants also complete a test and practical evaluation.
Because approved Working at Heights training includes these hands-on components, it should not be confused with general online safety awareness courses.
Workers attending Correct Compliance’s course should dress comfortably and appropriately for the day. Participants may also bring their own fall-protection equipment if they have it.
Employers looking at training for working at heights should plan for workers to be available for the full course rather than expecting training to be completed through a short course or online module.
Do You Need Working at Heights Refresher Training?
Completing the initial Working at Heights program isn’t necessarily the last time a worker will need formal training.
In Ontario, CPO-approved Working at Heights training is generally valid for three years from the date of successful completion. Eligible workers can complete a CPO-approved refresher program before their training expires to maintain its validity.
Employers should keep records of employee training and monitor expiry dates so refresher training can be arranged when required. Leaving this until the last minute can create unnecessary scheduling problems, particularly when several workers have certificates expiring at the same time.
If a worker’s training has already expired, employers should confirm what training is required before booking a course rather than assuming the worker remains eligible for a refresher.
Correct Compliance offers public Working at Heights Refresher classes in addition to the full Working at Heights program, making it easier for employers and individual workers to find a scheduled course that fits their needs.
Can Working at Heights Training Be Completed Online?
If you need the CPO-approved Working at Heights program to meet Ontario’s construction requirements, you cannot replace the required practical training with a general online course.
Online safety training can still be useful for many other workplace topics, and Correct Compliance offers a variety of Online Training courses. However, employers should always make sure that the format and course they select meet the specific requirements that apply to the work.
This is another reason to identify the required training before registering workers. A convenient course is only useful for compliance purposes if it actually meets the applicable standard.
How Can I Book Training for Working at Heights in Ontario?
Correct Compliance offers public Working at Heights and Working at Heights Refresher courses for Ontario workers and employers.
Instead of contacting multiple providers or waiting to arrange a private class, workers and employers can view upcoming courses and book online through the Correct Compliance course calendar. Public Working at Heights classes accommodate up to 12 participants.
This option can be particularly helpful for:
Individual workers who need Working at Heights training
Employers onboarding one or several new workers
Businesses with employees approaching their refresher deadline
Employers who do not have enough participants to arrange a dedicated group course
Workers looking for a scheduled class in Southern Ontario
Employers who need other workplace training can also explore Correct Compliance’s broader Health & Safety Training options.
Find Training for Working at Heights With Correct Compliance
Finding training for working at heights starts with making sure you’re registering for the right program.
If Ontario’s Working at Heights requirements apply to your work, look for a Chief Prevention Officer (CPO)-approved program that provides the required theoretical and practical instruction.
General fall-protection awareness can play an important role in workplace safety, but it should not be treated as a replacement when CPO-approved Working at Heights training is required.
Correct Compliance provides CPO-approved Working at Heights Training for employers and workers across Southern Ontario, along with Working at Heights Refresher courses for eligible workers.
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