About the Ontario Electrical Safety Report (OESR)
The Electrical Safety Authority’s (ESA’s) Ontario Electrical Safety Report (OESR) was created to provide a comprehensive perspective of electrical fatalities, injuries, and incidents in Ontario. Data presented in this report come from multiple sources, investigations, and root-cause analyses. Information is provided on potential electrical risks and high-risk sectors. This report is used by the ESA and others to better understand the dynamics of electrical safety and to encourage the development of initiatives to improve the status of electrical safety in the province.
The OESR would not be possible without the collaboration of our safety partners: the Office of the Chief Coroner, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, the Canadian Institute of Health Information, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.
This 22nd report on the state of electrical safety in Ontario summarizes electrical incidents, electrical-related fatalities identified by the Office of the Chief Coroner, and injuries of an electrical nature. It also provides information on deaths, injuries, and damage caused by fire incidents identified by the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM), as well as fires and fire fatalities identified by local fire departments where electricity was identified as the ignition fuel and/or electrical distribution equipment was identified as the ignition source. The purpose of this report is to provide stakeholders within the broad electrical safety system with an update and a longitudinal perspective of electrical safety in Ontario.
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2023 Summary
This year’s report shows a continued decline in electrical-related fatalities and incidents, highlighting ESA’s commitment to addressing high-risk areas and managing electrical safety effectively. Despite this progress, the report details several tragic incidents resulting in injuries and fatalities, reminding us that our work is far from complete. By analyzing these events, we aim to prevent future occurrences and create an Ontario where people can live, work, and play free from electrical harm.
Our findings also emphasize the need for continued public education and awareness, particularly given Ontario’s evolving energy landscape, including electric vehicles, and the increasing impact of severe weather events on our electrical infrastructure.
2023 OESR Appendices
Previous Reports
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2022
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2021
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2020
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2019