The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development announced on March 30 that those workers whose working-at-heights training expires in the next six months will have an additional year to complete their recertifications.

Ontario updated its training programs for those working on construction projects and who are required to use such personal protective equipment as travel restraint systems, fall restricting systems, fall arrest systems, safety nets, work belts and safety belts. The updated regulation came into effect on April 1, 2015.

The ministry reported that the certifications of more than 120,000 workers were set to expire in the next six months. Because many training providers have shut down their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry extended the validity of those workers’ certifications. The mandatory training must be renewed every three years.

Those workers who completed their working-at-heights training between February 28, 2017 and August 31, 2017 would have been required to recertify their credentials. Their training will now end in 2021.

The extension ensures affected workers can continue to work, and construction continues when possible.

To enable this extension, the province has amended the Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training Regulation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.