Fall Prevention in Western Canada: Workplace Safety Statistics You Need to Know

From towering construction cranes in Vancouver to complex oil and gas facilities in Alberta, the diverse economic landscape of Western Canada presents an array of workplace safety issues. Among these hazards, falls from height are one of the most persistent and devastating causes of acute injury and fatality. Understanding the scope of this issue through credible workplace safety statistics in Canada is the first critical step towards creating safer work environments across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

The Scope of the Fall-Related Injuries across Western Canada

The human and financial costs of workplace falls are staggering. According to the latest data from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), there were 7 fatalities in Alberta and 22 in British Columbia due to falls to a lower level in 2023. Lost time claims due to falls during the year added up daily:

Alberta

• There were 203 workplace fatalities in 2024, a 23% increase over 2023, and 23% above the average of 165 since 2013. Trauma (including falls) accounted for nearly 25% of the fatalities.
• The Alberta Workplace, injury, illness and fatalities statistics survey reported “Falls” as the third leading cause of workplace incidents (page 45).

British Columbia

• According to WorkSafe BC, 20% of workplace injuries are related to slips, trips, and falls—approximately 7,000 workers per year.
• WorkSafe BC report further notes that these injuries cost BC businesses 440,000 lost workdays and more than $148 million in compensation costs annually.

Manitoba

• The Workers’ Compensation Board of Manitoba reports that 18% of workplace injuries were the result of falls in 2024, the third leading cause.

Saskatchewan

• WorkSafe Saskatchewan lists slips, trips, and falls as the second-leading cause of serious workplace injuries.
• WorkSafe 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injury Strategy (page 16) lists falls as the third-highest number of serious injury impairment claims, and 24% of all serious injuries.

Industries Where Work at Height Is Notably Hazardous

These numbers are not abstractions for safety compliance in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Workplace falls have severe and consistent consequences in several industries, notably construction, mining, utilities, oil and gas, warehousing, and industrial maintenance, where work at height is common. 

• In Alberta and Saskatchewan’s oil & gas sectors, falls accounted for about 4% of fatalities, with 77% of these accidents the result of falls from height.
• In 2024, there were more than 1,000 construction workers injured in the British Columbia construction sector, and nearly 1,900 serious injuries—including 35 fatalities—from 2020 to 2024.
• The healthcare industry in Manitoba notes that nearly 20% of injuries reported to the Workers Compensation Board were the result of a fall.
• 260 workers reportedly perished from on-the-job accidents in Western Canada during 2024 across six major industrial sectors. A significant percentage of workplace fatalities are typically the result of falls.

How to Move from Statistics to Solutions with Engineered Fall Protection

Statistics help us understand the problems and the need for compliance. Engineered fall protection solutions for Western Canada enable organizations to move beyond just compliance to bring safety into the physical infrastructure and culture of a workplace.

Western Canada fall prevention efforts should include:

Triumph over Tragedy

Beyond the immediate human tragedy, workplace falls cost Canada a significant amount in direct compensation, medical expenses, lost productivity, and administrative overhead. For individual businesses, a single fall incident can lead to skyrocketing insurance premiums, regulatory fines, project delays, and reputational damage.

Published data shows the depth of risk. By integrating engineered safe access, collective fall protection, and anchorage systems with expert risk assessment, regular inspections, worker training, and a safety-first culture, employers in Western Canada and throughout the country can reduce the incidence of fall events — and their costly consequences.