Source: https://www.alertfirstaid.com/onlinecourses_submenu/Alberta-Legislation-Fall-Protection
Timestamp: 2019-06-16 11:30:31
Document Index: 262481845

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n139', 'art.\n139', 'art.\n139', 'art.\n139', 'art 2', 'art.\n152', 'art 2']

Online Courses - Fall Protection Training - Alberta Legislation
Online Fall Protection Training - Alberta Legislation
Alberta Fall Protection
The following is © 1995 - 2010 Government of Alberta.
“fall protection system” means
(a) a personal fall arrest system,
(b) a travel restraint system,
(c) fabric or netting panels intended for leading edge protection,
(d) a safety net,
(e) a control zone,
(f) use of procedures in place of fall protection equipment, or
(g) another system approved by a Director of Inspection;
“fall restrict equipment” means a component of a fall restrict system that, when
combined with other subcomponents and elements, allows the climber of a wood
pole to remain at his or her work position with both hands free, and that
performs a limited fall arrest function when the climber loses contact between his
or her spurs and the pole;
“fall restrict system” means a combination of a work positioning system and fall
restrict equipment;
“horizontal lifeline system” means a system composed of a synthetic or wire
rope, secured horizontally between 2 or more anchor points, to which a worker
attaches a personal fall arrest system or travel restraint system;
“total fall distance” means the vertical distance from the point at which a worker
falls to the point where the fall stops after all personal fall arrest system
components have extended;
“work positioning system” means a system of components attached to a vertical
safety line and including a full body harness, descent controllers and positioning
lanyards used to support or suspend a worker in tension at a work position;
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.
139(1) Subject to subsections (3) through (8), an employer must ensure that a
worker is protected from falling at a temporary or permanent work area if a
worker may fall
(a) a vertical distance of 3 metres or more,
(b) a vertical distance of less than 3 metres if there is an unusual
possibility of injury, or
(c) into or onto a hazardous substance or object, or through an opening in
139(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.
139(3) To meet the requirement under subsection (1), an employer must install
an engineering control such as a guardrail.
139(4) Despite subsection (3), an employer must ensure that a worker at a
permanent work area is protected from falling by a guardrail if the worker may
fall a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres and less than 3 metres.
139(5) Despite subsections (3) and (4), if the use of a guardrail is not reasonably
practicable, an employer must ensure that a worker uses a travel restraint system that meets the requirements of this Part.
139(6) Despite subsection (5), if the use of a travel restraint system is not
reasonably practicable, an employer must ensure that a worker uses a personal
fall arrest system that meets the requirements of this Part.
139(7) Despite subsection (6), if the use of a personal fall arrest system is not
reasonably practicable, an employer must ensure that a worker uses an equally
effective fall protection system that meets the requirements of this Part.
139(8) A worker must use or wear the fall protection system the employer
requires the worker to use or wear in compliance with this Code.
140(1) An employer must develop procedures that comply with this Part in a fall
protection plan for a work site if a worker at the work site may fall 3 metres or
more and the worker is not protected by guardrails.
140(2) A fall protection plan must specify
(a) the fall hazards at the work site,
(b) the fall protection system to be used at the work site,
(c) the anchors to be used during the work,
(d) that clearance distances below the work area, if applicable, have been
confirmed as sufficient to prevent a worker from striking the ground
or an object or level below the work area,
(e) the procedures used to assemble, maintain, inspect, use and
disassemble the fall protection system, where applicable, and
(f) the rescue procedures to be used if a worker falls and is suspended by
a personal fall arrest system or safety net and needs to be rescued.
140(3) The employer must ensure that the fall protection plan is available at the
work site and is reviewed with workers before work with a risk of falling begins.
140(4) The employer must ensure that the plan is updated when conditions
affecting fall protection change.
141(1) An employer must ensure that a worker is trained in the safe use of the
fall protection system before allowing the worker to work in an area where a fall
protection system must be used.
141(2) The training referred to in subsection (1) must include the following:
(a) a review of current Alberta legislation pertaining to fall protection;
(b) an understanding of what a fall protection plan is;
(c) fall protection methods a worker is required to use at a work site;
(d) identification of fall hazards;
(e) assessment and selection of specific anchors that the worker may use;
(f) instructions for the correct use of connecting hardware;
(g) information about the effect of a fall on the human body, including
(i) maximum arresting force,
(ii) the purpose of shock and energy absorbers,
(iii) swing fall,
(iv) free fall;
(h) pre use inspection;
(i) emergency response procedures to be used at the work site, if
(j) practice in
(i) inspecting, fitting, adjusting and connecting fall protection
systems and components, and
(ii) emergency response procedures.
141(3) In addition to the training described in subsection (2), an employer must
ensure that a worker is made aware of the fall hazards particular to that work
site and the steps being taken to eliminate or control those hazards.
142(1) An employer must ensure that
(a) a full body harness manufactured on or after July1, 2009 is approved
(i) CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.10 06, Full Body Harnesses,
(ii) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1 2007, Safety requirements for personal
fall arrest systems, subsystems and components, or
(iii) CEN Standard EN 361: 2007, Personal protective equipment against
falls from a height — Full body harnesses, and
(b) a worker using a personal fall arrest system wears and uses a full
142(2) A worker using a personal fall arrest system must wear and use a full
142.1 An employer must ensure that
(a) a body belt manufactured on or after July1, 2009 is approved to
(i) CSA Standard Z259.1 05, Body belts and saddles for work
positioning and travel restraint,
(ii) ANSI/ASSE Standard A10.32 2004, Fall Protection Systems –
(iii) CEN Standard EN 358: 2000, Personal protective equipment for
work positioning and prevention of falls from a height — Belts for
work positioning and restraint and work positioning lanyards, and
(b) a worker uses a body belt only as part of a travel restraint system or
as part of a fall restrict system.
142.2(1) An employer must ensure that a lanyard manufactured on or after July1,
2009 is approved to
(a) CSA Standard Z259.11 05, Energy absorbers and lanyards,
(b) ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359.1 2007, Safety requirements for personal fall
arrest systems, subsystems and components, or
(c) CEN Standard EN 354: 2002, Personal protective equipment against falls
from a height — Lanyards.
142.2(2) An employer must ensure that a lanyard used by a worker is made of
wire rope or other material appropriate to the hazard if a tool or corrosive agent
that could sever, abrade or burn a lanyard is used in the work area.
142.2(3) Despite subsection (2), if a worker works near an energized conductor or in a work area where a lanyard made of conductive material cannot be used safely, the employer must ensure that the worker uses another effective means of fall protection.
142.3(1) An employer must ensure that if a shock absorber or shock absorbing
lanyard is used as part of a personal fall arrest system, it is approved to one of the following standards if manufactured on or after July1, 2009:
(a) CSA Standard Z259.11 05, Energy absorbers and lanyards;
arrest systems, subsystems and components; or
(c) CEN Standard EN 355: 2002, Personal protective equipment against falls
from a height – Energy absorbers.
142.3(2) An employer must ensure that a personal fall arrest system consists of a
full body harness and a lanyard equipped with a shock absorber or similar device.
142.3(3) Despite subsection (2), a shock absorber or similar device is not required
if the personal fall arrest system is used in accordance with section 151.
142.3(4) Despite subsection (2), a shock absorber is required with a fixed ladder
fall arrest system only if it is required by the manufacturer of the system.
Connectors, carabiners and snap hooks
143(1) An employer must ensure that connecting components of a fall arrest
system consisting of carabiners, D rings, O rings, oval rings, self locking
connectors and snap hooks manufactured on or after July1, 2009 are approved, as applicable, to
(a) CSA Standard Z259.12 01 (R2006), Connecting Components for Personal
Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS),
arrest systems, subsystems and components,
(c) CEN Standard EN 362: 2004, Personal protective equipment against falls
from a height – Connectors, or
(d) CEN Standard 12275: 1998, Mountaineering equipment – Connectors –
143(2) An employer must ensure that a carabiner or snap hook
(a) is self closing and self locking,
(b) may only be opened by at least two consecutive deliberate manual
(c) is marked with
(i) its breaking strength in the major axis, and
(ii) the name or trademark of the manufacturer.
144 An employer must ensure that a fall arrestor manufactured on or after
July1, 2009 is approved to
(a) CSA Standard Z259.2.1 98 (R2004), Fall Arresters, Vertical Lifelines, and
(c) CEN Standard EN 353 2: 2002, Personal protective equipment against falls
from a height – Part 2: Guided type fall arrestors including a flexible anchor
Self retracting device
145 An employer must ensure that a self retracting device manufactured on
or after July1, 2009 and used with a personal fall arrest system is
(a) approved to CSA Standard Z259.2.2 98 (R2004), Self Retracting Devices
for Personal Fall Arrest Systems,
(b) anchored above the worker’s head unless the manufacturer’s
specifications allow the use of a different anchor location, and
(c) used in a manner that minimizes the hazards of swinging and limits
the swing drop distance to 1.2 metres if a worker falls.
146 An employer must ensure that an automatic or manual descent control
device manufactured on or after July1, 2009 and used with a personal fall arrest
system is approved to
(a) CSA Standard Z259.2.3 99 (R2004), Descent Control Devices,
(b) CEN Standard EN 341: 1997, Personal protective equipment against falls
from a height – Descender devices, or
(c) NFPA Standard 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for
Emergency Services, 2006 edition, classified as general or light duty.
147(1) An employer must ensure that a life safety rope manufactured on or after
July1, 2009 and used in a fall protection system
(a) is approved to
(i) NFPA Standard 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment
for Emergency Services, 2006 Edition, as light use or general use
life safety rope,
(ii) CEN Standard EN 1891: 1998, Personal protective equipment for the
prevention of falls from a height — Low stretch kernmantle ropes, as
Type A rope, or
(b) meets the requirements of
(i) CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.2.1 98 (R2004), Fall Arresters,
Vertical Lifelines, and Rails, or
fall arrest systems, subsystems and components.
147(2) An employer must ensure that a life safety rope used in a fall protection
(a) extends downward to within 1.2 metres of ground level or another
safe lower surface,
(b) is free of knots or splices throughout the travel portion except for a
stopper knot at its lower end,
(c) is effectively protected to prevent abrasion by sharp or rough edges,
(d) is made of material appropriate to the hazard and able to withstand
adverse effects, and
(e) is installed and used in a manner that minimizes the hazards of
swinging and limits the swing drop distance to 1.2 metres if a worker
147(3) A worker must use a vertical life safety rope in a manner that minimizes
the hazards of swinging and limits the swing drop distance to 1.2 metres if a
worker falls.
147(4) An employer must ensure that only one worker is attached to a life safety
rope at any one time unless the manufacturer’s specifications or specifications
certified by a professional engineer allow for the attachment of more than one
148 An employer must ensure that an adjustable lanyard manufactured on or
after July1, 2009 and used by a worker as part of a work positioning system is
(a) CSA Standard Z259.11 05, Energy absorbers and lanyards, as a Class F
adjustable positioning lanyard, or
(b) CEN Standard EN 358: 2000, Personal protective equipment for work
positioning and prevention of falls from a height — Belts for work
positioning and restraint and work positioning lanyards.
Rope adjustment device for work positioning
148.1 An employer must ensure that a rope adjustment device manufactured
on or after July1, 2009 and used by a worker as part of a work positioning system
is approved to
149(1) An employer must ensure that a worker working on or from a wood pole
uses fall restrict equipment that is approved to CSA Standard Z259.14 01, Fall
Restrict Equipment for Wood Pole Climbing, in combination with
(a) a lineman’s body belt that
(i) is approved to CSA Standard Z259.3‐M1978 (R2003), Lineman’s
Body Belt and Lineman’s Safety Strap, or
149(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to fall restrict equipment or a lineman’s
body belt in use before April 30, 2004.
150 An employer must ensure that all components of a fall protection system
are compatible with one another and with the environment in which they are
150.1 An employer must ensure that the equipment used as part of a fall
protection system is
(a) inspected by the worker as required by the manufacturer before it is
used on each work shift,
(b) kept free from substances and conditions that could contribute to
deterioration of the equipment, and
(c) re certified as specified by the manufacturer.
150.2(1) An employer must ensure that equipment used as part of a fall
protection system is removed from service and either returned to the
manufacturer or destroyed if
(b) it has come into contact with excessive heat, a chemical, or any other
substance that may corrode or otherwise damage the fall protection
150.2(2) An employer must ensure that after a personal fall arrest system has
stopped a fall, the system is removed from service.
150.2(3) An employer must ensure that a personal fall arrest system that is
removed from service is not returned to service unless a professional engineer or
the manufacturer certifies that the system is safe to use.
Prusik and similar knots
150.3 An employer must ensure that a Prusik or similar sliding hitch knot is
used in place of a fall arrester only during emergency situations or during
training for emergency situations and only by a competent worker.
Clearance, maximum arresting force and swing
151(1) An employer must ensure that a personal fall arrest system is arranged so
that a worker cannot hit the ground, an object which poses an unusual possibility
of injury, or a level below the work area.
151(2) An employer must ensure that a personal fall arrest system without a
shock absorber limits a worker’s free fall distance to 1.2 metres.
151(3) An employer must ensure that a personal fall arrest system limits the
maximum arresting force on a worker to 6 kilonewtons, unless the worker is
using an E6 type shock absorber in accordance with the manufacturer’s
specifications, in which case the maximum arresting force must not exceed
8 kilonewtons.
151(4) A worker must limit the vertical distance of a fall by
(a) selecting the shortest length lanyard that will still permit unimpeded
performance of the worker’s duties, and
(b) securing the lanyard to an anchor no lower than the worker’s
151(5) If the shoulder height anchor required by subsection 4(b) is not available,
a worker must secure the lanyard to an anchor that is located as high as is
151(6) If it is not reasonably practicable to attach to an anchor above the level of
a worker’s feet, the worker must ensure that the clearance and maximum
arresting force requirements of subsections (1) and (3) are met.
Anchor strength — permanent
152(1) An employer must ensure that a permanent anchor is capable of safely
withstanding the impact forces applied to it and has a minimum breaking
strength per attached worker of 16 kilonewtons or two times the maximum
arresting force in any direction in which the load may be applied.
152(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to anchors installed before July1, 2009.
152(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the anchors of flexible horizontal lifeline
systems that must meet the requirements of subsection 153(1).
152(4) The employer must ensure that an anchor rated at two times the
maximum arresting force is designed, installed and used in accordance with
(a) the manufacturer’s specifications, or
(b) specifications certified by a professional engineer.
Anchor strength — temporary
152.1(1) An employer must ensure that a temporary anchor used in a travel
(a) has a minimum breaking strength in any direction in which the load
may be applied of at least 3.5 kilonewtons per worker attached,
(b) is installed, used and removed according to the manufacturer’s
specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer,
(c) is permanently marked as being for travel restraint only, and
(d) is removed from use on the earliest of
(i) the date on which the work project for which it is intended is
(ii) the time specified by the manufacturer or professional engineer.
152.1(2) An employer must ensure that a temporary anchor used in a personal fall arrest system
may be applied of at least 16 kilonewtons or two times the maximum
arresting force per worker attached,
(c) is removed from use on the earliest of
Duty to use anchors
152.2(1) If a worker uses a personal fall arrest system or a travel restraint system, the worker must ensure that it is safely secured to an anchor that meets the requirements of this Part.
152.2(2) An employer must ensure that a worker visually inspects the anchor
prior to attaching a fall protection system.
152.2(3) An employer must ensure that a worker does not use a damaged anchor until the anchor is repaired, replaced or re certified by the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
152.2(4) An employer must ensure that a worker uses an anchor connector
appropriate to the work.
152.2(5) A worker must use an anchor connector appropriate to the work,
Independence of anchors
152.3 An employer must ensure that an anchor to which a personal fall arrest
system is attached is not part of an anchor used to support or suspend a
Wire rope sling as anchor
152.4 An employer must ensure that a wire rope sling used as an anchor is
terminated at both ends with a Flemish eye splice rated to at least 90 percent of
the wire rope’s minimum breaking strength.
Flexible and rigid horizontal lifeline systems
153(1) An employer must ensure that a flexible horizontal lifeline system
manufactured on or after July1, 2009 meets the requirements of
(a) CSA Standard Z259.13 04, Flexible Horizontal Lifeline Systems, or
(b) the applicable requirements of CSA Standard Z259.16 04, Design of
Active Fall Protection Systems.
153(2) An employer must ensure that a rigid horizontal fall protection system is
designed, installed and used in accordance with
Installation of horizontal lifeline systems
153.1 An employer must ensure that before a horizontal lifeline system is used,
a professional engineer, a competent person authorized by the professional
engineer, the manufacturer, or a competent person authorized by the
manufacturer certifies that the system has been properly installed according to
the manufacturer’s specifications or to specifications certified by a professional
Fixed ladders and climbable structures
154(1) An employer must ensure that if a worker is working from or on a fixed
ladder or climbable structure at a height of 3 metres or more and is not protected
by a guardrail, continuous protection from falling is provided by
(a) equipping the fixed ladder or climbable structure with an integral fall
protection system that meets the requirements of
(i) CSA Standard Z259.2.1 98 (R2004), Fall Arresters, Vertical Lifelines,
and Rails, or
(b) an alternate fall protection system.
154(2) Subsection (1) applies to fixed ladders and climbable structures
constructed and installed after July1, 2009.
Fall protection on vehicles and loads
155(1) If a worker may have to climb onto a vehicle or its load at any location
where it is not reasonably practicable to provide a fall protection system for the
worker, an employer must
(a) take steps to eliminate or reduce the need for the worker to climb onto
the vehicle or its load, and
(b) ensure that the requirements of subsection 159(2) are met.
155(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), an employer must
ensure that if a load is not secured against movement, a worker does not climb
onto the load.
155(3) A worker must not climb onto a load if the load is not secured against
Boom-supported work platforms and aerial devices
156(1) An employer must ensure that a worker on a boom supported elevating
work platform, boom supported aerial device, or forklift truck work platform
uses a personal fall arrest system
(i) an anchor specified by the manufacturer of the work platform,
aerial device or forklift truck, or
(ii) if no anchor is specified by the manufacturer, an anchor point
certified by a professional engineer that meets the requirements
of CSA Standard Z259.16 04, Design of Active Fall Protection Systems, and
(b) when connected to the anchor, the lanyard, if reasonably practicable,
is short enough to prevent the worker from being ejected from the
work platform or aerial device but is long enough to allow the worker
to perform his or her work.
156(2) An employer must ensure that a worker on a scissor lift or on an
elevating work platform with similar characteristics uses a travel restraint system
consisting of a full body harness and lanyard
(a) connected to an anchor specified by the manufacturer of the scissor
lift or elevating work platform, and
is short enough to prevent the worker from falling out of the scissor
lift or elevating work platform but is long enough to allow the worker
156(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if
(a) the manufacturer’s specifications allow a worker to work from the
scissor lift or elevating work platform with similar characteristics
using only its guardrails for fall protection, and
(b) the scissor lift or elevating work platform is operating on a firm,
substantially level surface.
156(4) Despite subsection (2), if a worker’s movement cannot be adequately
restricted in all directions by the travel restraint system, the employer must
ensure that the worker uses a personal fall arrest system.
157 An employer must ensure that a worker uses an appropriate fall
protection system in combination with a life jacket or personal flotation device if
(a) may fall into water that exposes the worker to the hazard of
drowning, or
Leading edge fall protection system
158 An employer using a leading edge fall protection system consisting of
fabric or netting panels must ensure that
(a) the system is used only to provide leading edge fall protection,
(b) the system is used and installed according to the manufacturer’s
(c) a copy of the manufacturer’s specifications for the system is available
to workers at the work site at which the system is being used,
(d) the fabric or netting is
(i) drop tested at the work site in accordance with the requirements
of 29 CFR Section 1926.502(C)4(i) published by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or
(ii) certified as safe for use by a professional engineer, and
(e) all workers using the system are trained in its use and limitations.
159(1) An employer may develop and use procedures in place of fall protection
equipment in accordance with subsection (2), if
(a) it is not reasonably practicable to use one of the fall protection
systems described in this Part, and
(b) use of procedures in place of fall protection equipment is restricted to
(i) the installation or removal of fall protection equipment;
(ii) roof inspection;
(iii) emergency repairs;
(iv) at height transfers between equipment and structures if allowed
by the manufacturer’s specifications; and
(v) situations in which a worker must work on top of a vehicle or
load and the requirements of section 155 have been met.
159(2) An employer using procedures in place of fall protection equipment must
(a) a hazard assessment in accordance with the requirements of Part 2 is
completed before work at height begins,
(b) the procedures to be followed while performing the work must be in
writing and available to workers before the work begins,
(c) the work is carried out in such a way that minimizes the number of
workers exposed to a fall hazard while work is performed,
(d) the work is limited to light duty tasks of limited duration,
(e) the worker performing the work is competent to do it,
(f) when used for inspection, investigation or assessment activities, these
activities take place prior to the actual start of work or after work has
been completed, and
(g) the procedures do not expose a worker to additional hazards.
160(1) An employer must ensure that if a worker uses a work positioning
system, the worker’s vertical free fall distance in the event of a fall is restricted by
the work positioning system to 600 millimetres or less.
160(2) If the centre of gravity of a worker using a work positioning system
extends beyond an edge from which the worker could fall or if the work surface
presents a slipping or tripping hazard because of its state or condition, an
employer must ensure that the worker uses a back‐up personal fall arrest system in combination with the work positioning system.
160(3) A worker must use a back‐up personal fall arrest system in combination
with the work positioning system if the worker’s centre of gravity extends beyond
an edge from which the worker could fall or if the work surface presents a slipping or tripping hazard because of its state or condition.
161(1) If a control zone is used, an employer must ensure that it
(a) is only used if a worker can fall from a surface that has a slope of no
more than 4 degrees toward an unguarded edge or that slopes
inwardly away from an unguarded edge, and
(b) is not less than 2 metres wide when measured from the unguarded
161(2) An employer must not use a control zone to protect workers from falling
from a skeletal structure that is a work area.
161(3) If a worker will at all times remain further from the unguarded edge than
the width of the control zone, no other fall protection system need be used.
161(4) Despite section 139, a worker is not required to use a fall protection
system when crossing the control zone to enter or leave the work area.
161(5) When crossing a control zone referred to in subsections (3) and (4), to get
to or from the unguarded edge, a worker must follow the most direct route.
161(6) An employer must ensure that a control zone is clearly marked with an
effective raised warning line or another equally effective method if a worker is
working within 2 metres of the control zone.
161(7) An employer must ensure that a worker who must work within a control
zone uses
(a) a travel restraint system, or
(b) an equally effective means of preventing the worker from getting to
the unguarded edge.
161(8) A person who is not directly required for the work at hand must not
be inside a control zone.
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