Alert First Aid

Saskatchewan Legislation

Saskatchewan Fall Protection

This material has been extracted from the Acts and Regulations of the Province to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used for any other purpose.

The following is Copyright©2009 The Queen's Printer, Saskatchewan

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996

Protection against falling
116(1) In this section and sections 116.1 to 116.3:
(a) "anchor point" or "anchor plate" means a secure connecting point
capable of safely withstanding the impact forces applied by a fall protection
system;
(b) "control zone" means the area within two metres of an unguarded edge
of a level, elevated work surface of three metres or more in height;
(c) "fall protection system" means:
(i) a control zone as required pursuant to section 116.2;
(ii) a personal fall arrest system;
(iii) a safety net; or
(iv) a travel restraint system;
(d) "permanent" means intended and designed to last indefinitely;
(e) "similar barrier" means any barrier that the employer or contractor
can demonstrate provides a level of protection that is at least equivalent to a
guardrail;
(f) "temporary" means:
(i) designed to be removed by the last workers using it before
commissioning or turnover to the contractor or owner; and
(ii) intended and designed to last not more than one year;
(g) "travel restraint system" means a system that prevents a worker from
travelling to the edge of a structure or to a work position from which the
worker could fall.
(2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that workers use a fall protection
system at a temporary or permanent work area where:
(a) a worker may fall three metres or more; or
(b) there is a possibility of injury if a worker falls less than three metres.
(3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker at a permanent work
area is protected from falling by a guardrail or similar barrier if the worker may
fall a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres and less than three metres.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), where the use of a guardrail or similar
barrier is not reasonably practicable, an employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker uses a travel restraint system.
(5 ) Notwithstanding subsection (4), where the use of a travel restraint system is
not reasonably practicable, an employer or contractor shall ensure that a safety net or control zone or other equally effective means that protects the worker from
falling is used.
(6) Subsection (2) does not apply to competent workers who are engaged in:
(a) connecting the structural members of a skeletal steel structure or a
pre-cast structure;
(b) connecting the support structure of a scaffold;
(c) stabilizing or securing the load on a truck or trailer;
(d) installing or attaching a fall protection system to the anchor point;
(e) removing or disassembling the associated parts of a fall protection
system when it is no longer required; or
(f) activities within the normal course of business on a permanent loading
dock that is not greater than 1.2 metres in height.
10 Aug 2007 SR 67/2007 s11.

Fall protection plan
116.1(1) An employer or contractor shall develop a written fall protection plan
where:
(a) a worker may fall three metres or more; and
(b) workers are not protected by a guardrail or similar barrier.
(2) The fall protection plan required by subsection (1) must describe:
(a) the fall hazards at the worksite;
(b) the fall protection system to be used at the worksite;
(c) the procedures used to assemble, maintain, inspect, use and disassemble
the fall protection system; and
(d) the rescue procedures to be used if a worker falls, is suspended by a
personal fall arrest system or safety net and needs to be rescued.
(3) The employer or contractor shall ensure that a copy of the fall protection plan
is readily available before work begins at a worksite where a risk of falling exists.
(4) The employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker is trained in the fall
protection plan and 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.
10 Aug 2007 SR 67/2007 s11.

Control zone
116.2(1) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a control zone:
(a) is only used if a worker can fall from a level surface in a work area; and
(b) is not less than two metres wide when measured from the unguarded
edge.
(2) When crossing a control zone mentioned in subsection (1), a worker:
(a) subject to subsection (4) is not required to use a fall protection system,
other than the control zone, to enter or leave the work area; and
(b) shall follow the most direct route to get to or from the unguarded edge.
(3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a control zone is clearly marked
with an effective raised warning line or other equally effective method if a worker
is working more than two metres from an unguarded edge.
(4) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker who has to work within
a control zone uses:
(a) a travel restraint system; or
(b) a means that is as equally effective as a travel restraint system and that
prevents the worker from getting to the unguarded edge.
10 Aug 2007 SR 67/2007 s11.

Anchor Points and Anchor Plates
116.3(1) Where a worker uses a personal fall arrest system or a travel restraint
system, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that an anchor point or
anchor plate that meets the requirements of this section is used as part of that
system.
(2) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that a temporary anchor point
used in a travel restraint system:
(a) has an ultimate load capacity of at least 3.5 kilonewtons (800 pounds-force)
per worker attached in any direction in which the load may be applied;
(b) is installed and used according to the manufacturer's specifications;
(c) is permanently marked as being for travel restraint only; and
(d) is removed by the last worker from use on the earlier of:
(i) the date the work project for which it is intended is completed; and
(ii) the time specified by the manufacturer.
(3) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that a permanent anchor point
used in a travel restraint system associated with any new construction project on or after the date this section comes into force:
(a) has an ultimate load capacity of at least 8.75 kilonewtons (2 000
pounds-force) per worker attached in any direction in which the load may be
applied;
(b) is installed and used according to the manufacturer's specifications; and
(c) is permanently marked as being for travel restraint only.
(4) In the case of a personal fall arrest system installed on or after one year after
the date this section comes into force, an employer, contractor, owner or supplier
shall ensure that anchor points to which the personal fall arrest system is attached have an ultimate load capacity of at least 22.2 kilonewtons (5000 pounds-force) per worker attached in any direction in which the load may be applied.
(5) An employer, contractor, owner or supplier shall ensure that the following
types of equipment that are components of fall protection systems, and their
installation, conform to the manufacturer's specifications or are certified by a
professional engineer:
(a) permanent anchor points;
(b) anchors with multiple attachment points;
(c) permanent horizontal lifeline systems;
(d) support structures for safety nets.
10 Aug 2007 SR 67/2007 s11.