WorkplaceNL advises workers and employers that changes are coming to the fall protection training certification standard and courses.
As of January 1, 2027, a new Working at Heights Certification Training Standard and common curriculum for an 8-hour Working at Heights training course will replace the Fall Protection Certification Training Standard and the 16-hour course.
Workers must continue to have a certificate to work at heights (3 meters or more) at provincially-regulated worksites; certificates will still be valid for three years. This protects workers, including those working on scaffolding, rooftops, ladders, above open pits or above tanks containing hazardous materials.
Certificates earned from the 16-hour Fall Protection course or the 8-hour recertification course remain valid until their stated expiry. A worker whose certificate expires on or before December 31, 2026, must complete an existing fall protection recertification training to be certificated.
Beginning January 01, 2027, the new common curriculum will replace both the 16-hour Fall Protection training course and the 8-hour recertification course. When a certificate expires, the worker will need to complete the new 8-hour Working at Heights course to renew their certification.
The shorter course duration, from 16 to 8 hours, focuses more clearly on core safety principles and reinforces the essential knowledge and skills required to safely work at heights.
Workers can continue to receive the required training through approved training providers, as listed on WorkplaceNL’s Certification Training Registry.
In addition, the introduction of a common curriculum may create opportunities for more employers or organizations to deliver training to workers, reducing barriers that may have previously existed due to time and resources required to develop their own curriculum. Making consistent and quality training easier to access helps to create a safer workplace for everyone.
If you have questions, please contact [email protected].
To learn about upcoming training opportunities, visit the Certification Training Registry.