Working at heights remains one of the highest-risk activities in construction and maintenance work. Every year, falls from height continue to cause serious injuries, fatalities, stop-work orders, and prosecutions across Ontario.

 

Most of these incidents are predictable and preventable.

 

Understanding the most common working at heights hazards is the first step in meeting legal obligations, protecting workers and ensure they get CPO Approved Working At Heights Training in Ontario.

Common Working at Heights Hazards Checklist Ontario

Employers must identify and control the following working at heights hazards on Ontario job sites:

• Unprotected roof edges, floor edges, and open-sided platforms

• Improper or missing guardrails

• Unsafe ladder use, including overreaching and unstable placement

• Incorrect use of fall protection equipment such as harnesses and lanyards

• Missing or improperly rated anchor points

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  Slippery surfaces caused by ice, snow, water, or debris

• Fragile surfaces such as skylights or temporary coverings

• Poor housekeeping on elevated work areas

• Lack of a fall protection or rescue plan

• Inadequate working at heights training or expired certification

If any of these hazards are present and workers are exposed to a fall risk of 3 metres or more, Ontario law requires approved working at heights training.

Why Identifying Working at Heights Hazards Matters

 

Under Ontario safety law, employers are required to:

• Identify hazards in the workplace
• Assess the level of risk
• Implement controls to eliminate or reduce those risks

Fall hazards are treated as high-consequence hazards, meaning the expectation for prevention and training is higher than for many other risks.

Inspectors from the Ontario Ministry of Labour routinely focus on working at heights during construction blitzes, especially during roofing, residential builds, and industrial maintenance work.

If hazards are not properly identified and controlled, enforcement action is likely.

Falls From Unprotected Edges

 

One of the most common and deadly hazards is exposure to unprotected edges.

This includes:

• Roof edges
• Floor openings
• Mezzanines
• Balconies and open-sided platforms

Workers may fall simply by losing balance, tripping, or stepping backward while carrying materials.

 

Common causes

• Missing or removed guardrails
• Improperly installed guardrail systems
• Reliance on visual awareness instead of physical barriers

 

Required controls

• Guardrails where possible
• Travel restraint or fall arrest systems when guardrails are not feasible
• Working at heights training so workers understand edge awareness and tie-off requirements

Improper Use of Ladders

 

Ladders continue to be a major source of fall injuries.

Many workers underestimate ladder risks because ladders are familiar and used daily.

 

Common ladder-related hazards

• Using ladders on uneven or unstable surfaces
• Overreaching beyond the ladder rails
• Standing on top rungs
• Carrying heavy materials while climbing
• Using damaged or makeshift ladders

Falls from ladders often occur at heights under 3 metres, yet still result in serious injuries.

 

Working at heights training reinforces:

• Proper ladder selection
• Angle and placement
• Three-point contact
• When a ladder is not an appropriate solution

Failure to Use Fall Protection Correctly

 

Providing fall protection equipment alone is not enough.

Many incidents occur because equipment is used incorrectly or not used at all.

 

Typical issues

• Harnesses worn incorrectly
• Lanyards too long for the working height
• Anchor points that are not rated
• Workers not tied off continuously

These failures often come down to lack of training or supervision.

Working at heights training teaches workers how fall protection systems function, when each system should be used, and how to recognize unsafe setups before work begins.

Slippery or Unstable Working Surfaces

 

Slips at height significantly increase fall risk.

Common contributing factors include:

• Ice, snow, or frost
• Wet surfaces from rain or condensation
• Loose debris
• Poor housekeeping
• Oil or grease on platforms

Seasonal conditions make this hazard worse in Ontario, particularly during early spring and late fall.

Employers must assess surface conditions daily and adjust work methods accordingly. Training helps workers recognize when conditions are unsafe and empowers them to stop work when necessary.

Fragile Surfaces and Openings

 

Some surfaces appear solid but cannot support a worker’s weight.

Examples include:

• Skylights
• Roof panels
• Temporary coverings over openings
• Aged decking materials

 

Workers may step onto these surfaces unintentionally, resulting in sudden falls.

Training emphasizes:

• Hazard identification before accessing a surface
• Use of covers, barriers, or travel restraint
• Never assuming a surface is load-bearing

Poor Planning and Inadequate Supervision

 

Many working at heights incidents are rooted in planning failures, not worker behaviour.

 

Examples include:

• No fall protection plan in place
• Lack of rescue planning
• Workers unsure of tie-off locations
• Supervisors unaware of fall hazards

 

Working at heights training supports planning by teaching:

• Hazard assessment principles
• Fall protection hierarchy
• Employer and worker roles
• Importance of rescue readiness

Supervision is critical. Even trained workers require oversight to ensure safe practices are followed consistently.

Inadequate Training and Competency Gaps

 

This is the underlying factor in most serious fall incidents.

Without proper training, workers may:

• Misjudge risks
• Use equipment incorrectly
• Bypass controls to save time
• Fail to recognize when conditions are unsafe

 

Ontario law requires workers exposed to fall hazards at heights of 3 metres or more on construction projects to complete approved working at heights training.

 

Training ensures workers understand not just what to do, but why it matters.

 

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Working at Heights Hazard Assessment Template (Ontario) Free Download

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How Training Helps Control These Hazards

 

Working at heights training is designed to:

• Improve hazard recognition
• Teach proper equipment use
• Reinforce safe decision-making
• Reduce reliance on unsafe shortcuts
• Support a stronger safety culture

When workers understand the risks and controls, incidents decrease and compliance improves.

This is why employers who invest in proper training see fewer injuries, fewer orders, and better inspection outcomes.

Connecting Hazards to Compliance

 

During inspections, hazards are rarely evaluated in isolation.

Inspectors look at:

• The hazard present
• The controls in place
• The training workers received

If a fall hazard exists and workers are not trained, enforcement action is likely.

Training is often the link between hazard identification and legal compliance.

Final Takeaway

 

Working at heights hazards are well known and consistently enforced.

 

Falls from edges, ladder misuse, improper fall protection, unstable surfaces, and poor planning continue to cause preventable injuries across Ontario.

 

The good news is that these hazards can be controlled.

 

Proper planning, supervision, and CPO approved working at heights training in Ontario from Achieve Safety, remain the most effective tools employers have to protect workers and meet their legal obligations.