Legislation & Regulatory Requirements for Working at Heights | Virtue-Simulation Safety
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<div class="wrap">
<header class="hero">
<div class="kicker">
<span class="badge"><span class="dot"></span> Compliance</span>
<span>Working at Heights</span>
</div>
<h1>Legislation & Regulatory Requirements</h1>
<p class="sub">
Working at heights is governed by occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice,
and standards. Employers must assess hazards, implement engineering controls first, and ensure
that procedures, equipment, and training meet legal requirements.
</p>
<div class="meta">
<div class="pill">Scope: Regulatory compliance</div>
<div class="pill">Applies to: Construction, Industrial, Transport, Telecom</div>
<div class="pill">Purpose: Prevent falls, ensure due diligence</div>
</div>
</header>
<section class="grid">
<article class="card">
<h2>Regulatory intent</h2>
<p>
Legislation is designed to reduce the likelihood and severity of fall incidents by requiring
systematic hazard identification, prioritizing engineered controls (such as guardrails),
mandating fall-protection planning where exposure remains, and ensuring workers are trained
and equipped to perform tasks safely.
</p>
<div class="callout">
<strong>Compliance principle:</strong> Control the hazard at the source whenever feasible.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used when higher-order controls cannot fully eliminate the risk.
</div>
<div class="hr"></div>
<h2>Key requirements</h2>
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<p class="r-title">Guardrails</p>
<p class="r-body">
Must meet prescribed standards for top and intermediate rails, posts, and static load capacity.
Installation and maintenance must follow applicable codes and manufacturer specifications.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mini">
<span class="tag">Engineering control</span>
<span class="tag">Passive protection</span>
</div>
</div>
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<div>
<p class="r-title">Hazard assessment</p>
<p class="r-body">
Employers must identify fall hazards and implement controls. Assessments should be documented
and reviewed when work conditions change.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mini">
<span class="tag">Due diligence</span>
<span class="tag">Ongoing</span>
</div>
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<div>
<p class="r-title">Fall-protection plan</p>
<p class="r-body">
Required when workers are exposed to height hazards (commonly at ≥ 3 m or where specified).
Plans must be site-available and address system selection, anchors, and rescue.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mini">
<span class="tag">Planning</span>
<span class="tag">Rescue readiness</span>
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<div>
<p class="r-title">PPE</p>
<p class="r-body">
Personal protective equipment is used when hazards cannot be eliminated by higher-order controls.
PPE must be appropriate, compatible, and properly maintained.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mini">
<span class="tag">Last line of defence</span>
<span class="tag">Compatibility</span>
</div>
</div>
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<p class="r-title">Procedures</p>
<p class="r-body">
Employers must develop safe work procedures and emergency/rescue plans based on the hazard assessment.
Procedures should be communicated and enforced.
</p>
</div>
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<div class="mini">
<span class="tag">Method statements</span>
<span class="tag">Emergency response</span>
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<p class="r-title">Training</p>
<p class="r-body">
Workers must receive adequate training on hazards, equipment, procedures, and rescue.
Training must be refreshed as tasks, equipment, or sites change.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mini">
<span class="tag">Competency</span>
<span class="tag">Refreshers</span>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="hr"></div>
<h2>Compliance in practice</h2>
<div class="steps">
<ol>
<li><strong>Assess:</strong> Identify fall hazards for each task and location.</li>
<li><strong>Control:</strong> Install guardrails or other engineered controls where feasible.</li>
<li><strong>Plan:</strong> Prepare a fall-protection plan for remaining exposures; include rescue.</li>
<li><strong>Equip:</strong> Select compatible PPE and ensure inspection/maintenance.</li>
<li><strong>Train:</strong> Verify worker competency and document training.</li>
<li><strong>Review:</strong> Reassess when conditions, scope, or equipment change.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<p class="footer">
Note: Jurisdictional details vary. Always consult the applicable occupational health and safety
legislation, codes of practice, and standards for your province/territory and industry.
</p>
</article>
<aside class="card aside">
<h2>Audit-ready checklist</h2>
<ul>
<li>Guardrails installed to standard and inspected</li>
<li>Documented hazard assessments on file</li>
<li>Site-available fall-protection plan (with rescue)</li>
<li>PPE selected, compatible, and maintained</li>
<li>Written safe work and emergency procedures</li>
<li>Training records current for all exposed workers</li>
</ul>
<div class="hr"></div>
<h2>VR training alignment</h2>
<p>
In a VR compliance module, learners can practise reading a fall-protection plan, selecting compliant
guardrail configurations, choosing appropriate PPE, and responding to simulated rescue scenarios—
reinforcing regulatory expectations in a risk-free environment.
</p>
<div class="callout">
<strong>Implementation tip:</strong> Add in-module prompts that reference “What does the plan require here?”
to build compliance thinking into task execution.
</div>
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