FLHA rules in Quebec

• Guardrails (Safety Code s.2.9.1, as amended by Decret 63-2025) are needed where a worker could fall into liquid or a hazardous substance, onto moving parts or dangerous equipment, 1.2 m or more when using a vehicle, 1.5 m or more when handling a load, and more than 3 m in all other cases.
• Workers and site supervisors must have passed the course Sante et securite generale sur les chantiers de construction (Safety Code s.2.4.2(i)), with exceptions set out in the Code.
• Plans signed and sealed by an engineer must be sent to CNESST before work for listed items, including shoring of excavations or trenches 6 m or deeper, wooden scaffolds 9 m or higher, metal scaffolds 18 m or higher, and (since Decret 1393-2024) tower cranes, material hoists, site elevators and mast climbing platforms. Keep copies on site.
• Excavation and trench walls must be shored to an engineer's plans unless the ground is sound rock, no worker goes in, the walls are sloped at less than 45 degrees from 1.2 m above the bottom, or an engineer attests they are safe (s.3.15.3).
• A prevention program is needed when 10 or more workers will be on site at the same time. With 20 or more, it must be sent to CNESST before work starts.
• A site committee (comite de chantier) is needed at 20 or more workers at the same time.
• A health and safety representative is needed part time for more than 10 to 99 workers, and full time at 100 or more workers or when the work costs more than $12 million. A health and safety coordinator is needed at 100 or more workers or more than $12 million.

• Act respecting occupational health and safety (LSST), chapter S-2.1
• Safety Code for the construction industry (Code de securite pour les travaux de construction), S-2.1, r. 4
• Decret 63-2025 (fall protection amendments to the Safety Code)

Regulator: CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail).

• Notice of opening of a construction site (avis d'ouverture de chantier, Safety Code s.2.4.1(1)): the maitre d'oeuvre sends it to CNESST in writing at least 10 days before work starts. It lists the owner, employers, site address, dates, duration and expected number of workers.
• Closing notice: at least 10 days before the planned end of the work. If the site lasts one month or less, send it at least 10 days before the start.
• Emergency repairs on water mains, sewers, power lines or gas pipelines: notice as soon as possible when 10 or more workers are involved (s.2.4.1(1.2)).
• Demolition ordered by a fire service: notice at least 6 hours before (s.2.4.1(1.3)).
• Engineer's plans for listed work (s.2.4.1(2) to (5)) and the prevention program for sites with 20 or more workers are sent to CNESST before work starts.