Create a toolbox talk for working from heights. Reference the relevant standards for OH & S in Alberta

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142.2 (3) Despite subsection (2), if a worker works near an energized conductor or in a work area where a lanyard made of conductive material cannot be used safely, the employer must ensure that the worker uses another effective means of fall protection. AR 191/2021 s142.2;242/2022 ## Shock absorber 142.3 (1) An employer must ensure that if a shock absorber or shock absorbing lanyard is used as part of a personal fall arrest system, it is approved to one of the following standards if manufactured on or after March 31, 2023: - (a) CSA Standard Z259.11-17, Personal energy absorbers and lanyards ; - (b) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1-2007, Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems, subsystems and components ; - (c) CEN Standard EN 355:2002, Personal protective equipment against falls from a height Energy absorbers . - 142.3 (2) An employer must ensure that a personal fall arrest system consists of a full body harness and a lanyard equipped with a shock absorber or similar device. - 142.3 (3) Despite subsection (2), a shock absorber or similar device is not required if the personal fall arrest system is used in accordance with section 151. - 142.3 (4) Despite subsection (2), a shock absorber is required with a fixed ladder fall arrest system only if it is required by the manufacturer of the system. AR 191/2021 s142.3;242/2022 ## Connectors, carabiners and snap hooks - 143 (1) An employer must ensure that connecting components of a fall arrest system consisting of carabiners, D-rings, O-rings, oval rings, self-locking connectors and snap hooks manufactured on or after March 31, 2023 are approved, as applicable, to - (a) CSA Standard Z259.2.5-17, Fall arresters and vertical lifelines , - (b) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1-2007, Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems, subsystems and components , - (c) CEN Standard EN 362:2004, Personal protective equipment against falls from a height Connectors , or - (d) CEN Standard [redacted postal code]:1998, Moun…

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## Head protection 831 (1) Despite section 234, if there is a foreseeable danger of injury to a worker's head while the worker is performing industrial rope access work, and there is a significant possibility of lateral impact to the worker's head, an employer must ensure that the worker wears protective headwear that is appropriate to the hazards and meets the requirements of - (a) CSA Standard Z94.1-15, Industrial protective headwear - Performance, selection, care and use, - (b) ANSI Standard Z89.1-2003, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection , for Type II helmets, - (c) CEN Standard EN [redacted postal code]: 2000, Mountaineering equipment - Helmets for mountaineers Safety requirements and test methods , if the manufacturer's specifications allow the helmet to be used for industrial work at height, or - (d) UIAA Standard 106: 2004, Mountaineering and Climbing Equipment - Helmets , if the manufacturer's specifications allow the helmet to be used for industrial work at height, if the protective headwear was manufactured on or after March 31, 2023. 831 (2) Despite section 234, if there is a foreseeable danger of injury to a worker's head while the worker is performing industrial rope access work, and the possibility of lateral impact to the worker's head is unlikely, an employer must ensure that the worker wears protective headwear that is appropriate to the hazards and meets the requirements of - (a) CSA Standard Z94.1-15, Industrial protective headwear - Performance, selection, care and use, - (b) ANSI Standard Z89.1-2003, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection , for Type I or Type II helmets, - (c) CEN Standard EN 397: 2006, Specification for industrial safety helmets , - (d) CEN Standard EN [redacted postal code]: 2000, Mountaineering equipment - Helmets for mountaineers Safety requirements and test methods , if the manufacturer's specifications allow the helmet to be used for industrial work at height, or - (e) UIAA St…

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<!-- image --> ## OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT ## OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Alberta Regulation 191/2021 With amendments up to and including Alberta Regulation 210/2024 Current as of December 10, 2024 Office Consolidation © 2024, Government of Alberta

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## Sit harness - 847 An employer must ensure that a sit harness used for non industrial rope access work is approved to - (a) CEN Standard EN 813: 1997, Personal protective equipment for prevention of falls from a height - Sit harnesses , - (b) CEN Standard EN [redacted postal code]: 1998, Mountaineering equipment - Harnesses - Safety requirements and test methods , or - (c) UIAA Standard 105: 2004, Mountaineering and Climbing Equipment - Harnesses . ## Full body harness - 848 An employer must ensure that a full body harness used during non industrial rope access work is approved to - (a) CEN Standard EN 361: 2007, Personal protective equipment against falls from a height Full body harnesses , - (b) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1 2007, Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems, subsystems and components, or - (c) CSA Standard Z259.10-18, Full body harnesses , if the full body harness was manufactured on or after March 31, 2023. AR 191/2021 s848;242/2022 ## Connecting components 849 An employer must ensure that connecting components used during non industrial rope access work are approved to - (a) CEN Standard EN [redacted postal code]: 1998, Mountaineering equipment - Connectors - Safety requirements and test methods , or - (b) UIAA Standard 121: 2004 , Mountaineering and Climbing Equipment - Connectors .

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- (b) guardrails and toe boards. - 314 (2) If a person removes a cover, guardrail or toe board, or any part thereof, protecting an opening or hole for any reason, an employer must ensure a temporary cover or other means of protection replaces it immediately. - 314 (3) If a temporary cover is used to protect an opening or hole, an employer must ensure a warning sign or marking clearly indicating the nature of the hazard - (a) is posted near or fixed on the cover, and - (b) is not removed unless another effective means of protection is immediately provided. ## Guardrails - 315 (1) An employer must ensure that a guardrail required by this Code - (a) has a horizontal top member installed between 920 millimetres and 1070 millimetres above the base of the guardrail, - (b) has a horizontal, intermediate member spaced mid-way between the top member and the base, - (c) has vertical members at both ends of the horizontal members with intermediate vertical supports that are not more than 3 metres apart at their centres, and - (d) is constructed of lumber that is 38 millimetres by 89 millimetres or of material with properties the same as or better than those of lumber. - 315 (2) Despite subsection (1), a temporary guardrail does not require a horizontal intermediate member if it has a substantial barrier positioned within the space bounded by the horizontal top member, toe board and vertical members that prevents a worker from falling through the space. - 315 (3) An employer must ensure that a guardrail is secured so that it cannot move in any direction if it is struck or if any point on it comes into contact with a worker, materials or equipment. ## Hoppers, bins and chutes - 316 If a worker can access materials in hoppers, bins or chutes, an employer must ensure the hoppers, bins or chutes have horizontal bars, screens or equally effective safeguards that prevent a worker from falling into the hoppers, bins or chutes. ## Machine failure - 317 If a worker may be injured …

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## Wire rope sling as anchor 152.4 An employer must ensure that a wire rope sling used as an anchor is terminated at both ends with a Flemish eye splice rated to at least 90 percent of the wire rope's minimum breaking strength. ## Flexible and rigid horizontal lifeline systems - 153 (1) An employer must ensure that a flexible horizontal lifeline system manufactured on or after July 1, 2009 meets the requirements of - (a) CSA Standard Z259.13-04, Flexible Horizontal Lifeline Systems , or - (b) the applicable requirements of CSA Standard Z259.16-04, Design of Active Fall-Protection Systems . - 153 (2) An employer must ensure that a rigid horizontal fall protection system is designed, installed and used in accordance with - (a) the manufacturer's specifications, or - (b) specifications certified by a professional engineer. ## Installation of horizontal lifeline systems - 153.1 An employer must ensure that before a horizontal lifeline system is used, a professional engineer, a competent person authorized by the professional engineer, the manufacturer or a competent person authorized by the manufacturer certifies that the system has been properly installed according to the manufacturer's specifications or to specifications certified by a professional engineer. ## Fixed ladders and climbable structures 154 (1) An employer must ensure that if a worker is working from or on a fixed ladder or climbable structure at a height of 3 metres or more and is not protected by a guardrail, continuous protection from falling is provided by - (a) equipping the fixed ladder or climbable structure with an integral fall protection system that meets the requirements of - (i) CSA Standard Z259.2.4-15, Fall arresters and vertical rigid rails , - (i.1) CSA Standard Z259.2.5-17, Fall arresters and vertical lifelines , or - (ii) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1-2007, Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems, subsystems and components , or - (b) an alternate fall protection system.…

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## Full body harness - 142 (1) An employer must ensure that - (a) a full body harness manufactured on or after March 31, 2023 is approved to - (i) CSA Standard Z259.10-18, Full body harnesses , - (ii) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1-2007, Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems, subsystems and components , or - (iii) CEN Standard EN 361:2007, Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - Full body harnesses , ## and - (b) a worker using a personal fall arrest system wears and uses a full body harness. - 142 (2) A worker using a personal fall arrest system must wear and use a full body harness. AR 191/2021 s142;242/2022 ## Body belt - 142.1 An employer must ensure that - (a) a body belt manufactured on or after July 1, 2009 is approved to - (i) CSA Standard Z259.1-05, Body belts and saddles for work positioning and travel restraint , - (ii) ANSI/ASSE Standard A10.32-2004, Fall Protection Systems - American National Standard for Construction and Demolition Operations , or - (iii) CEN Standard EN 358: 2000, Personal protective equipment for work positioning and prevention of falls from a height - Belts for work positioning and restraint and work positioning lanyards , and - (b) a worker uses a body belt only as part of a travel restraint system or as part of a fall restrict system. ## Lanyard 142.2 (1) An employer must ensure that a lanyard manufactured on or after March 31, 2023 is approved to - (a) CSA Standard Z259.11-17, Personal energy absorbers and lanyards , - (b) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1-2007, Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems, subsystems and components , or - (c) CEN Standard EN 354:2002, Personal protective equipment against falls from a height Lanyards . 142.2 (2) An employer must ensure that a lanyard used by a worker is made of wire rope or other material appropriate to the hazard if a tool or corrosive agent that could sever, abrade or burn a lanyard is used in the work area.

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## Low stretch (static) and high stretch (dynamic) rope - 817 An employer must ensure that low stretch or static rope manufactured on or after July 1, 2009 and used in an occupational rope access system is approved to - (a) CEN Standard EN 1891: 1998, Personal protective equipment for the prevention of falls from a height - Low stretch kernmantel ropes , and is a Type A rope as classified by the standard, - (b) NFPA Standard 1983, Standard on Fire Service Life Safety Rope, Harness, and Hardware , 2006 Edition, or - (c) UIAA Standard 107: 2004, Mountaineering and Climbing Equipment - Low Stretch Ropes , and is a Type A rope as classified by the standard. ## Low stretch (static) and high stretch (dynamic) rope - 818 An employer must ensure that high stretch or dynamic rope used in an occupational rope access system is approved to - (a) CEN Standard EN 892: 2004, Mountaineering equipment - Dynamic mountaineering ropes - Safety requirements and test methods , or - (b) UIAA Standard 101: 2004, Mountaineering and Climbing Equipment - Dynamic Ropes . AR 191/2021 s818;202/2024 ## Cow's tail 819 (1) If a cow's tail is made of dynamic rope, an employer must ensure that the rope is approved to - (a) CEN Standard EN 892: 2004, Mountaineering equipment - Dynamic mountaineering ropes - Safety requirements and test methods , or - (b) UIAA Standard 101: 2004, Mountaineering and Climbing Equipment - Dynamic Ropes . 819 (2) If a cow's tail is not made of dynamic rope, an employer must ensure that the cow's tail is approved to CEN Standard EN 354: 2002, Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - Lanyards . ## Removal from service 820 (1) An employer must ensure that equipment and personal protective equipment used as part of an occupational rope access system is removed from service - (a) as specified by the manufacturer, or - (b) if it is defective, and returned to the manufacturer, destroyed, or rendered unusable. 820 (2) An employer must ensure that eq…

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- (b) the procedures to be followed while performing the work must be in writing and available to workers before the work begins, - (c) the work is carried out in such a way that minimizes the number of workers exposed to a fall hazard while work is performed, - (d) the work is limited to light duty tasks of limited duration, - (e) the worker performing the work is competent to do it, - (f) when used for inspection, investigation or assessment activities, these activities take place prior to the actual start of work or after work has been completed, and - (g) the procedures do not expose a worker to additional hazards. ## Work positioning - 160 (1) An employer must ensure that if a worker uses a work positioning system, the worker's vertical free-fall distance in the event of a fall is restricted by the work positioning system to 600 millimetres or less. - 160 (2) If the centre of gravity of a worker using a work positioning system extends beyond an edge from which the worker could fall or if the work surface presents a slipping or tripping hazard because of its state or condition, an employer must ensure that the worker uses a back-up personal fall arrest system in combination with the work positioning system. - 160 (3) A worker must use a back-up personal fall arrest system in combination with the work positioning system if the worker's centre of gravity extends beyond an edge from which the worker could fall or if the work surface presents a slipping or tripping hazard because of its state or condition. ## Control zones - 161 (1) If a control zone is used, an employer must ensure that it - (a) is only used if a worker can fall from a surface that has a slope of no more than 4 degrees toward an unguarded edge or that slopes inwardly away from an unguarded edge, and - (b) is not less than 2 metres wide when measured from the unguarded edge. - 161 (2) An employer must not use a control zone to protect workers from falling from a skeletal structure that is a work…

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## Part 9 Fall Protection ## Rescue personnel exemption 138 Rescue personnel involved in training or in providing emergency rescue services may use equipment, personal protective equipment and practices other than those specified in this Part. ## General protection 139 (1) An employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker is protected from falling if a worker may fall, - (a) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of 3 metres or more, - (b) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of less than 3 metres if there is an unusual possibility of injury, - (c) at a temporary or permanent work area, into or onto a hazardous substance or object, or through an opening in a work surface, or - (d) at a permanent work area, a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres and less than 3 metres. 139 (2) For the purposes of this section, there is an unusual possibility of injury if the injury may be worse than an injury from landing on a solid, flat surface. 139 (3) Subject to subsection (5), an employer must install a guardrail. 139 (4) Repealed. 139 (5) Subject to subsection (6), if the use of a guardrail is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses a travel restraint system that meets the requirements of this Part. 139 (6) Subject to subsection (7), if the use of a travel restraint system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses a personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of this Part. 139 (7) If the use of a personal fall arrest system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses equally effective controls. 139 (8) A worker must use a fall protection system as required by this section. ## Fall protection plan 140 (1) An employer must develop procedures that comply with this Part in a fall protection plan for a work site if a worker at the work site may fall 3 metres or mor…

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## (Consolidated up to 210/2024) ## ALBERTA REGULATION 191/2021 ## Occupational Health and Safety Act OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE ## Table of Contents ## Core Requirements Applicable to All Industries ## Part 1 Definitions and General Application - 1 Definitions - 1.1 Farming and ranching operations - 1.2 Domestic workers - 2.2 Designated person to prepare plan - 3.1 Previous editions of referenced standards - 3.2 Equipment - 3.3 Performance of duty by worker - 6 Coming into force ## Part 2 ## Hazard Assessment, Elimination and Control - 7 Hazard assessment - 8 Worker participation - 9 Hazard elimination and control - 10 Emergency control of hazard ## Part 3 Specifications and Certifications - 12 Following specifications - 13 Manufacturer's and professional engineer's specifications - 14 Certification by a professional engineer - 15 Approved equipment - 15.1 Specification and certifications

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- (d) that clearance distances below the work area, if applicable, have been confirmed as sufficient to prevent a worker from striking the ground or an object or level below the work area, - (e) the procedures used to assemble, maintain, inspect, use and disassemble the fall protection system, where applicable, and - (f) the rescue procedures to be used if a worker falls and is suspended by a personal fall arrest system or safety net and needs to be rescued. - 140 (3) The employer must ensure that the fall protection plan is available at the work site and is reviewed with workers before work with a risk of falling begins. - 140 (4) The employer must ensure that the plan is updated when conditions affecting fall protection change. ## Instruction of workers 141 (1) An employer must ensure that a worker is trained in the safe use of the fall protection system before allowing the worker to work in an area where a fall protection system must be used. - 141 (2) The training referred to in subsection (1) must include the following: - (a) a review of current Alberta legislation pertaining to fall protection; - (b) an understanding of what a fall protection plan is; - (c) fall protection methods a worker is required to use at a work site; - (d) identification of fall hazards; - (e) assessment and selection of specific anchors that the worker may use; - (f) instructions for the correct use of connecting hardware; - (g) information about the effect of a fall on the human body, including - (i) maximum arresting force, - (ii) the purpose of shock and energy absorbers, - (iii) swing fall, and - (iv) free fall; - (h) pre-use inspection; - (i) emergency response procedures to be used at the work site, if necessary; - (j) practice in - (i) inspecting, fitting, adjusting and connecting fall protection systems and components, and - (ii) emergency response procedures. 141 (3) In addition to the training described in subsection (2), an employer must ensure that a worker is made awar…