Ontario has had a steady increase in construction worker deaths in the past six years since 2014. Construction was the deadliest industry followed by manufacturing. Even though the construction industry has been making progress in injury prevention, the number of fatalities in the industry is of major concern.
An article in Occupational Health & Safety states that serious injuries among construction workers has also been on the rise. The number of injuries in 2014 was 231. In 2019, it had increased to 357.
The Ontario Labour Ministry is investigating the reason for this influx in construction worker deaths on the heels of two construction workers being killed on the job on December 11 and another worker killed at a Toronto project on December 14. The latest fatality occurred on December 15 when a worker was killed after being hit by a slab of concrete in Oshawa.
According to Labor.gov, workplace fatalities have a tremendous impact on families, workplaces and communities. More public and personal awareness of workplace hazards needs to be raised and health and safety resources need to be available to assist with vigilance about workplace safety and preventing injuries and fatalities.
Per Infrastructure Health & Safety Association, falls are a major cause of injury and death in Ontario workplaces. The vast majority of these incidents are falls from heights, even though the height may be no more than two or three metres. Employers must ensure that their workers are provided with working at heights training that has been approved by the Prevention Office of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. A WAH refresher course must be taken every three years to maintain this training.
Other important fall prevention steps to take:
- Workers should be given site-specific training and proper oral and written instructions
- Site supervisor should conduct a hazard assessment or job safety analysis of the jobsite
- Develop a fall protection work plan for workers on the site
- Develop procedures for rescuing a suspended worker
A Fall Prevention Toolkit (A Guide for Employers and Workers - W016) is available to be downloaded at no cost here.
Working at heights training (WAH) is mandatory for workers who may use a method of fall protection to protect themselves from a fall hazard.
Some other types of fatal construction accidents include the following:
- Fatally injured after falling through an opening in a floor
- Fatal injuries while changing a tire on a cultivator
- Fatally injured after a trench collapsed
- Sustaining fatal injuries from falling from a building
- Fatal injuries after falling down an elevator shaft
- Fatal injuries while clearing material from a machine that moved
- A tree falling on a worker resulting in fatal injuries
- Being struck by a vehicle and suffering fatal injuries
- Falling off of a scaffold
- Being struck by a train at a crossing
- Worker was electrocuted while changing a bulb
- Suffering fatal injuries after being struck by mobile equipment
- Fatal injuries after falling from a ladder
- Worker caught between two machines causing fatal injury
- Worker was fatally injured when concrete pre-cast panel fell on him
- Sustaining fatal injuries after a masonry block wall
Safety & Health Practitioner states that workplace fatality figures released for 2019/20 reveal that the construction sector has had the highest number of workplace fatalities over the last 12 months, with falling from height still recorded as the most common cause of work-related death. The latest HSE figures also highlight the risks to older workers, with 27% of fatal injuries occurring to workers aged over 60.
Occupational Health & Safety reports that falling from height, being struck by a moving vehicle and being struck by a moving object account for 60% of the workplace fatality figures in 2019/20.
While accident prevention is a necessary pursuit, employers and safety professionals need to be aware of steps to take post-accident.
The following six steps should be taken following a workplace incident:
- The scene should be secured and emergency assistance administered
- Deliver applicable notices within required time limits
- Investigation preparation such as policies, procedure, training records, quality assessment must be assembled and ready when the MOL arrives
- MOL investigation takes place and debriefs need to be completed
- Address improvements and if there's a safety issue, it needs to be fixed.
- Regulatory and criminal charges could be filed if there is any violation against the Occupational Health and Safety Act
Practical steps to prevent this scenario include identifying hazards, reviewing procedure to ensure adequacy, training staff and then monitoring and enforcing.
