Quebec - Québec
Fall Protection - Protection contre les chutes
This material has been extracted from the Acts and Regulations of the Province to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used for any other purpose.
The following is © Gouvernement du Québec, 2009
c. S-2.1, r.19.01
Regulation respecting occupational health and safety
An Act respecting occupational health and safety
R.S.Q., c. S-2.1, s. 223. 1st par. subpar. (1), (3), (4), (7) to (16), (18) to (21.1), (41) and (42), 2nd par. and 3rd par
DIVISION I
INTERPRETATION AND SCOPE
1. Definitions: In this regulation, the following words and expressions mean:
"aerial basket lifting device": any elevator equipped with an extendable/retractable or jointed arm designed to be fitted with a carrier and used to lift workers or supplies by means of a basket on work sites ;
"hoisting apparatus": includes cranes, travelling cranes, gantries, winches, blocks, lift trucks, aerial basket lifting devices, work platform lifts, screw-type jacks, rack-type jacks and other similar apparatus but does not include elevators and dumb-waiters ;
"protective device": set of devices which when used alone or with a protector on machinery, eliminates dangers or reduces risks for the health, safety and physical well-being of workers ;
DIVISION II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
3. Purpose: The purpose of this Regulation is to establish standards pertaining in particular to the quality of air, temperature, humidity, heat stress, lighting, noise and other contaminants, sanitary facilities, ventilation, hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness in establishments, area conditions, storage and handling of dangerous substances, machine and tool safety, certain high risk tasks, individual protective equipment and the transportation of workers to ensure the quality of the work environment, to safeguard the health of workers and to ensure their safety and physical well-being.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 3.
4. Employer's obligations: The employer shall comply with the standards set hereunder, with the exception of those of section 339.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 4.
5. Operational status of equipment: Any equipment used or installed in an establishment for purposes of preventing the emission of gases, dusts, fumes and vapours, to ensure proper conditions for lighting, ventilation, temperature, salubrity and hygiene prescribed hereunder or to ensure that noise or heat stress conditions comply with the requirements hereunder, shall always be in operational condition and shall give optimal performance during the establishment's business hours in such manner as to provide the performance for which it was designed.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 5.
DIVISION III
ESTABLISHMENT CONDITIONS
9. Horizontal openings: Excavations, wells or basins presenting a falling hazard shall be solidly covered or protected with guardrails on all exposed sides.
The same applies to vats, tanks, reservoirs, basins and other containers used for the storing or mixing of substances that are open and whose opening is less than 750 millimetres above floor level or above a working platform.
This section does not apply to basins used for recreational or fish-breeding purposes.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 9.
10. Vertical openings: Any opening made through a wall that presents a falling hazard for a worker or for any object shall be protected with a guardrail or a protective screen.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 10.
11. Exceptions: Sections 9 and 10 do not apply when the use of a cover, guardrail or protective screen prevents the carrying out of a task that could not be reasonably performed otherwise.
In such a case, the cover, guardrail or protective screen may be removed, but only while the work is being performed. The wearing of a safety harness is then compulsory for any worker exposed to a danger of falling in the opening, except if the worker is protected by some other device that provides him with equivalent safety or by a safety net.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 11.
12. Guardrails: Any guardrail incorporated in a building, with the exception of a guardrail that is part of any equipment, shall comply with the National Building Code as applied at the time of its installation.
Other guardrails shall be so designed, constructed and installed as to withstand the following minimum loads:
(1) a 0,55 kilonewton horizontal single point load applied at any location on the top rail ;
(2) a 1,5 kilonewtons per linear metre load applied vertically at the top rail.
In addition, such guardrails shall be provided with a top rail located between 900 millimetres and 1 100 millimetres from the floor and at least an intermediate rail fixed at midway between the top rail and the floor.
The intermediate rail may be replaced by balusters or panels.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 12.
23. Permanent ladders: Permanent ladders used to replace service stairs shall:
(1) be of safe construction and solidly anchored to withstand a mass of 90 kilograms at the centre of the rungs with a safety factor of 4;
(2) for ladders exceeding 9 metres, have rest platforms equipped with guardrails, at least at 6-metre intervals;
(3) have a space behind the rungs of at least 150 millimetres;
(4) have a free space on each side of at least 375 millimetres and forward of at least 800 millimetres, measured from the centre of a rung;
(5) extend 900 millimetres beyond the top storey;
(6) be provided with guardrails surrounding the floor opening with a removable gate for access to the ladder;
(7) be provided with crinolines or cages or a fall arrestor in compliance with the standard Fall arresters, vertical lifelines and rails CAN/CSA Z259.2.1-98, where there is danger of a fall greater than 6 metres.
Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of the first paragraph only applies to permanent ladders built, installed or modified starting from 2 August 2001.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 23.
33. Operating conditions: Scaffolds shall be designed for the type of work to be performed and the probable risks. They shall meet the following conditions:
(1) be so designed, constructed, trussed, braced and maintained as to support any loads and stresses they may be subjected to, and resist wind action;
(2) have a safety factor of at least 4 for each constituent element;
(3) rest on firm ground or foundations;
(4) be provided with guardrails when workers are exposed to a danger of falling more than 3 metres.
The guardrails of the scaffolds may be temporarily removed if they prevent the carrying out of work that cannot reasonably be performed otherwise. In these cases, the wearing of a safety harness is compulsory for the worker and the worksite shall be marked off to prevent access to those persons not working there.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 33.
DIVISION XXIII
HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL
261. Lifting of a worker: The lifting of a worker using a mobile crane is permitted if the conditions set out in section 3.10.7 of the Safety Code for the construction industry (c. S-2.1, r. 6) as it reads at the time that it applies, are respected.
264. Protection against falls: The wearing of a safety harness is compulsory for any worker occupying the aerial basket of a lifting device, except if the worker is protected by some other device that provides him with equivalent safety.
A safety harness shall be equipped with an energy absorber and a lifeline attached to an anchorage point specified by the manufacturer or any other anchorage point independent of the basket and offering a resistance to breakage of at least 18 kilonewtons per worker who is anchored thereto.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 264.
268. Aerial conveyor: Subject to section 324, an aerial conveyor shall be equipped with a footbridge in compliance with section 31, when there is a danger of falling, and when workers must circulate on the conveyor.
O.C. 885-2001, s. 268.
