Fall Protection Assessments
Total Group assesses fall-protection equipment and systems so site teams can identify visible defects, configuration concerns and documentation gaps before the equipment is relied on for work at height. The service covers harnesses, lanyards, anchor points, guardrails and related components within the agreed assessment scope.
What the assessment can cover
The review can consider the condition, identification and apparent suitability of harnesses, lanyards, connectors, anchor points and guardrails. It can also consider how components are arranged for the work, including the location of anchors, the relationship between equipment and the supporting structure, and whether the system information available to the work group is clear.
Equipment should be taken out of service when its condition or history creates a concern. Manufacturer instructions, inspection records and any site procedure remain important to the decision. An assessment is not an engineering approval, a post-fall re-certification or a substitute for the manufacturer’s requirements.
Useful planning before work begins
Fall protection is a system, not a single item of personal protective equipment. Before an assessment, the site team should identify the work area, the task, the potential fall paths, the surface or object below, the equipment intended for use and the people responsible for the work. That information helps keep the review tied to the actual work rather than to an isolated equipment check.
For example, anchor selection should account for the anchor’s condition, stability, connection to the supporting structure and position relative to the work. CCOHS guidance also identifies free-fall and swing-fall considerations and says permanent anchors should be inspected by a competent person at least annually or as directed by the manufacturer. Read the CCOHS anchor guidance [1].
Roles and process considerations
The employer or site controller remains responsible for the worksite program, worker instruction, equipment decisions and any required corrective action. Supervisors and workers need to understand the system selected for the task, the anchors they may use, how components connect, pre-use checks and what to do if a fall occurs. Total Group’s assessment supports that process by documenting observations and items for the responsible site team to review.
Where a fall protection plan is required, the plan should connect the identified hazards to the selected system, anchors, clearance, inspection and maintenance procedures, and rescue procedures. Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code, Part 9, sets out those requirements for Alberta workplaces in sections 139–141. Read Alberta OHS Code Part 9 [2]. Requirements differ across Canada, so the site and employment jurisdictions should be confirmed before applying a legal standard.
Documentation for follow-up
A useful assessment record should identify the date and work area, the equipment or system reviewed, manufacturer and model information where available, observed condition, photographs or other supporting notes where appropriate, and items requiring follow-up. It should also record limitations, such as inaccessible components, missing records or information that must be confirmed by the manufacturer, an engineer or the authority responsible for the site program.
CCOHS recommends retaining records for permanent-anchor inspections and having an anchor assessed after a fall by the manufacturer or a professional engineer competent in fall-protection systems. See the CCOHS inspection guidance [1]. Do not return equipment or an anchor to service solely because it appears clean or undamaged after a fall.
Regulatory and standards context
Fall-protection duties are jurisdiction-specific. CCOHS identifies different federal, provincial and territorial requirements and explains that CSA or ANSI standards become enforceable when adopted by applicable law. Its guidance is a national reference, not a replacement for the legislation governing the work. Review CCOHS fall-protection legislation guidance [3].
For Ontario construction projects, official provincial guidance discusses the hierarchy of controls, fall-rescue procedures, pre-use inspection of anchors and system components, manufacturer instructions and evidence for applicable CSA requirements. Those points apply within Ontario’s framework and should not be presented as a universal Canadian rule. Review Ontario’s fall-prevention guidance [4].
Discuss your assessment requirements
Contact Total Group to discuss the work area, equipment or system to be reviewed, the applicable jurisdiction, available manufacturer information and the records your team needs. The agreed scope can then identify what is accessible for review and which decisions must remain with the employer, site controller, manufacturer, professional engineer or regulator.
References
- CCOHS, Fall Protection - Anchors (national guidance; last revised 2024-03-27).
- Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code, Part 9: Fall Protection (Alberta Regulation 191/2021; binding Alberta workplace requirements).
- CCOHS, Fall Protection - Legislation (national guidance; jurisdiction and standards overview).
- Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Achieve compliance on construction sites: fall prevention (official Ontario guidance).
