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.
Managing:
- Compliance with regulations
- Inspections
- Increasing education and awareness
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.
Managing:
- Workers safety – don’t work live
- Homeowners safety handbook
Electrical Injuries (Emergency Department and WSIB)
WSIB reports that from 2013 to 2022, male workers continue to outnumber female workers with respect to occupational electrical injury.
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.
Managing harm:
- Powerline campaign
- Powerline materials for workers
- Powerlines and homes
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 reports its data by calendar year and its data collection and verification results in a one-year lag in reporting. Thus, the following information is presented up to the year 2021.
Electrical fires involving electrical distribution equipment (such as wiring, extension cords, appliance cords, terminations, and electric panels) decreased 9% in the same time period.
Cooking equipment remains the lead ignition source.
Managing harms:
- Product safety
- Lichtenberg
- Aging infrastructure resources
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.
Managing compliance:
- Product safety reporting
- Product safety campaigns
2022 Report
Previous Reports
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2021
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2020
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2019
Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2018