As general contractors, we have a responsibility to lead by example and ensure everyone goes home safely at the end of every shift.
The latest industry data delivers a clear message: most serious construction incidents are preventable. Analysis of Ontario’s 2026 year-to-date fatality and critical injury data shows that 66.7% of fatalities and 81.1% of critical injuries are linked to seven well-known workplace hazards. In total, 214 of 264 critical injuries and 6 of 9 fatalities were associated with these hazards.
Among them, same-level slips and trips accounted for 66 critical injuries, making them one of the leading causes of serious workplace harm.
These are not new risks. They are hazards we encounter every day on our job sites. That means we all have an opportunity, and an obligation, to prevent them.
We are asking all members to take action:
1. Keep safety front and centre.
Remind your teams, subcontractors and workers that safety is never secondary to schedules, budgets or productivity. Most serious incidents occur around known hazards, making vigilance and leadership essential on every project.
2. Prevent trips, slips and falls.
Pay close attention to housekeeping, access routes, uneven surfaces, changing site conditions, temporary openings and fall hazards. Falls from heights, ladders and equipment continue to result in fatalities and critical injuries, while slips and trips remain one of the leading causes of serious harm. Identify and address hazards before someone gets hurt.
3. Look out for one another.
As general contractors, we set the tone on site. Encourage everyone to watch for hazards, speak up when something doesn’t look right and take action to protect their fellow workers.
4. Call out risks. Leave the ego behind.
There is no room for pride, blame or hesitation when someone’s safety is at stake. If you see something unsafe, say something. If someone raises a concern, listen, take it seriously and act. Speaking up is a sign of leadership, not weakness.
5. Make safety a daily conversation.
Reinforce expectations during site meetings, toolbox talks and everyday interactions. A simple reminder, correction or intervention can prevent a life-changing injury or worse.
Our industry is built on teamwork. Safety must be too.
The data tells us that the majority of serious incidents are associated with hazards we already know and understand. The opportunity to reduce injuries and save lives is in front of us every day.
As leaders, we have the opportunity, and the obligation, to foster job sites where everyone feels responsible for one another and confident enough to speak up.
Take a moment today to remind your teams: watch your step, watch for hazards and watch out for each other.
No job is so urgent, and no task so routine, that we cannot take the time to do it safely.
Let’s make sure everyone goes home safe.
OGCA SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
