What Is Fall Protection? Systems, Rules & Training Explained

Falls are one of the most common causes of serious injury on construction and industrial sites. Fall protection is how employers and workers control that risk.

It covers more than a harness. Fall protection starts with removing the hazard or putting up a barrier, and only then moves to personal equipment. Workers must be trained in the fall protection system before they use it.

Fall protection training is often called working at heights training. It teaches you when protection is needed, how the equipment works, how to inspect and wear it, and what to do if someone falls.

There are three main ways to protect a worker from a fall. The best choice is the one higher on the list that works for the job.

Restraint is preferred over arrest. With restraint nobody falls, so there is no risk of hitting something on the way down or being left hanging in a harness.

Each province and territory sets its own rules in its OHS regulations, so the trigger height is not the same everywhere. Always check the rules where you work, and your site’s rules, which can be stricter.

In British Columbia, for example:

• A fall protection system must be used where a fall of 3 m (10 ft) or more could happen.
• It is also needed at lower heights when a fall could cause a worse injury than landing on a flat surface, such as falling onto machinery, rebar or into an open tank.
• Employers must use guardrails first where practicable, then fall restraint, then fall arrest.
• A written fall protection plan is needed when workers could fall 7.5 m (25 ft) or more and are not protected by permanent guardrails, or when work procedures are used instead of fall protection equipment. The plan must be at the work site before work starts.
• Workers must be instructed in the fall protection system for the area before they work there.
• Equipment must be inspected by a qualified person before use on each shift.

In Ontario, construction workers who use certain fall protection need a Working at Heights program approved by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer. An online course does not replace that program.

A personal fall arrest system is often described as the ABCs:

• Anchor: a secure point that can hold the force of a fall. Anchors can be permanent or temporary.
• Body wear: a full-body harness that spreads the force of a fall across your body.
• Connector: what joins you to the anchor, such as a lanyard with an energy absorber, a self-retracting lifeline, or a lifeline with a rope grab.

In Canada, fall protection equipment is made and tested to the CSA Z259 family of standards. Check the labels, inspect your gear before each use, and take anything damaged out of service.

You also need enough clearance below you. If the system stretches too far, you can hit the ground or an object before it stops you.

A fall arrest system stops the fall, but the danger is not over. A worker hanging in a harness can develop suspension trauma, where blood pools in the legs. This can become serious quickly.

That is why every job with fall arrest needs a rescue plan before work starts. The plan should say who will rescue the worker, what equipment they will use, and how fast they can reach them. Calling emergency services is not a full plan on its own.

Anyone who works where they could fall needs training before they start, including:

Gama Safety’s online Fall Protection course takes about 3 hours and has eight modules:

1. What is Fall Protection (Working at Heights): when it is needed, and fall prevention vs restraint vs arrest.
2. OHS Regulations, Hazards and Procedures: the main rules, common fall hazards and how to control them.
3. Fall Protection Equipment: harnesses, lanyards, self-retracting lifelines and connectors.
4. Anchors: choosing, inspecting and using permanent and temporary anchors.
5. Special Situations: roofs, ladders, scaffolds, openings and leading edges.
6. Potential Injuries due to Falls: fall injuries, suspension trauma and quick rescue.
7. Wearing your Fall Protection Equipment: inspecting, putting on and adjusting your harness.
8. Emergency Preparedness and Response: what a rescue plan must include and what to do if a worker falls.

The online course covers the theory. Many employers also want hands-on practice with a real harness and a rescue demonstration. Gama Safety Canada offers hands-on Fall Protection training in Burnaby, BC, or at your site. Your employer must still instruct you on the system at each site.

BC sets no single legal expiry date for fall protection training. Your employer must keep your training current, and many employers and sites ask for a refresher every 3 years, or sooner after a new site, new equipment or an incident. In Ontario, Working at Heights training for construction is valid for 3 years.

1. Enrol in the online Fall Protection course and start on any device.
2. Learn at your own pace. Your progress saves automatically.
3. Pass the final exam with 80% or better. Retakes are unlimited and free.
4. Download your certificate right away. A wallet card is mailed to you free.

The course is WorkSafe-aligned, recognized by employers across Canada, and available in English, French, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin and more. Training a crew? Volume pricing starts at 2 seats.