I think there is a misunderstanding of training and requirements. Legislation can specify specific training (such as this WAH for construction) where an approved course must be taken, or legislation can make a generalized statement such as workers must be trained in the equipment, techniques, and hazards associated with their job, thus chainsaw training to match the job the worker does.
On-the-job training is a dirty, messy dangerous slope to navigate. On-the-job implies that the worker will join a crew and begin to learn by watching, listening and doing without a dedicated instructor and time to learn. What happens is rather than receiving training in good techniques etc. the new worker picks up what they see and are capable of. Very soon the new worker has adopted the techniques they favour which may be good or bad.
Dedicated, mandatory training provides for training by an instructor and time that will (hopefully) produce the best results. Once the initial learning occurs working should reinforce good techniques and allow for experience to perfect and reinforce techniques.
I imagine WAH requirements for Ontario came about because of deaths and injuries of workers who received on-the-job training. The obvious example is roofers; virtually every residential shingler I see is not tied-in and new workers learn this as a technique. Last fall I saw roofers on a 12:12 roof 50 feet in the air, workers where struggling to sit on the peak and dormers, descend on valleys and move from jack to jack. I was surprised the job was not stopped but it continued and new workers, as well as all onlookers, were "instructed" that fall-arrest equipment is not needed for roofing.
Training must be true training, with accompanying documentation, not sending somebody to work and calling observation alone training.
