Fast facts
| Required by law? | Yes, before first useO. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (1) |
|---|---|
| Approved provider required? | NoO. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 |
| Does it expire? | None in Ontario lawO. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (1) |
| Can it be verified? | No public registryO. Reg. 213/91 |
| How long is the training? | Not prescribedO. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (2) |
| Also called | scissor lift certification, boom lift training, aerial work platform, EWP |
| Applies to | Construction projects |
Last verified August 23, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.
Is scissor lift and boom lift training required by law in Ontario?
Yes, before first use. A worker who operates an elevating work platform shall, before using it for the first time, be given oral and written instruction on the operation and be trained to operate that class of elevating work platform.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (1)
Does the training provider have to be government-approved?
No. Ontario approves no elevating work platform training providers or programs. The regulation prescribes the content instead of the provider.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 147
Does scissor lift and boom lift training expire in Ontario?
None in Ontario law. The regulation sets no expiry and no renewal period. The trigger is the class of machine, not the calendar: a new class means new training.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (1)
Refresher
Ontario law prescribes no refresher. The requirement re-triggers when the worker moves to a different class of elevating work platform.
How long is the training itself?
Not prescribed. Ontario sets no minimum hours. It prescribes what the instruction must include, including a hands-on demonstration.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (2)
What has to be covered
- The manufacturer's instruction
- Instruction in the load limitations
- Instruction in, and a hands-on demonstration of, the proper operation of the elevating work platform
How an employer proves it
No public registry. There is no ministry lookup for elevating work platform operators.
O. Reg. 213/91
What the employer has to keep
- No record is prescribed by s. 147 itself, but the employer must be able to show the instruction and training were given before first use
What people get wrong about scissor lift and boom lift training
The training is per class of platform
Training on one class of elevating work platform does not carry over to another. A worker trained on a scissor lift has not, by that fact, been trained on a boom lift.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (1)
Oral instruction alone is not enough
The regulation requires both oral and written instruction on the operation. A verbal walkthrough on the morning of the job does not meet it.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (1)
A hands-on demonstration is mandatory
The instruction must include a hands-on demonstration of the proper operation of the platform. This is one of the reasons a purely online course cannot complete the requirement.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 147 (2) (c)
Fall protection usually applies on top
Where a fall protection system is used on the platform, the working at heights training requirement and the fall protection system training under s. 26.2 apply in addition to the platform training.
O. Reg. 213/91, s. 26.2; O. Reg. 297/13, s. 7
Related safety training requirements
Official sources
Every statement above was read from the source itself rather than a summary of it. Where Ontario law is silent, this page says so instead of repeating industry practice as if it were a legal requirement.
This is an independent summary of public information, not legal advice, and requirements change. Confirm the current requirement with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development before acting on it.