Ask The Expert: At What Height Is Fall Protection Required?

QUESTION

How high up do workers have to be working before they’re legally required to use fall protection equipment’

ANSWER

Three metres (9.84 feet) in most cases.

EXPLANATION

Three metres from a so called ‘safe surface’ is the threshold in every jurisdiction. (The threshold for federally regulated workplaces under the Canada OHS Regs. increased from 2.4 to 3 metres on Sept. 1, 2019). However, the threshold is lower, i.e., fall protection equipment is required at a height of less than 2 metres, where workers are at risk of falling into something hazardous such as operating machinery, live power lines or water or other liquid which could drown them.