Federal PPE and Fall-Protection Rules Updated

Summary#

The federal government has published proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Canada Labour Code (Personal Protective Equipment and Other Preventive Measures) to modernize and align rules about personal protective equipment (PPE) and fall protection across federally regulated workplaces. The changes would require up-to-date technical standards, clearer fall‑protection plans and rules on proper fit of PPE, and introduce some new enforcement entries; the proposal was published on June 13, 2026 and there is a 30‑day comment period.

What it does#

• Updates PPE rules across the five main federal workplace safety regulations: Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR), On Board Trains Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (OTOHSR), Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (OGOSHR), Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (MOHSR), and Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (AOHSR).
• Makes technical standards “ambulatory” where needed so employers must follow the most recent editions of referenced standards (for example, various CSA and ANSI/UL standards for headwear, footwear, eye/face protection and flotation devices).
• Requires PPE to be safely and properly fitted to each user by a qualified person, and explicitly says fit should consider factors such as body dimensions.
• Adds or clarifies fall‑protection rules:
  • requires a written fall‑protection plan in certain workplaces,
  • defines fall hazard zones and types of fall‑protection systems,
  • sets a hierarchy of fall‑protection options (prefer passive barriers first, then restraint, then arrest, etc.).
• Strengthens training rules by requiring instruction and training on PPE and fall protection to be given by a qualified person, and requires employers to keep a written summary of that training.
• Adjusts enforcement entries in the Administrative Monetary Penalties (Canada Labour Code) Regulations to add, remove or reclassify violations tied to the new or amended obligations.
• Intends the rules to come into force six months after registration if adopted.

Who's affected#

• Employers and workers in federally regulated sectors — about 8% of the Canadian workforce — including transportation (air, rail, marine, road), banking, telecommunications, postal and courier services, grain elevators, uranium mining, Crown corporations, First Nations band councils and the federal public administration.
• Employers who must follow more than one federal OHS regulation at the same site (for example, port operations that cover both dock and shipboard work) are likely to notice clearer, more consistent rules.
• Small employers: the government estimates about 18,500 small employers would be affected and that small‑business costs over ten years would be about $2.2 million in total.
• Workers who have had trouble with poorly fitting PPE — based on a CSA Group survey of 2,752 women, more than 80% reported fit or comfort issues — may benefit from the explicit fit rules.
• The proposals also note specific impacts on marine and oil & gas workers because of the strengthened fall‑protection requirements.

Why it matters#

• Safer, better‑fitting PPE: requiring fit to be checked by a qualified person and to consider body dimensions aims to reduce injuries caused by ill‑fitting equipment, and to make PPE more inclusive for women and people with different body types.
• Less confusion and overlap: aligning standards and language across the five federal regulations and with provincial/territorial rules should make it easier for employers who operate across jurisdictions to know what to buy and how to protect workers.
• Modern practices for fall safety: written fall‑protection plans, defined fall hazard zones and a hierarchy of controls can make work at height safer and clearer for both employers and workers.
• Costs are small but concentrated: the government estimates the proposed changes would cost about $2.7 million total over ten years (about $1.9 million for standards access and $700,000 for fall‑protection plans), largely for a minority of employers who need to update practices or acquire documents; small businesses bear most of that estimated cost.
• This is a consultation, not final law: these are proposed amendments published for comment; they are not in force yet. If you have views, the Canada Gazette comment period is open for 30‑days after publication.