How Old Do You Have To Be To Work Construction in Ontario?

Occupational Health and Safety Training Ontario

How Old Do You Have To Be To Work Construction in Ontario?

June 27, 2022

How old do you have to be to work construction in Ontario or to receive Working at Heights training? According to the Green Book, within Part 1 of the Safety Regs, the minimum age of a worker or person who is permitted to be in or about an industrial workplace is different based on which type of work is being done: logging operations, factories that are not logging related, and workplaces that are not factories. All of this is provided in R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 s.4(1) where it states the age requirement for a person who is permitted to be in or about an industrial establishment.

Logging Operations Worker Age Requirements

how old to work in logging industry in ontario

To work in a logging operation, workers must be at least the age of sixteen. Forty-four percent of Ontario’s Crown forests are managed forests, that’s two thirds of the province. These operations employ roughly 52,000 Canadians and growing, starting from the age of 16.

Want to learn more about being employed within Canada’s logging industry? Click here for more info!

Factory Workplaces (Not Related to Logging) Age Requirement

minimum age to work in factories in ontario

To work within Ontario factory workplaces that aren’t related to logging operations, employees must be at least the age of fifteen. Factory settings that require the age of 15 or older are:

  • manufacturing or assembly plants
  • repair shops
  • restaurant kitchens
  • automotive service garages
  • produce and meat preparation in grocery stores
  • shipping and receiving areas in grocery stores
  • laundries (for example in a public hospital or a hotel)
  • warehouses

All Workplaces That Are Not Factories Age Requirement

how old do you have to be to work industrial restaurants in ontario

For all workplaces within Ontario that are not factories or logging related, youth must be at least 14 years of age to work. This type of work for youth aged 14 or older include:

  • offices
  • stores
  • arenas
  • restaurant serving areas

Construction Workplaces and Working at Heights Training

How old do you have to be to work construction in ontario?

How old do you have to be to work construction in Ontario? At the age of sixteen or older, you may participate in Working at Heights training and work within a construction site if you aren’t handling any hoisting. If you are sixteen or older, you may register with safety first consulting for Working at heights, Working at Heights Refresher training, Standard First Aid Blended Level C AED/CPR training, First Aid Refresher courses, and Supervisor Competency training. According to the Act, you must be at least 16 years old to visit a construction project with active work being done, setting the standard of 16 years of age on a construction site.

Conclusion: How Old Do You Have To Be To Work Construction in Ontario?

How old do you have to be to work construction in Ontario or to receive Working at Heights training? Part 1 of the Safety Regs states that the minimum age of a worker or person who is permitted to be in or about an industrial workplace is between the ages of 14-16, each age different based on which type of work is being done: logging operations, factories that are not logging related, and workplaces that are not factories. All of this is provided in R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 s.4(1) where it states the age requirement for a person who is permitted to be in or about an industrial establishment.

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