TDTailgateDocs
Check

Fall protection plan requirements by province: 3 m, 7.5 m and what goes on paper

The height that brings in fall protection, and the point where a written plan, procedure or rescue plan comes in, are not the same across Canada. Here is what each official text says. Read your own province before the job, and remember the plan comes from the site, not from a template.

Working at height this week? Get the FLHA for the job, filled in with your site, crew and tasks: Custom FLHA, CA$39 →

Province by province

Alberta

  • Fall protection is required at 3 m or more. A fall protection plan is needed where a worker may fall 3 m or more and is not protected by guardrails, and it must include rescue procedures. (OHS Code, AR 191/2021, ss. 139(1), 140(1)-(4))

British Columbia

  • Fall protection is required from 3 m, or lower where the landing is more dangerous. A written fall protection plan is needed where a fall of 7.5 m (25 ft) or more may occur and workers are not protected by permanent guardrails. (OHS Regulation, ss. 11.2(1), 11.3)

Saskatchewan

  • Fall protection is required at 3 m or more. A written fall protection plan is needed where a worker may fall 3 m or more and is not protected by a guardrail or similar barrier. (OHS Regulations, 2020, ss. 9-2(2), 9-3)

Manitoba

  • Where a worker may fall 3 m or more, the employer must develop and implement safe work procedures to prevent falls and train workers in them. (Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, M.R. 217/2006, ss. 14.1(1), 14.2)

Ontario

  • Ontario (construction projects): The fall protection rules apply where a worker may fall more than 3 m, among other listed hazards. (O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects), s. 26)
  • Ontario (construction projects): Before any worker uses a fall arrest system or safety net, the employer must develop written procedures for rescuing the worker after a fall is arrested. (O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects), s. 26.1(4))

New Brunswick

  • A fall-protection system is required for an unguarded work area 3 m or more above water or the nearest permanent safe level. (General Regulation, N.B. Reg. 91-191, s. 49(1))
  • A written fall-protection code of practice is needed where a fall-protection system is required and employees work from 7.5 m or more, among other cases, and a rescue procedure must be developed before any fall-arresting system is used. (General Regulation, N.B. Reg. 91-191, ss. 50.2, 49.2(4))

Nova Scotia

  • Fall protection is required where a person could fall 3 m or more. (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, Part 21, s. 21.2(1)-(2))
  • Where fall protection is required and the maximum fall distance is less than 7.5 m, the employer must have a written fall-protection safe-work procedure for the type of work, unless every worker is behind a permanent guardrail or on a qualifying work platform. (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, Part 21, s. 21.3)
  • Where fall protection is required and the fall distance is 7.5 m or more, the employer must have a specific written fall-protection safe-work plan for the work area. (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, Part 21, s. 21.4)

Prince Edward Island

  • Fall protection is required where a worker could fall 3 m or more. Where a fall arrest system or safety net is used, a written fall protection plan is required. (OHS Act Fall Protection Regulations (EC633/04), ss. 2(1), 3(11))

Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Fall protection is required at 3 m or more. Where a fall arrest system or personnel safety net is used, a written fall protection plan is required. (NLR 5/12, ss. 139, 141, 142(10))

Yukon

  • Fall arrest protection is required at 3 m (10 ft) or more where guards, guardrails or nets are not practical. A written fall protection plan is needed where the fall could be 7.5 m (25 ft) or more and there are no permanent guardrails. (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, O.I.C. 2006/178, ss. 1.37-1.38)

Northwest Territories

  • A fall protection system is required where a worker could fall 3 m or more. A written fall protection plan is needed where a worker could fall 3 m or more and is not protected by a guardrail or similar barrier. (OHS Regulations, R-039-2015, ss. 119-120)

Nunavut

  • A fall protection system is required where a worker could fall 3 m or more. A written fall protection plan is needed where a worker could fall 3 m or more and is not protected by a guardrail or similar barrier. (OHS Regulations, Nu Reg R-003-2016, ss. 119-120)

Not covered here: Quebec and federally regulated workplaces. We have not read those rules for this topic, so we do not quote them.

Before the crew goes up

Whatever your province, the same questions decide the day:

  1. How far could someone fall from each work area, and onto what?
  2. Are there guardrails, or does the crew rely on travel restraint, fall arrest or nets?
  3. What are the anchors, and who checked them?
  4. If someone is caught by a harness, how do you get them down, and how fast?
  5. Does your province call for any of this in writing at that height? Check the lines above.

The Custom FLHA puts the crew's answers next to the hazards and controls for the task, from our reviewed library: roofs, leading edges, scaffolds, swing stages, ladders and lifts.

Questions

At what height does Alberta call for a fall protection plan?

  • Alberta: Fall protection is required at 3 m or more. A fall protection plan is needed where a worker may fall 3 m or more and is not protected by guardrails, and it must include rescue procedures. (OHS Code, AR 191/2021, ss. 139(1), 140(1)-(4))

When does British Columbia call for a written plan?

  • British Columbia: Fall protection is required from 3 m, or lower where the landing is more dangerous. A written fall protection plan is needed where a fall of 7.5 m (25 ft) or more may occur and workers are not protected by permanent guardrails. (OHS Regulation, ss. 11.2(1), 11.3)

Does Ontario have a written fall protection plan rule?

The Ontario lines we quote are these two:

  • Ontario (construction projects): The fall protection rules apply where a worker may fall more than 3 m, among other listed hazards. (O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects), s. 26)
  • Ontario (construction projects): Before any worker uses a fall arrest system or safety net, the employer must develop written procedures for rescuing the worker after a fall is arrested. (O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects), s. 26.1(4))

Do you sell a fall protection plan?

No. We sell the Custom FLHA, which covers work at height tasks such as steep roofs, leading edges and swing stages with the hazards and controls from our reviewed library, and the FLHA Kit with 20 filled examples. A fall protection plan is specific to the site and the system, and needs a competent person.

Want blank forms and 20 filled examples instead? FLHA Kit, CA$29

More for employers in Canada

Which safety documents does my province ask for?Ontario violence and harassment policyHarassment policy by provinceJoint health and safety committee by provinceCOR certification guideSECOR certification guideFederal workplace safety requirementsFLHA form for Alberta and BCWorking alone policyToolbox talks for Canadian crews