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139
(1) An employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker is protected from falling if a worker may fall,
(a) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of 3 metres or more,
(b) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of less than 3 metres if there is an unusual possibility of injury,
(c) at a temporary or permanent work area, into or onto a hazardous substance or object, or through an opening in a work surface, or
(d) at a permanent work area, a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres and less than 3 metres.
Source: Occupational Health and Safety Code (Part 9 Fall Protection)
9.8.8. Guards
9.8.8.1. Guards Required Guards
(See Appendix A.)
(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), every surface to which access is provided for other than maintenance purposes, including but not limited to flights of steps and ramps, exterior landings, porches, balconies, mezzanines, galleries and raised walkways, shall be protected by a guard on each side that is not protected by a wall for the length where
(a) there is a difference in elevation of more than 600 mm between the walking surface and the adjacent surface, or
(b) the adjacent surface within 1.2 m of the walking surface has a slope of more than 1 in 2.
(2) Guards are not required
(a) at loading docks,
(b) at floor pits in repair garages, or
(c) where access is provided for maintenance purposes only.
(3) Where an interior stair has more than 2 risers or an interior ramp rises more than 400 mm, the sides of the stair or ramp and the landing or floor level around the stairwell or ramp shall be protected by a guard on each side that is not protected by a wall.
Source: Alberta Building Code (ABC) 2014
138
Rescue personnel involved in training or in providing emergency rescue services may use equipment, personal protective equipment and practices other than those specified in this Part.
139
(1) An employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker is protected from falling if a worker may fall,
(a) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of 3 metres or more,
(b) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of less than 3 metres if there is an unusual possibility of injury,
(c) at a temporary or permanent work area, into or onto a hazardous substance or object, or through an opening in a work surface, or
(d) at a permanent work area, a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres and less than 3 metres.
(2) For the purposes of this section, there is an unusual possibility of injury if the injury may be worse than an injury from landing on a solid, flat surface.
(3) Subject to subsection (5), an employer must install a guardrail.
(4) Repealed.
(5) Subject to subsection (6), if the use of a guardrail is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses a travel restraint system that meets the requirements of this Part.
(6) Subject to subsection (7), if the use of a travel restraint system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses a personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of this Part.
(7) If the use of a personal fall arrest system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses equally effective controls.
(8) A worker must use a fall protection system as required by this section.
(1) An employer must ensure that an opening or hole through which a worker can fall is protected by
(a) a securely attached cover designed to support an anticipated load, or
(b) guardrails and toe boards.
(2) If a person removes a cover, guardrail or toe board, or any part thereof, protecting an opening or hole for any reason, an employer must ensure a temporary cover or other means of protection replaces it immediately.
(3) If a temporary cover is used to protect an opening or hole, an employer must ensure a warning sign or marking clearly indicating the nature of the hazard
(a) is posted near or fixed on the cover, and
(b) is not removed unless another effective means of protection is immediately provided.
Source: Occupational Health and Safety Code (Part 9 Fall Protection)
315
(1) An employer must ensure that a guardrail required by this Code
(a) has a horizontal top member installed between 920 millimetres and 1070 millimetres above the base of the guardrail,
(b) has a horizontal, intermediate member spaced mid way between the top member and the base,
(c) has vertical members at both ends of the horizontal members with intermediate vertical supports that are not more than 3 metres apart at their centres, and
(d) is constructed of lumber that is 38 millimetres by 89 millimetres or of material with properties the same as or better than those of lumber.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a temporary guardrail does not require a horizontal intermediate member if it has a substantial barrier positioned within the space bounded by the horizontal top member, toe board and vertical members that prevents a worker from falling through the space.
(3) An employer must ensure that a guardrail is secured so that it cannot move in any direction if it is struck or if any point on it comes into contact with a worker, materials or equipment.
Source: Occupational Health and Safety Code (Part 22 Safeguards)
154
(1) An employer must ensure that anchor points to which a personal fall arrest system is attached have an ultimate load capacity of at least 22.2 kilonewtons per worker attached, in any direction in which the load may be applied.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to anchor points installed before April 30, 2004
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to anchor points or horizontal lifeline systems that must meet the requirements of section 157 (1)(e).
Source: Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation Technical Bulletin
Anchor strength — permanent
152
(1) An employer must ensure that a permanent anchor is capable of safely withstanding the impact forces applied to it and has a minimum breaking strength per attached worker of 16 kilonewtons or 2 times the maximum arresting force in any direction in which the load may be applied.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to anchors installed before July 1, 2009.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the anchors of flexible horizontal lifeline systems that must meet the requirements of section 153(1).
(4) The employer must ensure that an anchor rated at 2 times the maximum arresting force is designed, installed and used in accordance with
(a) the manufacturer’s specifications, or
(b) specifications certified by a professional engineer.
Anchor strength — temporary
152.1
(1) An employer must ensure that a temporary anchor used in a travel restraint system
(a) has a minimum breaking strength in any direction in which the load may be applied of at least 3.5 kilonewtons per worker attached,
(b) is installed, used and removed according to the manufacturer’s specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer,
(c) is permanently marked as being for travel restraint only, and
(d) is removed from use on the earliest of
(i) the date on which the work project for which it is intended is completed, or
(ii) the time specified by the manufacturer or professional engineer.
(2) An employer must ensure that a temporary anchor used in a personal fall arrest system
(a) has a minimum breaking strength in any direction in which the load may be applied of at least 16 kilonewtons or 2 times the maximum arresting force per worker attached,
(b) is installed, used and removed according to the manufacturer’s specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer, and
(c) is removed from use on the earliest of
(i) the date on which the work project for which it is intended is completed, or
(ii) the time specified by the manufacturer or professional engineer.
Duty to use anchors
152.2
(1) If a worker uses a personal fall arrest system or a travel restraint system, the worker must ensure that it is safely secured to an anchor that meets the requirements of this Part.
(2) An employer must ensure that a worker visually inspects the anchor prior to attaching a fall protection system.
(3) An employer must ensure that a worker does not use a damaged anchor until the anchor is repaired, replaced or re‑certified by the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
(4) An employer must ensure that a worker uses an anchor connector appropriate to the work.
(5) A worker must use an anchor connector appropriate to the work.
Independence of anchors
152.3
An employer must ensure that the anchor to which a personal fall arrest system is attached is not part of an anchor used to support or suspend a platform.
Source: Occupational Health and Safety Code (Part 9 Fall Protection)
153
(1) An employer must ensure that a flexible horizontal lifeline system manufactured on or after July 1, 2009 meets the requirements of
(a) CSA Standard Z259.13‑04, Flexible Horizontal Lifeline Systems, or
(b) the applicable requirements of CSA Standard Z259.16‑04, Design of Active Fall‑Protection Systems.
(2) An employer must ensure that a rigid horizontal fall protection system is designed, installed and used in accordance with
(a) the manufacturer’s specifications, or
(b) specifications certified by a professional engineer.
An employer must ensure that before a horizontal lifeline system is used, a professional engineer, a competent person authorized by the professional engineer, the manufacturer or a competent person authorized by the manufacturer certifies that the system has been properly installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications or to specifications certified by a professional engineer.
Source: Occupational Health and Safety Code (Part 9 Fall Protection)