Western Canada Fall Prevention Statistics for the Workplace

Safety at work is a big worry for both businesses and employees all around Canada. In 2022, there were several falls from heights in the western provinces of British Columbia (BC), Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK), and Manitoba (MB).

We've put together a statistical review of the reported falls from heights at work, focusing on the number of falls that led to death or serious injury. These fall prevention statistics can help businesses figure out how to cut down on these kinds of accidents. And if you want to know how you and your company may cut down on accidents at work at heights, get in touch with Height Works safety specialists right away.

Falls from Heights: A Dangerous Risk at Work

People who work at heights are still at a high risk of falling, which is a major workplace danger in many fields. These events can cause serious injuries and, in some cases, even death. We want to increase awareness about the importance of workplace safety and encourage people to take steps to protect themselves from accidents by showing fall prevention statistics and data for falls that happen when people work at heights.

Falls from Height at Work Information about Western Canadian Provinces: 

British Columbia

There were more than 4,000 reports of people falling from heights while working in British Columbia. Reports say that nine of the occurrences led to deaths, while the others caused injuries that ranged from minor to serious. These numbers show how important it is to raise safety standards and make sure that BC workplaces have effective fall prevention measures in place. This can be done by using the right personal protective equipment (PPE) or engineered fall protection systems and making sure that your workers know how to use all of their fall protection equipment correctly.

Alberta

Fall prevention statistics from Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety Code show that falls from heights caused 19% of all occupational injuries and incidents. Also, more than 35% of deaths at work in Alberta were caused by accidents at work. Eighteen of these events led to deaths. These data on falls from heights at work show how important it is to keep strict safety rules and offer thorough training programs to stop falls from heights at work in Alberta.

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) says that there are fewer fall-related injuries at work in Saskatchewan, at 4.33 for every 100 workers. They say that about 39 people died at work, 14 of whom fell.

Manitoba

Reports say that 55 people fell while working at heights in Manitoba in 2022. Out of these incidents, ten individuals lost their lives and 45 sustained injuries.

How to Cut Down on Falls from Work at Heights in Canadian Workplaces

Fall prevention statistics from heights at work in Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) show how committed everyone is to working together to lower these numbers. Here are some steps that companies, workers, and regulatory agencies might want to take to lower the risk and make work-at-height places safer.

Complete Training

Training is essential to give workers the knowledge and skills they need to spot risks, follow safety rules, and utilize fall protection equipment correctly. Employers should make sure that their employees have all the training they need for their jobs and the places where they work.

Height Works can train employees properly so they know how to utilize safety gear, follow safety rules, and keep the site secure. This course teaches you how to spot possible fall hazards, how to work safely, what to do in an emergency, and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) and fall protection systems correctly, using real fall prevention statistics to highlight the importance of each step.

Finding Hazards and Assessing Risks

Regularly checking for hazards and assessing risks are important steps in keeping people from falling from heights. Height Works helps make sure that workplaces are safe by finding possible fall hazards and putting in place the right safety measures.

This process includes checking the stability of work surfaces, the strength of guardrails and barriers, the condition of ladders and scaffolding, and finding any possible trip, slip, or fall risks that the company needs to fix to keep its workers safe.

Improving the Safety Culture

To keep people from falling from heights, it's essential to build a solid safety culture. Employers should create a culture where safety is important, talked about, and encouraged. This means getting workers involved in safety programs, giving them ways to report risks or near misses, and sending out safety messages and reminders regularly. Sharing fall prevention statistics can also reinforce the importance of these efforts. If the company promotes a safety culture, workers will feel in control of their own and their coworkers' safety.

Regular Maintenance and Inspections Every Year

Height Works does annual inspections and tests for businesses. This makes sure that PPE and engineered fall protection equipment are being properly cared for and that fall protection systems and PPE are in excellent shape. We set up yearly inspection programs that take care of any problems or shortcomings right away.

Employers and employees can reduce their risk of falls caused by equipment failure and malfunctioning engineered fall protection systems by having a certified third-party agency inspect the equipment annually, as well as requiring users to inspect it before each use. Fall prevention statistics support the importance of regular inspections in reducing the likelihood of accidents and equipment failure.

Don't let yourself become a number

The data above shows how many falls from heights happened in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba workplaces in 2022. To solve these problems, everyone—employers, employees, and regulators—needs to work together.

Companies in Western Canada can work to keep their workers safe and avoid falls from heights by following strict safety rules, providing thorough training, promoting a positive safety culture, and using Height Works. Referring to fall prevention statistics can help highlight the importance of these efforts. Let's all strive together to make workplaces safer and lower the number of these sad events.