Fall Protection is regulated by numerous different legislative bodies around the globe. In Canada, each province/territory is responsible for producing occupational health and safety legislation for work being performed in their area.
Federally regulated companies are held to a different standard and are required to follow the Canadian Occupations Health and Safety Regulations. In the United States, fall protection is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
High Engineering takes an active role in the development of several standards that Canadian legislation often references. The regulatory summary highlights the key information from the various regulatory bodies and provides direct links to the websites for the regulations.
Quick Reference by Jurisdiction
Canadian Federal Legislation
Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations SOR/86-304
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Z259.16
Z259.16
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
British Columbia Legislation
British Columbia Occupational Health and Safety Regulation B.C. Reg. 321/2002 Part 11
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Written Fall Protection Plan Required > 7.5 m (25 ft)
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems No
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Alberta Legislation
Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code Alberta Regulation 87/2009 Part 9
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Temporary: 3.5 kN
Temporary: 800 ft-lb
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Written Fall Rescue Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
Control Zones / Warning Lines Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Saskatchewan Legislation
Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety Regulations O-1.1 Reg 1 (1996)
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Temporary: 3.5 kN
Temporary: 800 ft-lb
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Written Fall Rescue Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
Control Zones / Warning Lines Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems No
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Manitoba Legislation
Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation Reg. 217/2006 Part 14
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Temporary: 6 kN
Temporary: 1350 ft-lb
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Temporary: 6 kN
Temporary: 1350 ft-lb
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Ontario Industrial Legislation
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act for Industrial Establishments O.Reg. 851/90
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Ontario Construction Legislation
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act for Construction Projects O.Reg. 213/91
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Temporary: 6 kN
Temporary: 1350 ft-lb
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Temporary: 2 kN
Temporary: 450 ft-lb
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Quebec Legislation
Quebec Regulation Respecting Occupational Health and Safety S-2.1, r.13
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Control Zones / Warning Lines Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
New Brunswick Legislation
New Brunswick Occupational Health and Safety Act General Regulations Reg. 91-191
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Written Fall Protection Plan Required > 7.5 m (25 ft)
Written Fall Rescue Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
Control Zones / Warning Lines Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Prince Edward Island Legislation
Prince Edward Island Fall Protection Regulations Reg. EC633/04
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Written Fall Rescue Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Nova Scotia Legislation
Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act Fall Protection and Scaffolding Regulations Reg. 2/96
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Minimum Travel Restraint Anchor Strength
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Written Fall Rescue Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
Control Zones / Warning Lines Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Newfoundland & Labrador Legislation
Newfoundland & Labrador Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Reg. 1165/96 Part X
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Written Fall Protection Plan Required Yes
Written Fall Rescue Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers is Legislated Yes
Control Zones / Warning Lines Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems Yes
CSA Standard by Horizontal Lifeline Design
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Northwest Territories & Nunavut Legislation
Northwest Territories & Nunavut General Safety Regulations Reg. c.S-1
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems No
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
Yukon Territory
Yukon Territory General Safety Regulations O.I.C. 1986/164
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Written Fall Protection Plan Required > 7.5 m (25 ft)
Written Fall Rescue Plan Required Yes
Training of Workers Legislated Yes
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems No
Standard Accepted for Fall Protection Equipment
USA Federal OSHA General Industry Legislation
Occupational Safety and Health Standards 1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection
Threshold Height for Fall Protection System
Threshold Height for Guardrails on Permanent Work Locations
Minimum Fall Arrest System Anchor Strength
Adopted CSA Z259.16 Design of Active Fall Protection Systems No