Understanding Harms: Data and Trends
The Ontario Electrical Safety Report
At ESA, we analyze data from the Ontario Electrical Safety Report (OESR) to anticipate, identify and target the leading causes of electrical related harms in Ontario.
Learn about recent trends ESA has identified in the sections below:
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Overall Electrical Fatalities
The five-year rolling average rate of electrical fatalities in Ontario remains less than one in a million, and has remained this way since 2014.
How we manage electrical fatalities in Ontario:
- Compliance with regulations
- Electrical Inspections
- Increasing education and safety awareness
- Programs and Initiatives
Occupational and Non-occupational Fatalities
Occupational electrical-related fatalities are a particular hazard to those who routinely work near electrical sources. Education and proper protection are essential in preventing electrical injuries at work.
In the past ten years, the number of occupational electrical-related fatalities have equalled the number of non-occupational fatalities. In four of the five most recent years (2018-2022), the number of non-occupational electrical deaths have been greater than occupational deaths.
Residential settings were the most common places for non-occupational electrical-related fatalities. Human error, improper use/misuse, misadventure, and theft were the most common activities associated with fatalities.
How we manage these electrical-related fatalities:
- Workers safety –
Don’t work live
campaign - Homeowners Electrical Safety Handbooks
- Building recreational Lichtenberg devices
Electrical Injuries (Emergency Department and WSIB)
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) reports that from 2013 to 2022, male workers continue to outnumber female workers with respect to occupational electrical injury claims.
Workers in the construction and services sectors contribute to the highest number of WSIB lost time injury claims. Injuries to workers include electrocutions or electrical burns.
From 2012 to 2021, there were 8,726 visits to Ontario hospital emergency departments (ED) due to electrical injury. Patients reported the home as the most common location for electrical injury.
Utility Incidents
Utility-related equipment includes electrical equipment and devices used by Local Distribution Companies (LDCs), privately owned companies, or property owners that distribute electricity to customers’ facilities or buildings.
Overhead powerline contact remains the leading cause of utility-related electrical incidents every year.
Electrical Fires
Electrical product-related fires involve appliances, cooking equipment, lighting equipment, and other electrical, mechanical, or processing equipment as classified by the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) data. The OFMEM requires a year-long period for data collection and validation, resulting in a reporting lag. Thus, the following information is presented up to the year of 2021.
Cooking equipment remains the lead ignition source.
How we manage electrical fires:
Product Safety Incident Reports
Ontario Regulation 438/07, Product Safety, enables the ESA to address the safety of electrical products and equipment offered for sale, sold, and used in Ontario. O. Reg 438/07 authorizes the ESA to protect the public against potentially unsafe electrical products.
Learn how ESA manages harms. Visit "Managing Harms: Programs and Initiatives."
2022 Report
Previous Reports
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2021
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2020
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2019