This Daily Commercial News overview is the first in upcoming, in-depth, coverage of this comprehensive review into Ontario construction deaths.
The second Construction Death Review Committee report from the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario has been released, reviewing 43 construction-related deaths in the province that occurred between 2015 and 2023 and one death that occurred in 1994.
The first report reviewed 26 worker deaths, focusing on those involved in a fall from heights. This report examines 44 deaths of workers whose deaths involved other circumstances.
“The Construction Death Review (CDR) was instituted to provide a timely review of construction–related deaths and to develop recommendations for the prevention of further deaths,” reads a statement from Dr. Roger Skinner, lead coroner. “It is our hope that both the analysis of individual circumstances, and the identification of common themes and trends among multiple deaths, will yield insights that improve our ability to accomplish these purposes. I believe, even at this early stage, we are beginning to see that this is the case.”
According to the report, 42 deaths occurred because of interactions with the following five hazards:
- Heavy material or equipment hazard
- Crushing
- Walls, ceilings or trench collapse
- Electrical exposure
- Elemental exposure
The two other workers died many years after an incident from consequences incurred because of an injury.
The 70 deaths reviewed in the two CDR reports occurred in five specific subsectors of the industry: residential, commercial/institutional, industrial, civil/infrastructure and a mix of residential and commercial properties.
“Notably, the residential subsectors combined, both single-family and multi-family/apartment, accounted for more fatalities than any other subsector, with falls as the predominant cause,” it reads.
Even the day of the week showed a trend with Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays accounting for a significant share of incidents, representing about 60 per cent of those reviewed, as nearly 44 per cent of fatalities occurred on Mondays and Fridays.
“Time of day was another factor, with many deaths occurring at the beginning and end of the workday, as well as around lunchtime,” the report reads.
Seven themes were identified, two of which were of significant concern: workplace experience-inexperience and the use in practice of manufacturer’s instructions and operating manuals.
“Worker experience and inexperience manifested in different ways, including complacency among highly experienced workers, as well as risks associated with being new to a worksite or taking on unfamiliar tasks,” the report reads. “The likelihood of serious incidents increased when work conditions changed unexpectedly or when tasks were introduced without adequate planning.”
Eleven of the fatalities reviewed were linked to the underuse, misuse or modification of manufacturers’ instructions.
Fourteen recommendations came from the review, with suggestions for the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD), the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), Ontario Formwork Association, United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and the Labourer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA).
Among them is for all of the above parties to conduct a review of the compatibility of commonly used formwork systems in Ontario. The review should be completed within 12 months from the date of this recommendation, and results of the review should be made publicly available.
Other recommendations are for the MLITSD and IHSA to consult with stakeholders and construction industry representatives about enhancing and clarifying health and safety regulations and trade authorizations to protect workers involved in solar photovoltaic work and associated electrical safety hazards; to publish a health and safety advisory about the hazards associated with working on or near water; and work with local building associations to distribute the advisory to constructors and employers throughout the province.
Enhancing supervisor awareness training was also mentioned so that there’s clarity when identifying and understanding the causes of worker complacency; encouraging a culture of safety; and reinforcing the importance of using vehicles, machines, tools and equipment in accordance with operating manuals.
Examining how often workers exercise their right to refuse unsafe work in the past five years and consulting with focus groups from both the union and non-unionized sector was another recommendation.
The five areas the CDR proposes to track over subsequent reports are: vulnerable workers, emergency preparedness plans, safety gaps within broader municipal and residential safety frameworks, remote issues and job hazard assessments.
