Understanding what makes a critical injury and how to respond effectively
On April 1, 2026, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) launched a compliance initiative campaign across three industries—retail, agriculture, and education—focusing on sector-specific incidents leading to critical injuries. Workplace Safety North (WSN) will support the campaign by raising awareness on critical injury reporting requirements in accordance with Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Defining a critical injury
Regulation 420/21 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) defines a critical injury as an injury of a serious nature that results in any one of the following:
• Places life in jeopardy
• Produces unconsciousness
• Results in substantial loss of blood
• Involves the fracture of a leg or arm but not a finger or toe
• Involves the amputation of a leg, arm, hand or foot but not a finger or toe
• Consists of burns to a major portion of the body
• Causes the loss of sight in an eye
It is important to note that a critical injury must be reported under Section 51 of the OHSA.
Protecting workers by understanding the moments that matter most
The industrial sector health and safety campaign seeks to increase compliance with the OHSA and regulations, prevent injuries and illnesses, and build awareness around sources of critical injuries. From incident reporting to policies and protocols, knowing what tasks are required on scene will go a long way in ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities and workplace safety roles.
To support these industrial sectors throughout this campaign, WSN will continue to offer information, resources, training, and consulting services focused on this initiative. For more information, reach out to your Health and Safety Specialist.
Related
JHSC Certification Part 1 e-learning – Workplace Safety North
Preparing for Inspections – Workplace Safety North
Find Training Sessions – Workplace Safety North
Workplace Compliance Initiatives – Government of Ontario
Workplace Fatality, Injury, Illness or Incident Forms – Government of Ontario
Reporting Workplace Incidents – Government of Ontario