Key Info About

Working at Heights (WAH)Training: 

Key changes you need to know regarding CPO Approved Working at Heights, effective April 1, 2024

This Ontario CPO approved course is designed for the trades who work in the construction industry on construction projects, or may be a requirement for contractors who will be present on construction projects.

The following significant changes to the program standard have come into place for all providers of this training across Ontario:

• Previously, this course permitted delivery to 24 participants with the requirement to have 2 instructors and evaluators in the room. The new guideline is 12 participants maximum for either refresher or new users.
• Employers should know they are encouraged to promote their workers undertake the free online Worker 4 Step Awareness course (or identically with CWST, for a cost) prior to arrival for Working at Heights. A printable certificate following the course completion is encouraged to be kept on file.
• An active personal email address is required to be used on the registration form to ensure proper identification and minimize fraud or identity theft. This email address cannot be under a name or identity of a friend or family member, cannot be transferred or utilized/ shared between multiple learners. 
• SkillsPass is no longer used by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training Skills Development (MLITSD) for data management and training records. On February 26, 2024, all previous training records have been migrated to the new Client Management System. Learners taking any training for Working at Heights and Joint Health and Safety Committee will locate their training information at this site or by calling the MLITSD directly at 877-202-0008
• Learners may be required to use the email address they registered with to access their information on the CMS. The CMS will provide access to training records and the names of the approved training providers where their most recent training was taken.

The legislation within the course content may not be applicable for all types of industries. The applications of this course relates to swing stage and suspended access, roofers, mobile elevated work platforms, boatswains chairs, certain scaffolding erections, ladder use and any other applications where a worker on a construction site may be exposed to a fall of more than 10 feet or three meters.

The training standard has been introduced as a minimum level of protection to help all workers in construction or working on construction sites understand and identify fall hazards when working at height.

Be aware the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, Skills and Development (MLITSD) inspectors may request your proof of training while you're on site. Not having this certification on your person may see you removed from site or ticketed. Supervisors and employers may also receive a ticket for each of the workers not wearing Fall protection or for not being protected from a fall on site. 

Can't find your training card or learner ID to register for refresher training?                  

Call the MLITSD at 877-202-0008                                                  

Is working at heights training mandatory in Ontario?

Yes, working at heights training is mandatory in Ontario when you work in construction or will be working on a construction project. The program that you choose for working at heights to be valid must:

• Be provided by a training facility that has been approved and the course offered by a trainer recognized by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer
• The course material and delivery method has been approved by the Chief Prevention Officer
• Be completed before working at heights of 10' or 3 meters, or working on construction projects that require WAH  & may involve use of specific equipment such as Swing Stages, Boatswains Chairs, various scaffolding systems (required at 8' or 2.4 meters at an unprotected leading edge, rope systems for roofing, and Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP).

Training requirements for working at heights are set out in O. Reg. 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training and other information can be located in O. Reg 213/91, Section 26 of the Construction Regulations. 

Digital Records of Training

You will receive a plastic card from Build With Safety indicating your Instructors name, date of expiry or issue, the CWST Provider number on it when your training is completed successfully.

For newly trained workers in the program, you will also receive an email notification requiring you to complete a personal profile which gives you a unique learner number that identifies you as being trained by an approved provider in the province of Ontario. Please complete the registration process.

This learner number you receive from the Ministry of Labour Training, Skills and Development is used to properly identify you through your year of birth, phone number and address to keep from someone assuming your identity or training. 

Make sure to log in to the CMS when you change residency status or when your phone number changes to make it easier when you go to refresh your training in three years.

If you did your training with us, we can re-issue the card for non-expired training only.

If your training was not done through CWST, you need to contact the training provider you did the course with.