A project manager in Toronto has been sentenced to 3.5 years in jail in the deaths of four men on Christmas eve in 2009.   The judge in the case said the project manager decided the interests of the company outweighed the risks to the worker's safety.   The court heard if the company could finish the repairs by the December 31st it would have received a $50,000 bonus.

The four men had been working on a swing stage repairing balconies when the stage broke in two.   The men fell 30 metres to the ground.   A fifth man managed to hang onto the 13th floor balcony, suffering serious injuries to his ribs and spine.  None of the five men were wearing safety harnesses.

On April 1st, 2015, a new training standard for working at heights in the construction industry came into effect in Ontario.   All construction workers who work at or above 3 metres have until March 31st 2017 to take the new  working at heights training.  If you had never taken the old fall arrest training, you must take the new working at heights training before you can start work.