25 Years of Data Show Progress in Electrical Safety, But Risks Are Shifting in Ontario

ESA report finds electrical fatalities remain historically low, while electrical harm outside the workplace is rising  

MISSISSAUGA, ON (September 16, 2026) — Ontario recorded two electrical-related fatalities in 2025, the lowest annual number since 2012, according to the Electrical Safety Authority’s (ESA) newly released 25th edition of the Ontario Electrical Safety Report (OESR). 

The latest findings build on significant long-term progress in electrical safety, particularly in the workplace, while highlighting areas of concern. Electrical injuries presenting at Ontario emergency departments increased 23 per cent between 2015 and 2024.

Other key findings from the 2025 OESR include:

• Electrical fatalities at work continue to decline. The five-year rate of workplace electrical-related fatalities decreased 38 per cent when comparing 2016-2020 with 2021-2025.
• Powerlines remain a significant workplace electrical safety risk. Powerline contact accounted for 41 per cent of workplace electrical-related fatalities between 2016 and 2025.
• Serious electrical injuries persist. The five-year rolling average of emergency department visits classified as critical increased four per cent when comparing 2015-2019 with 2020-2024.

Over its 25 editions, the OESR has evolved to draw on a broader range of authoritative data about electrical safety in Ontario. Information on fatalities, injuries, workplace incidents and hospital visits provides a more complete picture of where electrical harm is occurring, how trends are changing over time and where prevention efforts can have the greatest impact. 

“Twenty-five years of data show us how far Ontario has come, but they also show us where the risks are shifting, from the workplace to everyday life, around our homes and in recreational settings,” said Josie Erzetic, President and CEO, Electrical Safety Authority. “As Ontario becomes more electrified and new technologies change the way we generate, store and use electricity, the ways people are exposed to risk are also evolving. This evidence helps us anticipate emerging risks and keep safety at the centre of that transformation.”

“Two electrical fatalities are two lives lost and a reminder that we cannot become complacent,” said Patience Cathcart, Public Safety Officer, Electrical Safety Authority. “We want people to be safe around electricity at work, at home and in their communities. The rise in harm outside the workplace, particularly involving powerlines, will directly inform where we focus our prevention efforts.”

First published in 2001, the Ontario Electrical Safety Report brings together data and expertise from ESA and organizations including the Office of the Chief Coroner, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills

Development, the Office of the Fire Marshal, the Canadian Institute of Health Information and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. For 25 years, these insights have helped identify emerging risks and inform electrical safety efforts in Ontario.

The OESR is the world’s longest-running and most comprehensive electrical safety report of its kind.

Read the 25^th Ontario Electrical Safety Report here.

About the Electrical Safety Authority

The Electrical Safety Authority's (ESA's) role is to improve public electrical safety in Ontario. ESA is an administrative authority responsible for administering specific regulations under the Electricity Act, 1998 (Part VIII) related to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, the licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians, electricity distribution system safety, and electrical product safety. ESA works extensively with stakeholders throughout the province on education, training and promotion to foster electrical safety across the province.

More information on the Electrical Safety Authority can be found at ESAsafe.com, through Facebook, X and on LinkedIn.