Will your teen be using a ladder at their new job? They need this training to keep them safe

When 19-year-old Daniel Fullum volunteered to build houses in Ottawa, Ontario one summer, his training was thorough. He and his fellow amateur builders spent a whole day taking mandatory working at heights training where they learned how to “tie off" (using safety harnesses, lanyards or an anchor) and safely work with ladders, and raised platforms. 
Armed with this new knowledge, he headed off to the job site the next day. “I was excited to use my training and show what I had learned,” he says. 

Imagine his surprise when he arrived at the work site only to be told by the project supervisors that they wouldn’t be using any of their safety training. “We did an eight-hour day of work and used nothing we learned,” says Fullum. “I think this is a common experience for young people—the rules are one thing; the reality is different.”

He could tell the job site was unsafe (thanks to his training), but that didn’t change the way the supervisors operated.

“We had to use ladders on platforms where there was a hole right next to us that wasn’t covered,” says Fullum. “Even though in our training, we were taught that all holes should be covered—and that we shouldn’t do heavy work while standing on a ladder. It made me wonder about people who were forced to perform dangerous work every day.”

While it should never be the case, this is the perfect example of a real-life situation that teens may encounter. But, armed with the knowledge that they know the law, they can be prepared to stand up for their safety rights to ensure they are not put in a dangerous situation. Here’s what your teens need to know if they will be using ladders at work.

Working at heights training is mandatory in Ontario

Regulations in Ontario require employers to ensure staff who work on construction projects complete a working at heights training program approved by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. This must be done before they work at heights (anything at or above 3 meters — the height of an ordinary ladder) in any kind of job (not just construction) and use fall protection equipment and systems.

Not only is working at heights training mandatory, but your teen must also take a refresher program every three years as a reminder of the requirements and to ensure their continued safety.

Employers must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment

If your teen, like Fullum, arrives at work and is expected to work at heights (using a ladder, etc.) and doesn’t see a single harness or fall protection system in sight, this is an instant red flag. Employers must provide this equipment and ensure it is used properly. If they don’t, your teen has the right to refuse unsafe work and cannot be fired or otherwise punished when they do. They can stay at the job site until a harness or other safety control is provided, and they feel safe to continue working.

Ladder safety is about more than just working at heights

Everything your teen learns about ladder safety is useless if the ladder isn’t safe. They should also learn how to properly transport a ladder or step stool to avoid injury or damage, and how to set up, inspect, and maintain it correctly. These components of ladder safety are equally important. 

Your teen should also receive instruction about proper ergonomic use and setup of a ladder to prevent injuries or strains from poor posture.

The most important lesson for teens who will be using ladders at work

Above all, the most important thing is for your teen to feel confident standing up for their right to a safe workplace. Fullum, who didn’t wear a harness after his supervisors told him not to, wishes he had insisted. “Knowing what I know now about just how many people are injured or killed from working at heights without harnesses, I really wish I had said ‘I’d like to wear a harness anyway. How can I get set up with it?’”

Even though he knew they might laugh or be annoyed at the inconvenience, he still thinks it would have been worth it. “I didn’t fall. But I could have,” he says. “And if I had, it would have saved my life.”