Fatality Reports
OHS Investigated Workplace Incident Fatalities
Occupational Health and Safety investigates workplace incidents. Motor vehicle incidents are normally investigated by local police authorities and deaths due to occupational disease are reported by a physician.
OHS prepares reports based on the findings of their investigations. Fatality reports, from the past five years, are published on this website after the investigation is complete, and all court proceedings, if any, have been completed. A summary of the most recent investigated incidents is also available.
Hard copies of older fatality reports are archived in the Telus Plaza North Tower Site Alberta Government Library – Telus Plaza Site.
Workplace Incident Fatality Reporting
Figures for workplace incident fatalities investigated by OHS differ from workplace incident fatalities accepted by the Workers' Compensation Board – Alberta (WCB). Common differences in reporting include differences in legal jurisdiction, coverage of applicable Acts and timing.
Examples:
- A fatality occurs to a federally regulated worker. This worker could be covered by WCB but not investigated by the provincial OHS. Federal workers would be investigated by Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
- An out of province worker, temporarily working in Alberta, fatally injured at a worksite. The incident may be investigated by OHS, but the fatality might be accepted under a different provinces compensation board.
Differences exist also due to the timing of reporting. Incidents investigated by OHS reflect the date the incident occurred. WCB would record it in the year the claim is accepted for compensation.
Common Types of Fatal Incidents Investigated by OHS (examples based on true incidents)
- Struck by objects – approximately 20 per cent of all workplace incident fatalities are caused by being struck by an object. For example, a worker is clearing debris from a seismic line behind a lead cat and two hand fallers. The worker walks into the path of a tree being felled and is struck.
- Falls – around 15 per cent of workplace fatalities are the result of falls. For example, a worker is installing and insulating a sheet metal roof. He was not tied-off to a fall protection system and fell approximately 30 meters.
- Caught by objects – responsible for approximately 12 per cent of all workplace incident fatalities. For example, a worker is clearing debris build-up and performing general maintenance around a limestone crusher. The worker is crushed to death when caught between a roller and the belt.
- Transportation incidents – approximately 12 per cent of workplace incident fatalities involve industrial equipment or work related vehicles. For example, an asphalt compactor used in road construction comes too close to the edge of the road, slides sideways into the ditch, pinning the operator and causing fatal injuries.
- Exposure to harmful substances – around 10 per cent of all workplace incident fatalities are the result of exposure of harmful substances. For example, a worker was setting up tower for monitoring a drilling rig location. While raising the tower, contact was made with an energized power line. The worker received an electrical shock and was killed instantly.
Summary of Investigated Incidents by OHS
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2011 Workplace Incident Fatalities Investigated
Year to date, numbers as of December 31, 2011
- 2010 Workplace Incident Fatalities Investigated
- 2009 Workplace Incident Fatalities Investigated
- 2008 Workplace Incident Fatalities Investigated
- 2007 Workplace Incident Fatalities Investigated
- 2006 Workplace Incident Fatalities Investigated
Fatality Reports
2009
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Worker Crushed Between Vehicles
Date of Incident: January 14, 2009
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Worker Falls from Trailer
Date of Incident: January 29, 2009
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Worker Trips and Falls Injuring Leg
Date of Incident: March 9, 2009
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Worker Pinned Between Truck and Precast Concrete Doorway
Date of Incident: June 22, 2009
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Landscape Labourer Crushed Between Two Vehicles
Date of Incident: July 24, 2009
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Worker Fell Off A Roof
Date of Incident: August 29, 2009
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Worker Drowns in Sump
Date of Incident: October 4, 2009
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Worker Suffers Fatal Head Crush Injuries
Date of Incident: October 17, 2009
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Gravel Truck Operator Crushed After Overturning in a Creek
Date of Incident: December 17, 2009
2008
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Worker Exposed to Carbon Monoxide
Date of Incident: January 3, 2008
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Worker Falls From Roof
Date of Incident: January 5, 2008
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Worker Pinned Against Tank
Date of Incident: January 22, 2008
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Worker Killed In Explosion
Date of Incident: February 3, 2008
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Overhead Powerline Contact
Date of Incident: February 11, 2008
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Worker’s Head Pinned By Casing Pipe
Date of Incident: February 13, 2008
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Worker Run Over By Logging Skidder
Date of Incident: February 26, 2008
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Mine Truck Operator Crushed In Rollover Off Bridge
Date of Incident: March 3, 2008
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Worker Struck by Tubing
Date of Incident: March 10, 2008
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Worker Caught in Pinch Point
Date of Incident: April 13, 2008
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Pickup Truck and Driver Crushed by Heavy Hauler
Date of Incident: April 26, 2008
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Worker Crushed When a Forklift Tips Over
Date of Incident: June 7, 2008
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Worker Crushed Between Equipment
Date of Incident: July 30, 2008
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Worker Fatally Injured When ATV Rolled
Date of Incident: August 11, 2008
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Worker Pinned Under Machinery in Water and Drowned
Date of Incident: September 5, 2008
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Worker is seriously injured when zoom boom goes off road, worker died several days later
Date of Incident: September 22, 2008
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Bus Service Person Trips and Falls
Date of Incident: October 9, 2008
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Leasehand Crushed Between Tank and Shale Bin
Date of Incident: October 10, 2008
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Worker Falls From Ladder
Date of Incident: October 31, 2008
2007
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Driver Fatally Injured by Fall from Truck
Date of Incident: March 5, 2007
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Worker Fatally Injured in Vehicle Incident
Date of Incident: March 7, 2007
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Worker Fatally Injured When Pinned by Tank Truck Pup
Date of Incident: March 11, 2007
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Worker Caught In Conveyor
Date of Incident: April 13, 2007
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Worker Caught Between Tail Pulley and Conveyor Form
Date of Incident: May 10, 2007
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Worker Run Over By Gravel Truck
Date of Incident: June 22, 2007
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Worker Struck by Truck Trailer
Date of Incident: July 18, 2007
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Worker Crushed by Vessel
Date of Incident: August 3, 2007
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Worker Falls Down A Flight Of Stairs
Date of Incident: August 18, 2007
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Worker Falls From A Ladder
Date of Incident: September 4, 2007
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Worker Crushed
Date of Incident: September 21, 2007
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Worker Crushed By Scraper
Date of Incident: October 4, 2007
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Worker Entangled In Machinery’s Rotating Shaft
Date of Incident: October 12, 2007
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Pipework Installer Falls from Work Platform
Date of Incident: October 24, 2007
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Worker Burned By Gasoline Fire
Date of Incident: October 29, 2007
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Worker crushed between truck and tank
Date of Incident: November 2, 2007
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Worker Electrocuted During High Voltage Contactor Repair
Date of Incident: December 12, 2007
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Worker’s Head Crushed Between Pipe Spools
Date of Incident: December 12, 2007
Modified: 2012-01-23
PID: 781
Occupational Health and Safety Quick Links
Contact Occupational Health and Safety
Call or email the OHS Contact Centre for general information, to order publications, file a complaint or report an incident.
- 1‑866‑415‑8690 (toll free)
- 780‑415‑8690 in Edmonton
Occupational Health and Safety Council
The OHS Council is an administrative body, which operates arms length from government. The Council advises the Minister on OHS matters and serves as an appeal body for orders issued by Occupational Health and Safety.
