Affiliations: [a]
Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, South Korea
| [b]
International Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, South Korea
| [c]
Centre for Research in Human Development, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| [d] Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| [e]
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| [f]
Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| [g]
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| [h] Electrical Safety Authority, ON, Canada
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Angela Colantonio, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1V7, ON, Canada. Tel.: +1 416 978 1098; Fax: +1 416 946 8570; E-mail: angela.colantonio@utoronto.ca.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Electrical contact is a leading cause of occupational fatality in the construction industry. However, research on the factors that contribute to electricity-related fatality in construction is limited. OBJECTIVES: To characterize, using an adapted Haddon’s Matrix, the factors that contribute to electricity-related occupational fatalities in the construction industry in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: Coroner’s data on occupational electricity–related fatalities between 1997-2007 in the construction industry were acquired from the Ontario Ministry of Labour. Using an adapted Haddon’s Matrix, we characterized worker, agent, and environmental characteristics of electricity-related occupational fatalities in the province through a narrative text analysis. RESULTS: Electrical contact was responsible for 15% of all occupational fatalities among construction workers in Ontario. Factors associated with said occupational fatalities included direct contact with electrical sources, lower voltage sources, and working outdoors. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a profile of electricity-related occupational fatalities among construction workers in Ontario, and can be used to inform safety regulations.
Keywords: Working outdoors, environmental factors, Haddon’s Matrix
