Electrical Worker Safety

Why are workers taking risks?

In November 2008 the Ministry of Labour reported that 69 workers had been killed, 263 critically injured and 844 sustained minor injuries as a result of electrical hazards from 1998 to 2008. There is no acceptable rate of electrical injury to workers, especially when you consider that 74% of the probable cause of occupational electrocutions over this period were associated with improper procedure and human error. This has resulted in ESA identifying “High Risk Electrical Worker Safety” as one of 5 harm priorities in Ontario. To significantly reduce injuries and incidents associated with unsafe work practices and procedures ESA has worked in collaboration with contractors, industry, safe work associations, trainers, educators, and other safety regulators and organizations. The “Are you willing to take the risk?” package is supported across the industry and provides workers and supervisors with information to tell them about the importance of safe work practices.