Injury and Fatality Rates
Figures for 1997 (the last year for which injury statistics are complete) show the lowest injury frequency in Ontario history. It is also the single largest drop in several years. Over the long term in Ontario construction, the all-injury frequency (compensation plus medical aid cases) has dropped by 77% since 1965 (Graph 1). Ontario also continues to improve in comparison to other provinces (Table 1).
Incidence Rate by Province (per 100 workers)
| YEAR | BC | ALTA | SASK | MAN | ONT | QUE | NB | NS | PEI | NFLD |
| 1989 | 9.9 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 5.0 | 8.7 | 5.8 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 5.2 |
| 1990 | 10.3 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 4.1 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 5.7 | 8.0 | 4.7 |
| 1991 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 7.4 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 6.5 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 3.6 |
| 1992 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 6.3 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 3.0 |
| 1993 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 1.8* | 4.5 | 5.9 | 3.4 |
| 1994 | 5.9 | 3.6 | 6.7 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 1.5* | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| 1995 | 5.7 | 3.3 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 1.9* | 3.6 | 9.9 | 5.1 |
| 1996 | 5.6 | 3.9 | 7.0 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 1.6* | 2.8 | 13.8 | 5.2 |
| 1997 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 6.8 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 3.9 | 1.4* | 2.7 | 4.2 | 3.1 |
|
Source: Statistics Canada: Table 9, Catalogue 72-208, "Work Injuries" For all other provinces,benefits are payable starting the day after the injury. |
||||||||||
Since 1965, the fatality rate in Ontario construction has dropped by more than 75%. Unfortunately 1998 saw a rise in fatalities over the previous year up from 15 to 24 (Table 2).
Don Dickie, CSAO general manager, pledged every effort to reduce the fatality rate, which was particularly high in the civil engineering sector traditionally one of the safest.
"We have called upon the sector's labour-management health and safety committee to take a hard look at some of the major problems in this area," Dickie reported.
Graph 2 analyzes fatalities in 1998 by cause.
1998 data is estimated.
a Source: Ontario Ministry of Labour.
b Source for 1966 to 1990: Statistics Canada: Table 7, Catalogue
64-201, 1966 - 1990.
c Source for 1991 to 1998: Statistics Canada: Labour Force Survey
(Publication #71-526)
"Employed Workforce in Construction".
WSIB figures are not used because a significant number of the deaths involved persons not employed by construction companies and therefore not included under WSIB construction rate numbers.
Training
CSAO conducted training programs across Ontario. Participants represented every level of construction personnel:
| Senior Management | 2,366 |
| Supervisory | 3,566 |
| Workers | 15,879 |
| Apprentices | 13,378 |
| Total Participants | 35,189 |
To reach workers on-site and in outlying areas, CSAO's mobile classroom delivered 139 training sessions to more than 4,000 participants.
One training highlight was development and initial delivery of the Construction Supervisors Program. A home-study version, for small contractors and others, is being developed. Along with entry-level training, the Construction Supervisors Program will help to reduce the high injury rate among small contractors and newer workers.
Consultation
Despite staff shortages and rising demand, CSAO met all requests for consultation in 1998. Field consultants made 7,708 calls, 1,012 site visits, and conducted 65 health and safety profiles for companies.
Special attention was focused on 1,452 firms with poor injury records. These priority companies clearly benefited from training and consultation (Table 3).
From 1997 to 1998 the firms showed a decrease in lost-time injuries of 869 and a drop in injury frequency of 47%.
| 1997 | 1998 | |
| Injuries | 1,878 | 1,009 |
| Person hours | 66,491,142 | 67,656,592 |
| Frequency | 28.45 | 14.93 |
Safe Communities
In cooperation with the WSIB, CSAO actively supported the Safe Communities Incentive Program. In ten communities around the province, CSAO consultants conducted evaluations for participating construction firms, helped to implement health and safety programs, and provided training.
The average lost-time injury rate for these firms was 7.85 in 1997, compared to 20.15 in the previous year. This dramatic reduction of 61% indicates the success that can be achieved through Safe Communities.
Labour-Management
In 1998 the industry's network of labour-management health and safety committees continued to address a broad range of issues at provincial, regional, and trade levels. Two major efforts involved proposed revisions to health and safety legislation and agreement on a new certification program.
In 1999, two new trade committees (painting and hoisting) are expected to join the network.
Research
CSAO worked with the WSIB, MOL, and Provincial Coroner's Office to develop a questionnaire on construction fatalities. Information from the questionnaire will help to build a database for further research into controlling fatalities. This work goes hand in hand with joint efforts by all partners in the prevention system to improve the accuracy and timeliness of injury and other data.
Research in 1998 also covered
- injuries in the masonry trade
- blasting hazards
- fumes from heat-welded PVC roofing
- self-retracting lifelines
- helicopter lifting
- hydraulic gantry lifting
- safe, efficient use of tuggers.
