Construction safety compliance is under renewed scrutiny in Ontario following the release of the province’s second Construction Death Review. The Office of the Chief Coroner examined 44 construction-related deaths, most occurring between 2015 and 2023, involving circumstances other than falls from height, the focus of the first review.

The report points to two recurring themes: gaps in worker experience and the misuse or underuse of manufacturer instructions for tools and equipment. Fourteen recommendations followed, directed at Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, and industry bodies, including a review of formwork system compatibility within 12 months, with findings to be published.

What stands out is how preventable many of these incidents appear in hindsight. Equipment used outside its intended purpose, instructions not followed, and less experienced workers placed in situations without adequate supervision are patterns that show up again and again in incident investigations, not just in Ontario.

Closing that gap starts with making sure the right training, certifications, and equipment instructions are attached to the right job, every time. FlexManager’s Asset Management and Asset Inspections modules keep equipment records and manufacturer guidance in one place, while Training Manager and Job Hazard Analysis ensure workers are matched to tasks they’re properly qualified and prepared for.

So, could your organisation prove, today, that every worker on a piece of equipment has the training and instructions to use it safely? Book a demo and see how a connected platform can turn safety documentation into a genuine layer of protection.