Report Card: Health and Safety Statistics
Updated: August 2008
The Ministry of Labour and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board have developed a new, single, consistent method of reporting injury rates and fatalities across Ontario. This will ensure a greater overall focus on the problem of work-related injuries, and better illustrate this issue to workplace parties and the public.
Data is updated annually. Any updates will reflect changes that occur as injury and fatality claims that are pending or being appealed are decided.
View the current statistics.
Further statistics on workplace injuries and fatalities and related information can be found in the WSIB's annual Statistical Supplement.
Ministry of Labour Enforcement Statistics
Field Visits
A field visit occurs when a ministry inspector visits a workplace and meets
with the workplace parties in order to enforce the Occupational
Health and Safety Act (The Act). Field visits may be for the purpose
of an inspection, investigation or a consultation.
Total Field Visits: 1996-2002 by Program Area (inspections, investigations and
consultations)
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
23,347 |
25,193 |
21,028 |
22,940 |
21,455 |
22,216 |
| Industrial |
27,241 |
30,082 |
27,393 |
28,893 |
27,778 |
24,949 |
| Mining |
3,993 |
3,489 |
2,565 |
3,598 |
3,698 |
3,283 |
| PSS |
4,764 |
5,243 |
5,207 |
5,353 |
5,725 |
5,280 |
| Total |
59,345 |
64,007 |
56,193 |
60,784 |
58,656 |
55,728 |
Total Field Visits: 2002-2008 by Program Area (inspections, investigations
and consultations)
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
20,454 |
23,563 |
21,008 |
28,164 |
30,638 |
37,611 |
| Industrial |
24,133 |
24,609 |
23,755 |
44,167 |
51,083 |
53,505 |
| Mining |
2,716 |
2,902 |
2,749 |
3,158 |
3,267 |
4,716 |
| PSS |
4,790 |
5,028 |
5,161 |
5,922 |
5,741 |
5,443 |
| Total |
52,093 |
56,102 |
52,673 |
81,411 |
90,729 |
101,275 |
Note: PSS means professional
and specialized services. PSS staff include diving inspectors,
engineers, ergonomists, hygenists, physicians and radiation protection officers.
Inspections
The Ministry of Labour inspects workplaces to monitor compliance with occupational
health and safety legislation, and to promote the internal
responsibility system. These are considered to be proactive field visits.
The Ministry targets workplaces and/or sectors of the economy that have a
history of poor compliance or high levels of work-related injuries.
Inspections: 1996-2002 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
20,303 |
21,840 |
17,620 |
19,208 |
17,526 |
18,784 |
| Industrial |
17,156 |
19,491 |
16,271 |
17,042 |
14,672 |
13,407 |
| Mining |
3,259 |
2,878 |
2,182 |
2,987 |
3,052 |
2,660 |
| PSS |
2,588 |
2,800 |
2,655 |
2,637 |
2,628 |
2,393 |
| Total |
43,306 |
47,009 |
38,728 |
41,874 |
37,878 |
37,244 |
Inspections: 2002-2008 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
17,212 |
19,274 |
15,620 |
20,809 |
22,987 |
29,490 |
| Industrial |
13,719 |
12,895 |
13,884 |
30,756 |
36,689 |
37,791 |
| Mining |
2,242 |
2,293 |
2,129 |
2,509 |
2,767 |
4,081 |
| PSS |
2,542 |
2,524 |
2,897 |
3,216 |
3,090 |
3,263 |
| Total |
35,715 |
36,986 |
34,530 |
57,290 |
65,533 |
74,625 |
Investigations
These are reactive field visits for the purpose of investigating a fatality,
critical injury, work refusal, complaint, occupational injury or disease,
or other events in the workplace.
Investigations: 1996-2002 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
2,469 |
2,737 |
2,859 |
3,196 |
3,356 |
2,997 |
| Industrial |
8,530 |
9,076 |
9,721 |
10,778 |
11,988 |
10,682 |
| Mining |
500 |
422 |
311 |
479 |
560 |
502 |
| PSS |
1,595 |
2,027 |
2,107 |
2,251 |
2,580 |
2,409 |
| Total |
13,094 |
14,262 |
14,998 |
16,704 |
18,484 |
16,590 |
Investigations: 2002-2008 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
2,898 |
3,858 |
4,276 |
5,431 |
5,656 |
6,947 |
| Industrial |
9,623 |
10,887 |
9,395 |
12,947 |
14,016 |
15,340 |
| Mining |
391 |
506 |
534 |
542 |
421 |
503 |
| PSS |
1,871 |
2,026 |
1,997 |
2,426 |
2,516 |
1,924 |
| Total |
14,783 |
17,277 |
16,202 |
21,346 |
22,609 |
24,714 |
Consultations
These field visits are made to advise workplace parties of their rights, duties
and responsibilities under the Act, and of the policies and procedures of
the Ministry.
Consultations: 1996-2002 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
575 |
616 |
549 |
536 |
573 |
435 |
| Industrial |
1,555 |
1,515 |
1,401 |
1,073 |
1,118 |
860 |
| Mining |
234 |
189 |
72 |
132 |
86 |
121 |
| PSS |
581 |
416 |
445 |
465 |
517 |
478 |
| Total |
2,945 |
2,736 |
2,467 |
2,206 |
2,294 |
1,894 |
Consultations: 2002-2008 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
344 |
431 |
1,112 |
1,924 |
1,995 |
1,174 |
| Industrial |
791 |
827 |
476 |
464 |
378 |
374 |
| Mining |
83 |
103 |
86 |
107 |
79 |
132 |
| PSS |
377 |
478 |
267 |
280 |
135 |
256 |
| Total |
1,595 |
1,839 |
1,941 |
2,775 |
2,587 |
1,936 |
Orders Issued
Orders are issued by inspectors to achieve compliance with health and safety
legislation and regulations. When an inspector finds an instance where legislation
or regulations are not being complied with, a written order is issued to comply
within a certain time period.
Orders Issued: 1996-2002 by Program Area (including stop work orders)
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
23,262 |
27,243 |
23,658 |
28,733 |
28,961 |
35,013 |
| Industrial |
26,868 |
33,468 |
28,694 |
35,019 |
34,415 |
34,571 |
| Mining |
2,799 |
2,366 |
1,918 |
3,726 |
5,249 |
3,466 |
| PSS |
1,911 |
2,816 |
2,495 |
2,462 |
2,218 |
2,117 |
| Total |
54,840 |
65,893 |
56,765 |
69,940 |
70,843 |
75,167 |
Orders Issued: 2002-2008 by Program Area (including stop work orders)
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
35,486 |
41,736 |
40,605 |
54,405 |
68,430 |
81,832 |
| Industrial |
31,310 |
30,021 |
42,641 |
96,008 |
99,421 |
86,569 |
| Mining |
3,317 |
3,478 |
3,279 |
4,036 |
3,499 |
4,733 |
| PSS |
2,409 |
2,539 |
3,616 |
4,501 |
3,984 |
3,535 |
| Total |
72,522 |
77,774 |
90,141 |
158,950 |
175,334 |
176,669 |
Stop Work Orders
If the hazard is imminent a stop work order is issued to immediately halt
the particular task or process.
Stop Work Orders: 1996-2002 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
1,549 |
1,857 |
1,599 |
1,885 |
1,928 |
2,505 |
| Industrial |
1,159 |
1,305 |
1,117 |
1,278 |
1,432 |
1,526 |
| Mining |
124 |
135 |
132 |
210 |
628 |
348 |
| PSS |
52 |
86 |
116 |
119 |
117 |
83 |
| Total |
2,884 |
3,383 |
2,964 |
3,492 |
4,105 |
4,462 |
Stop Work Orders: 2002-2008 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
3,101 |
4,149 |
3,849 |
5,068 |
6,460 |
7,790 |
| Industrial |
1,265 |
1,369 |
1,760 |
3,892 |
3,835 |
3,621 |
| Mining |
303 |
323 |
298 |
536 |
375 |
452 |
| PSS |
125 |
114 |
141 |
202 |
268 |
201 |
| Total |
4,794 |
5,955 |
6,048 |
9,698 |
10,938 |
12,064 |
Work Refusals
Under the Act, workers have the right to refuse work they believe is likely
to endanger themselves or another person. The Act sets out a process for addressing work
refusals. The statistics listed here indicate any work refusal that has
been reported to the Ministry, regardless of the stage of the work refusal
process.
Work Refusals: 1996-2002 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
7 |
3 |
12 |
13 |
22 |
15 |
| Industrial |
369 |
327 |
380 |
421 |
504 |
368 |
| Mining |
29 |
17 |
12 |
16 |
23 |
10 |
| PSS |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
| Total |
408 |
348 |
405 |
453 |
550 |
395 |
Work Refusals: 2002-2008 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
11 |
14 |
6 |
7 |
13 |
5 |
| Industrial |
370 |
361 |
295 |
259 |
257 |
196 |
| Mining |
8 |
14 |
18 |
29 |
14 |
6 |
| PSS |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
389 |
390 |
321 |
295 |
284 |
207 |
Complaints
The Ministry receives complaints about workplace conditions, contraventions
of legislation or regulations and other workplace concerns. Many complaints
result in field visits to the workplace, but some are dealt with in other
ways.
Complaints: 1996-2002 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
2001/02 |
| Construction |
1,166 |
1,279 |
1,408 |
1,471 |
1,470 |
1,286 |
| Industrial |
3,162 |
3,363 |
3,663 |
4,170 |
4,369 |
3,539 |
| Mining |
91 |
102 |
66 |
87 |
86 |
72 |
| PSS |
40 |
62 |
65 |
81 |
59 |
58 |
| Total |
4,459 |
4,806 |
5,202 |
5,809 |
5,984 |
4,955 |
Complaints: 2002-2008 by Program Area
| Program/Total |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Construction |
1,464 |
1,896 |
1,848 |
2,867 |
2,942 |
3,086 |
| Industrial |
3,814 |
4,064 |
3,613 |
5,062 |
5,032 |
4,983 |
| Mining |
78 |
82 |
94 |
130 |
115 |
95 |
| PSS |
41 |
57 |
114 |
40 |
8 |
5 |
| Total |
5,397 |
6,099 |
5,669 |
8,099 |
8,097 |
8,169 |
Prosecution Statistics
Charges can be laid for violations of the Occupational
Health and Safety Act and its regulations. Charges may be laid against
workplace parties, including employers, supervisors and workers. If convicted,
an offender may be fined by the court.
In the table below, the number of convictions and total amount of fines are listed as totals for all areas (construction, industrial and mining) by year:
- data for 1996-2004 is listed by calendar year (January 1 - December 31)
- data for 2005-2008 is listed by fiscal year (April 1 - March 31).
More than one conviction may be related to a single incident.
Number of Convictions and Amount of Fines: 1996-2001
| Convictions/Fines |
1996 |
1997 |
1999 |
1998 |
2000 |
2001 |
| Number
of Convictions (per year) |
162 |
313 |
309 |
283 |
333 |
287 |
| Amount
of Fines (per year) |
$3,137,940 |
$3,746,893 |
$6,545,260 |
$4,582,638 |
$5,155,775 |
$7,300,715 |
Number of Convictions and Amount of Fines: 2002-2008
| Convictions/Fines |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Number
of Convictions (per year) |
459 |
618 |
386 |
326 |
856 |
1,191 |
| Amount
of Fines (per year) |
$9,157,860 |
$7,115,725 |
$6,292,835 |
$6,069,251 |
$8,821,380 |
$12,007,535 |
