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 is one per million.
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 four of the five most recent years (2019-2023), the number of non-occupational fatalities have been greater than occupational 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)
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 2014 to 2023, there were 9,672 visits to Ontario hospital emergency departments (ED) due to electrical injury. Patients reported the home as the most common location for electrical injury.
The age groups with the largest number of ED visits are 25–30-year-old males.
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.
From 2014-2023 there were 25 electrical-related fatalities associated with utility-related equipment, which made 50% of the total electrical fatalities in Ontario.
Overhead powerline contact remains the leading cause of utility-related electrical incidents every year.
Historically, construction has been the leading sector in overhead powerline contacts; however, in the past five years, incidents reported in public settings have increased. In 2023, there have been fewer than five reported incidents involving LDC workers and overhead powerline contact.
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 (OFM) data. The OFM 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.
Between 2013-2022:
- The five-year rolling average number of electrical fire fatalities has increased by 42%.
- The five-year rolling average number of electrical fires has decreased by 16%.
- The five-year rolling average number of fires related to products has decreased by 20%.
- The five-year rolling average for electrical distribution equipment related to aging infrastructure has decreased by 7%.
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. ESA has oversight for product safety related to the approval of electrical products, including consumer electrical products, before they are sold, used, offered, advertised or displayed in Ontario. ESA also responds to unsafe industrial and commercial products and publicizes product safety notices (including recalls) to protect end users.
Learn how ESA manages harms. Visit "Managing Harms: Programs and Initiatives."
View the 2023 Report & Appendices