Anyone who works at heights may be at risk of a serious fall while performing work tasks. This online Fall Protection training course aims to provide workers with the knowledge and skills needed to minimize fall hazards and protect them from serious injury or death.

While this course covers fall protection basics, it is not comprehensive of all fall protection training that may be required in certain situations and jurisdictions. Additional fall protection training may be required to:

• Address specific supervisory and engineering responsibilities
• Use specific manufacturers’ equipment
• Complete manufacturers’ periodic equipment inspections and recertification requirements
• Use specialty equipment and specialized systems including controlled descent devices, safety nets, and self-rescue devices
• Prepare for specialized applications such as high angle rescues, pole climbing, and rope access work

Chapter 1: Importance of Fall Protection

This introductory chapter answers the question “Why do I need to take this course?” by highlighting the frequency of falls and the serious injuries that have resulted from falls in Alberta.

Chapter 2: Fall Protection Components

Fall protection systems are designed to keep workers from falling and protect them from injury in the event of a fall. These systems can be comprised of many different components. This chapter discusses the fall system components, and explains the inspection criteria, use, and maintenance of these components. The components covered in this chapter are harnesses, anchors, connecting components, life safety ropes, fall arresters, horizontal lifelines, energy absorbers, lanyards, and self-retracting devices. Finally, the course reviews common hazards and cautions related to fall protection components.

Chapter 3: Fall Protection Systems

Fall protection systems on the worksite are classified as either passive or active. This chapter covers personal and collective fall arrest systems, personal travel restraining systems, control zones, and work positioning systems and ladders. The course also reviews the hazards and cautions related to each system, and pre-use inspections.

Chapter 4: Fall Protection Calculations

This chapter discusses arresting force, the dynamic force acting on your body as your fall is stopped. To reduce injury in the event of a fall, it is important to ensure the arresting force is minimized. This is achieved through the use of proper equipment, which is determined by various calculations. In this segment, workers learn how to calculate free fall distance (FFD) and how to calculate the minimum amount of clearance required (CR) when using fall protection systems.

Chapter 5: Fall Protection Planning and Procedures

This chapter covers fall protection planning, hazard control, personal protective equipment, procedures in place of fall protection, rescue (including self-rescue), escape planning, and communication. The material addresses the employer’s responsibilities and requirements for fall protection planning. It also covers self-rescue hazards or cautions.

Presentation

The course is presented with voiceover narration, and features photographs, videos, animated graphics, and activities to enhance the educational experience.

Resources

A 55-page pdf workbook is available to print and fill out while viewing the online course. The print material is also available after the training is completed and can be downloaded from the account home page.