Falling from heights

Background

Working at heights can pose a serious risk of injury or death from falling. This includes working on or climbing a telecommunications tower, pole, grain elevator, ladder, scaffold or vehicle. The Labour Program continues to investigate fatalities and hazardous occurrences involving falls from heights.

The following federally regulated sectors experience a high incidence of disabling injuries due to falls from heights:

• longshoring (for example, falling from ladders or stationary vehicles)
• road transport (for example, falling from stationary vehicles or loading docks)
• telecommunications (for example, falling from ladders, towers, poles, stationary vehicles or down stairs) and
• air transport (for example, falling down stairs or from scaffolds)

Hazards

Factors that can lead to an accident while working at heights include:

• improper installation, maintenance or modification of safety devices and equipment (for example, guardrails, ladders, fall-protection system)
• failure to use provided safety devices (for example, fall-protection equipment and railings)
• working in poor weather conditions
• climbing on material (for example, warehouse racking) or machinery not intended for climbing
• carrying items unsafely while climbing
• placing a ladder or scaffold footing on unstable ground
• extending a ladder beyond the sections' minimum overlap so that it is no longer stable
• leaning sideways from a ladder or over the edge of a floor opening to perform work
• working at heights for a prolonged period, and
• failure to wear proper non-slip footwear

Controlling and eliminating the hazard

Employees and employers should follow these measures to help prevent accidents or fatalities resulting from falls from heights:

• work from the ground using an extendable tool when possible
• install and maintain guardrails where required, in accordance with prescribed standards
• use fall-protection equipment when working from heights of 3 metres or more such as, (but not limited to):
  • an unguarded structure
  • a ladder or vehicle
  • above moving parts of machinery or
  • above any surface or object that could cause injury
• establish safe work procedures based on hazard assessments
• use proper safety devices and equipment for the job (for example, scissor or bucket lift, fall-protection gear, ladder)
• follow manufacturer's operation and maintenance instructions for safety devices (for example, ladders, scaffolding, fall-protection system, and guardrails)
• train employees in the use of all safety devices
• maintain three points of contact (two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand) when ascending or descending from a ladder, tower or pole

Legislation and regulatory requirements

To protect the health and safety of employees working at heights, employers must, for example:

• ensure that highly visible guardrails are installed where required, in compliance with prescribed standards including those for top and intermediate rails, supporting posts and static load
• identify and assess hazards associated with working at heights
• implement adequate control measures to address the identified hazards, including a fall-protection plan
• use personal protection equipment only when a hazard cannot be eliminated or controlled within safe limits
• develop safety procedures for working safely at heights
• implement emergency and rescue procedures, and
• provide adequate training to employees

The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR), among other regulations, contain requirements that may apply when working at heights, for example:

• Part II, Permanent Structures (for example, floor and wall openings, open-top bins, hoppers, vats and pits, toe boards, window cleaning platforms, ladders and guardrails)
• Part III, Temporary Structures and Excavations (for example, barricades, portable ladders, temporary ramps and stairs, and temporary elevated work bases such as scaffolds)
• Part XII, Protective Equipment and Other Preventive Measures (for example, fall-protection plan, fall-protection systems, personal protective equipment, and instruction and training)
• Part XII requires that if there is a risk of injury due to falling from a structure or on a vehicle at a height of 3 metres or more, and before any work activities begin, the employer must develop a fall-protection plan in consultation with the work place committee or the health and safety representative. The employer must also ensure that a copy of the fall-protection plan is readily available at the work place for consultation

The Hazard Prevention Program, found in Part XIX of the COHSR, requires employers to identify hazards in the workplace. The Labour Program's Hazard Prevention Program Guide provides assistance in implementing a hazard prevention program that meets the requirements of Part XIX of the COHSR.

Hazard Alerts! are messages, notices or warnings for employees, employers and Canadians in general. They provide information about the risks associated with, for example, the handling of hazardous substances, the presence of toxic products or the use of products or objects. Employers must comply with the minimum standards established by Part II of the Canada Labour Code and associated regulations.

For further information please contact the ESDC Labour Program office nearest you or visit our website.