CANADIAN FALL PROTECTION STANDARDS

Delta Prevention meets and exceeds every Canadian fall protection standards for guardrails and warning line. Independently tested, all our fall protection system are engineered to meet or exceed every National or Provincial regulations when installed according to the manufacturer’s Installation Guide.

Every systems is delivered with:

• Compliance Report
• Installation Guide
• 10 year Manufacturer’s Warranty (ask us for more details)

Non penetrating guardrail standard

Ontario fall protection regulation

Source: Canadian National Building Code & Ontario Building Code

4.1.5.14. Loads on Guards

1. The minimum specified horizontal load applied inward or outward at the minimum required height of every required guard shall be,

a. 3.0 kN/m for open viewing stands without fixed seats and for means of egress in grandstands, stadia, bleachers and arenas,

b. a concentrated load of 1.0 kN applied at any point for access ways to equipment platforms, contiguous stairs and similar areas where the gathering of many people is improbable, and

c. 0.75 kN/m or a concentrated load of 1.0 kN applied at any point, whichever governs for locations other than those described in Clauses (a) and (b).

2. Individual elements within the guard, including solid panels and pickets, shall be designed for a load of 0.5 kN applied over an area of 100 mm by 100 mm located at any point in the element or elements so as to produce the most critical effect.

3. The loads required in Sentence (2) need not be considered to act simultaneously with the loads provided for in Sentences (1) and (4).

4. The minimum specified load applied vertically at the top of every required guard shall be 1.5 kN/m and need not be considered to act simultaneously with the horizontal load provided for in Sentence (1).

5. For loads on handrails, refer to Sentence 3.4.6.5.(12).

 

Roof access hatch

Construction Projects

1. Reg. 213/91

Section 26.3

26.3 (1) Despite paragraph 1 of section 26, a guardrail system that meets the requirements of this section shall be used if a worker has access to the perimeter or an open side of any of the following work surfaces and may be exposed to a fall of 2.4 metres or more:

1. A floor, including the floor of a mezzanine or balcony.
2. The surface of a bridge.
3. A roof while formwork is in place.
4. A scaffold platform or other work platform, runway or ramp.

(2) One of the following precautions shall be used to prevent a worker from falling through an opening on a work surface:

1. A guardrail system that meets the requirements of this section.
2. A protective covering that,
3. completely covers the opening,
4. is securely fastened,

iii. is adequately identified as covering an opening,

1. is made from material adequate to support all loads to which the covering may be subjected, and
2. is capable of supporting a live load of at least 2.4 kilonewtons per square metre without exceeding the allowable unit stresses for the material used.

Section 40

40. (1) No material shall be stored, stacked or piled closer than 1.8 metres to,

(a) an opening in a floor or roof ;

(b) the open edge of a floor, roof or balcony; or

(c) an excavation.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to material in a building or a completely enclosed part of a building that is used solely for storing and distributing materials.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to small masonry units including bricks, blocks and similar objects,

(a) that can be handled by one worker;

(b) that are to be used at the edge of a floor, a roof, an excavation or an opening in a floor or roof; and

(c) that are stacked in a pile whose height is less than the distance from the face of the pile to the edge of the floor, roof, excavation or opening in a floor or roof.

Industrial Establishments

R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851

“Section 13

13. (1) Subject to subsection (2), there shall be a guardrail,

(a) around the perimeter of an uncovered opening in a floor, roof or other surface to which a worker has access;

(b) at an open side of,

(i) a raised floor, mezzanine, balcony, gallery, landing, platform, walkway, stile, ramp or other surface, or

(ii) a vat, bin or tank, the top of which is less than 107 centimetres above the surrounding floor, ground, platform or other surface; and

(c) around a machine, electrical installation, place or thing that is likely to endanger the safety of any worker.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to,

(a) a loading dock;

(b) a roof to which access is required only for maintenance purposes;

(c) a pit used for;

(i) work on an assembly line, or

(ii) maintenance of vehicles or similar equipment; and

(d) a conveyor or similar system that transports a vehicle or vehicle part, and any raised platform used with the conveyor or similar system, if a guardrail would,

(i) obstruct the passage of the vehicle or vehicle part,

(ii) prevent a worker from performing work, or

(iii) pose a hazard to a worker.

(3) If there is no guardrail in a situation described in subsection (2), an employer shall develop and implement other measures and procedures to protect workers from the hazard of falling.

Section 14

14. (1) A guardrail shall,

(a) have a top rail located not less than 91 and not more than 107 centimeters above the surface to be guarded;

(b) have a mid rail;

(c) if tools or other objects may fall on a worker, have a toe- board that extends from the surface to be guarded to a height of at least 125 millimetres; and

(d) be free of splinters and protruding nails.

(2) A guardrail shall be constructed to meet the structural requirements for guards as set out in the Building Code.

Section 15

15. A cover on an openingin a floor, roof or other surface shall be,

(a) secured in place; and

(b) constructed to meet the structural requirements for loads due to the use of floors and roofs as set out in the Building Code.”

BC fall protection regulations

Source:Worksafe BC

11.2 Obligation to use fall protection

1. Unless elsewhere provided for in this Regulation, an employer must ensure that a fall protection system is used when work is being done at a place

a. from which a fall of 3 m (10 ft) or more may occur, or

b. where a fall from a height of less than 3 m involves a risk of injury greater than the risk of injury from the impact on a flat surface.

2. The employer must ensure that guardrails meeting the requirements of Part 4 (General Conditions) or other similar means of fall restraint are used when practicable.

3. If subsection (2) is not practicable, the employer must ensure that another fall restraint system is used.

4. If subsection (3) is not practicable, the employer must ensure that one of the following is used:

a. a fall arrest system;

b. a rope access system that meets the requirements of Part 34.

5. If subsection (4) is not practicable, or will result in a hazard greater than if a fall arrest system or a rope access system was not used, the employer must ensure that work procedures are followed that are acceptable to the Board and minimize the risk of injury to a worker from a fall.

6. Before a worker is allowed into an area where a risk of falling exists, the employer must ensure that the worker is instructed in the fall protection system for the area and the procedures to be followed.

7. A worker must use the fall protection system provided by the employer.

 

B.C. Reg. 296/97

Roof access hatch

“Section 4.59 Floor and roof openings

4.59 (1) A pit or other opening in a floor, walkway, roof or other area accessible to workers, which is a danger to workers, must be securely covered with a cover of adequate size and strength or guarded by fixed or movable guardrails, which must be identified as such and kept in place except when necessarily removed to work in the opening or pit.

(2) If compliance with subsection (1) is not practicable for a vehicle service pit, the area around the perimeter of the pit must be marked in a high visibility colour extending back at least 1 m (3.3 ft) from the edge of the pit, and the marking coating or material must provide a skid resistant surface.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a trap door in a performance stage or scenic unit that will be visible to the audience during a rehearsal or performance, provided that effective measures are taken to protect performers and other workers from injury.

(4) If a worker must enter an area not normally accessible and that has openings that are a danger, such openings must be guarded or personal fall protection must be used while the worker is in the area.

Section 4.60 Toeboards

4.60 (1) Floor openings, elevated walkways and platforms must have toeboards if there is a danger from tools, materials, equipment and debris falling off the edge of the work surface, or there is a danger of slipping off the work surface due to the environment or work practices being used.

(2) The top of a toeboard must be at least 10 cm (4 in) above the floor or platform, and the space between the bottom of the toeboard and the floor or platform must not exceed 13 mm (½in).

(3) If material is stacked or stored on a platform or walkway, or near a floor opening, toeboards must be increased in height or solid or mesh panels of appropriate height must be installed to prevent the material from falling.

(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a walkway or a platform that is on a performance stage or scenic unit and will be visible to the audience during a rehearsal or performance, provided that effective measures are taken to protect performers and other workers from injury.

Section 20.116 Protection from falling materials

20.116 (1) If falling material could endanger a worker, the danger area must be guarded to prevent entry by workers or protected by adequate canopies.

(2) A floor or roof opening through which material may fall and endanger workers must be adequately covered.

Section 24.85 Deck openings

24.85 (1) Deck openings and hatches on a fishing vessel must be

(a) equipped with an effective means of securing them, and

(b) closed and secured when it is not essential to the fishing operation that they be open.

(2) When deck openings and hatches are required to be open for ventilation or other purposes, they must be marked and guarded.”

Alberta fall protection regulations

Source: Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code 2009

Alta. Reg. 87/2009

Part 9 Fall Protection

Roof Access Hatch

Section 138 Rescue personnel exemption

138. Rescue personnel involved in training or in providing emergency rescue services may use equipment and practices other than those specified in this Part.

Section 139 General protection

139. (1) An employer and a supervisor, or a self-employed person, 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.

(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.

(3) Subject to subsection (5), an employer or a self-employed person must install a guardrail.

(4) Repealed. [Alta. Reg. 56/2018, s. 12]

(5) Subject to subsection (6), if the use of a guardrail is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor, or a self-employed person, must ensure that a worker uses a travel restraint system that meets the requirements of this Part.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), if the use of a travel restraint system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor, or a self-employed person, must ensure that a worker uses a personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of this Part.

(7) If the use of a personal fall arrest system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor, or a self-employed person, must ensure that a worker uses an equally effective fall protection system.

(8) A worker must use a fall protection system as required by this section.

Section 314 Covering openings

314. (1) An employer must ensure that an opening or hole through which a worker can fall is protected by

(a) a securely attached cover designed to support an anticipated load, or

(b) guardrails and toe boards.

(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.

(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.

Section 315 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.

(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.

(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.

Manitoba fall protection regulation

Source: Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation 2014

Guardrail system requirements

14.3 Subject to section 14.6, an employer must ensure that a guardrail system is used where there is a risk of a worker falling in any of the circumstances set out in subsection 14.1(1).

Guardrail requirements

14.4(1) An employer must ensure that a guardrail

   a. is at least 900 mm high and not more than 1,060 mm above the working surface, with an intermediate rail at between 450 and 530 mm above the working surface; and

b. is constructed and secured to resist a static load of 900 N in any direction in which the load may be applied at any point on the top rail and on any intermediate rail.

14.4(2) A guardrail must have a toe board securely fastened to the posts and extending from the surface of the working area to a height of at least 125 mm when there is a risk of falling objects.

14.4(3) If a guardrail is made from wood, it must

   a. be free from splinters and protruding nails; and

b. have a top and mid rail of at least 38 mm × 89 mm securely supported on posts of at least 38 mm × 89 mm and spaced at not more than 2.4 m.

Temporary guardrail removal

14.5 An employer may temporarily remove a guardrail when it is necessary to do so to facilitate work in the immediate area. The employer must ensure that any worker in the area uses a fall protection system while the guardrail is removed.

Warning line standards

Control zone

Source:Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code 2009

Section 161 Control zones

The use of a control zone is an approach to fall protection that places special requirements on workers and work being performed on a nearly level working surface within 2 metres of an unguarded edge from which a worker could fall. Control zones can be used on surfaces having a slope of up to 4 degrees measured from the horizontal.

If a worker works within 2 metres of the control zone i.e. within 4 metres of the unguarded edge, a raised warning ling or equally effective means is required. If a worker works within the control zone, then a travel restraint system must be used. A control zone cannot be used if the level working surface on which work is being performed is less than 4 metres wide. In such circumstances, one of the other methods of fall protection required by the OHS Code must be used.

Work away from unguarded edge

Situations may arise where, on a large flat roof for example, work is performed at a significant distance away from an unguarded edge e.g. at a penthouse near the centre of the roof. With the exception of when workers enter or leave the work area at an unguarded edge, workers have no contact with the edge. Upon accessing the roof, workers must proceed directly to their work area. Under such circumstances, a line defining a control zone is unnecessary, as are the remaining requirements for fall protection that would normally apply at the unguarded edge.

Line defining the control zone

If a worker works within 2 metres of the control zone i.e. within 4 metres of the unguarded edge, a raised warning line or equally effective means of alerting the worker to the unguarded edge is required (see Figure 9.25). The raised warning line or other equally effective means such as barricades must be placed at least 2 metres from the edge. The warning method provides a visual and physical reminder of the presence of the hazard.

For compliance purposes, a raised warning line can consist of ropes, wires or chains, and supporting stanchions, and should be

a. flagged or marked with highly visible materials at intervals that do not exceed 2 metres (6.5 feet),

b. rigged and supported so that the lowest point (including sag) is not less than 0.9 metres (34 inches) from the walking or working surface and its highest point is not more than 1.2 metres (45 inches) from the walking or working surface,

c. attached to each stanchion in such a way that pulling on one section of the line between stanchions will not result in slack being taken up in the adjacent section before the stanchion tips over, and

d. the rope, wire or chain must have a minimum tensile strength of 2.2 kN (500 lbs).

An “equally effective method” might be a substantial barrier e.g. pile of materials or supplies, tall parapet, building system pipes and ducts, etc. that is positioned between the worker and the unguarded edge, preventing the worker from getting to the edge. Since this substantial barrier is acting as a guardrail, it must at all time be at least 920 millimetres (36 inches) tall while the protected worker is using it.