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This new standard (if made law) will initally apply to the
‘Construction Industry’ but will later be applied to all
workers (working at heights). It’s expected that the
new standard for the ‘Construction Industry’ will come
into force this summer (2014) but will also allow for a
‘phase in’ period of several months.
The
MOL has been quoted as saying:
It is
proposed that the regulation would have a coming into
force date approximately three months after it is made.
It is proposed that the regulation would specify that
workers who have successfully met current training
requirements under section 26.2 of O. Reg. 213/91 prior
to the amendments coming into force would have an
additional two years to comply with the new working at
heights training requirements. This proposed two year
period takes into account current training delivery
capacity and would help facilitate compliance with the
proposed new requirements. All other workers would be
required to have completed an approved working at
heights training program, with an approved training
provider, when the proposed regulation, if approved,
comes into force.
With
the above statement, we believe that any workers who
have successfully completed Fall Protection training
(including YOW Canada’s Fall Protection training)
meeting the ‘existing’ Legislation will be
‘grandfathered-in’ and will therefore have a grace
period of 2 years before they would need to meet the
‘new standard’.
Key
highlights of the Working at Heights Training Program
Standard include:
-
Module 1: Basic Theory – foundational knowledge for
workers
-
Module 2: Practical Equipment – applied knowledge and
hands-on demonstration of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
-
Delivery Requirements – modes of delivery including
maximum class size
-
Timing – baseline duration of the training for both
modules (3 and 3.5 hours respectively)
-
List
of required equipment to be used during Module 2:
Practical Equipment
-
Evaluation methods of learners
-
Valid
for a period of three years after successful
completion of the training
For
more detailed information on the new Working at Heights
standard, please refer to the MOL’s website:
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/wah/index.php
Once
the new Working at Heights training standard becomes
law, YOW Canada does not intend to continue providing Fall
Protection training to Ontario workers. |
