Fatalities Reports
WHS Investigated Workplace Incident Fatalities
WHS (Workplace Health and Safety) investigates only workplace incidents. Motor vehicle incidents are normally investigated by local police authorities and deaths due to occupational disease are reported by a physician.
WHS prepares reports based on the findings of their investigations. Fatality reports, from the past 5 years, are only published on this website after the investigation is complete, and if after the file has gone to Alberta Justice, all court proceedings have been completed. A summary of the most recent investigated incidents is also available.
Older fatality reports are archived in the Alberta Government Library - Labour Building Site.
Workplace Incident Fatality Reporting
Figures for workplace incident fatalities investigated by WHS 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 WHS. 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 WHS, but the fatality might be accepted under a different provinces compensation board.
Differences exist also due to the timing of reporting. Incidents investigated by WHS reflect the date the incident occurred. WCB would record it in the year the claim is accepted for compensation.
Top 5 Types of Fatal Incidents Investigated by WHS (examples based on true incidents)
- Struck by objects - approximately 20% 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% 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% 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% 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% 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.
Modified: 2009-11-18
Adobe Reader 
Macromedia Flash Player 
Real Player