Working at Heights Refresher Training
Still Working at Heights? Let’s Make Sure You’re Still Doing It Safely
Working at Heights Refresher training ensures that all participants stay up-to-date with safety standards and practices. Unfortunately, as accidents and fatalities continue from activities where workers are working at heights, the chance to refresh learning is not only prudent, but the law. Ontario’s mandatory Working at Heights safety training requires that workers complete a half-day refresher course every three years to maintain their certification.
- The refresher course focuses on the practical aspects of using fall protection systems and other equipment used for working at heights, and is intended for those who have previously completed a CPO-approved Working at Heights training course and wish to renew their certification’s validity period (3 years).
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize and control working at heights hazards
- Describe warning methods and barriers
- Choose the right work access equipment
- Recognize safe ladder use practices
- Identify alternative access equipment
- Choose the appropriate PPE and fall protection system
- Recognize the elements of rescue planning
- Demonstrate the use of working at heights PPE
Prerequisites
- All participants must have previously completed a CPO-approved Working at Heights training course to be eligible for this refresher training
All participants must bring their Working at Heights Proof of Training Card issued by the CPO-approved training provider. Learners will not be admitted into the course without proof of previous training.
Failure to provide proof of training on the day of refresher training may result in a forfeit of payment.
What you Get
Learners receive upon successful completion:
- Wallet certificate showing CPO-approved training
- Participant workbook and resource document
- Training registration in MLITSD Certification Management System
- Detailed Record of Training (private sessions only)
- Reminders for renewal training (3-year cycle)
As part of an empowering journey in safety, feel confident in your ability to continue to work safely at heights.
Learning Environment
- O.Reg 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training
- O. Reg. 213/91: Construction Projects
- Film and Television Industry Guideline No. 21: Working at Heights
- Check your eligibility for this Working at Heights Refresher using the Ministry of Labour Immigration Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) online eligibility checker. Participants must use the same information provided at their initial Working at Heights training : https://www.apps.labour.gov.on.ca/cms/safety-and-prevention/eligibility-checker
FAQs
1. Is there a difference between a Working at Heights Program and a Fall Protection Program?
Both programs have a few things in common. However, there are a couple of differences between them too. The table given below should help:
| FEATURE | WORKING AT HEIGHTS TRAINING | FALL PROTECTION/FALL ARREST TRAINING |
| Applicable Sectors | Mandatory for Ontario’s construction workforce. | Necessary for workers in sectors such as warehousing, telecom, manufacturing and maintenance. |
| Legal Requirement | Legally mandated for any and all construction workers in Ontario Regulation 297/13 Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training. | Not mandated by law. Dependent on factors such as provincial regulations, role-specific hazards or employer policies. |
| Course Content | A blend of theoretical and practical modules including OHSA regulations, hazard controls, fall arrest systems, worker responsibilities etc. | Includes an overview of general responsibilities, fall hazards, equipment inspection, fall arrest systems and more. |
| Certification Validity | 3 years. A refresher course before the expiration of the certificate is mandatory for continued compliance. | Varies from 1 to 3 years, so workers might have to take a refresher course sooner. |
| Mode of Delivery | In-person training offered by a CPO-approved training provider like Act First Safety, covering both theory and practical sessions. | Can be conducted online or in-person. No specific format prescribed by the Ministry of Labour or MLITSD for non-construction roles. |
| CPO Approval | Compulsory as per Ontario law. | Not required. |
| Certificate Requirement | Legally required for construction workers on sites where fall protection systems are used. | Educational certificate for non-construction workers required to enforce internal safety compliance. |
| Applicable Job Roles | Construction workers, roofers, scaffolders, window installers, tower climbers. | Warehouse staff, maintenance workers, telecom workers, facility technicians, landscapers. |
| Additional Notes | Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MLITSD) tracks completion, demanding the fulfilment of high compliance standards. | General awareness-oriented training. Not a substitute for a Working at Heights Training for the construction sector. |
| Summary | While a CPO-approved Working at Heights (WAH) training program is mandatory for workers in the construction sector, it remains the best, most thorough choice—and a best practice—for all other workers required to work at height. | |
2. What is the validity of this training program?
Working at Heights certificate is valid for 3 years. To maintain compliance and ensure timely certificate renewal, a refresher course (Working at Heights Refresher) before expiration is required.
3. Is the course available online?
Not the CPO-approved safety training course. Our Working at Heights / Fall Protection training program is offered in-person only as mandated by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MLITSD). For a general course on fall protection awareness in non-construction sectors, please visit https://actfirstsafety.ca/training/online-fall-protection-training/ to access our online training program.
For all workers performing tasks at height, completing the CPO-approved Working at Heights training program is the best choice—regardless of legal requirements.
4. Do you provide on-site training?
Yes, we offer on-site training across Ontario with a focus in southern Ontario and the GTA.
Book your Working at Heights Refresher course today!
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