Health and Safety ReportVolume 24, Issue 09

Canada could potentially see a new wave of data centre construction. As of July 2026, 159 data centres were proposed or being built in the country, many with expected capacities of over 100 megawatts.

This pace of facility growth means more workers may be performing physically demanding, technically complex tasks, often on tight construction and operational timelines. And once facilities are in operation, it also means employers need to stay ahead of an evolving set of hazards that come with this environment.

Electrical hazards and arc flash

Data centres typically run on high-voltage, three-phase power that's stepped down for use throughout the facility. Any contact with live electrical components is dangerous, and one of the most serious risks is arc flash – a release of energy between a live conductor and another conductor or the ground that heats the surrounding air to nearly 20,000°C. At that temperature, clothing and skin within a metre can ignite, melt, or vaporize. The resulting arc blast can throw molten fragments and damaged equipment fast enough to penetrate the body, on top of causing hearing or brain injury.

Arc flash isn't random. Common, preventable causes include a dropped tool sparking against live parts, worn insulation, loose or corroded contacts, dust or moisture creating a path for current, and poor work procedures. Employers should carry out an arc flash risk assessment for any energized work, de-energize equipment and follow lockout/tagout procedures, and establish approach boundaries that limit how close unqualified workers can get to live components. Only qualified, trained workers should cross into a restricted boundary, and only with the right permits and personal protective equipment in place.

Battery and fire risk

Most data centres rely on large banks of lithium-ion battery cells for backup power. Packing thousands of cells into an enclosed space creates a distinct hazard called thermal runaway. This is when a single failing cell overheats, releases flammable and toxic gases, and can ignite, triggering a chain reaction through heating up neighbouring cells. While catastrophic incidents are rare, the consequences when they happen can be severe. Employers should invest in proper spacing and ventilation, thermal monitoring and early detection systems, and clear suppression and evacuation procedures specific to battery fires.

Working alone

Data centres often run lean, especially overnight, with a single technician managing equipment across a large facility. Working alone isn't automatically hazardous, but it becomes a serious concern when combined with high-risk tasks like electrical work or activity in hard-to-see spaces. Employers should assess where lone work cannot be avoided, and put a check-in procedure in place, including a main contact person, a defined call-in schedule, and a clear emergency plan if a worker misses a check-in.

Confined spaces

Some data centre tasks, such as working within tight cable trays, mechanical rooms, or below raised floors, can qualify as confined space work, and combining them with electrical tasks compound the risk. Confined space entry should never happen without a proper hazard assessment, a permit, and a plan for getting help in place.

Falls, noise and ergonomics

Cable management and equipment servicing frequently require working at heights, using ladders, platforms, or lifts.  Have a fall prevention plan in place that includes thorough training for workers on the use of protective equipment. Noise from generators, HVAC systems, and dense server racks can also exceed safe levels. Perform workaway from high-noise areas where possible, select quieter equipment, avoid layouts that amplify noise, and provide hearing protection and training. And tasks like installing cable or moving racks put workers at risk of musculoskeletal injury from awkward postures and overexertion. Design tasks and work areas to avoid these postures, have a buddy system, and establish a musculoskeletal disorder prevention program to help.

Proper emergency planning makes a difference

Data centres can be maze-like, with dense equipment layouts that change over time. Every worker needs to know the egress routes, and every facility needs a documented, regularly tested emergency action plan covering response procedures and medical treatment.

These hazards are not new to industrial workplaces, but the potential scale and speed of data centre development in Canada means employers need to plan for them consistently, from the first day of construction through years of operation.

Resources:

• Arc Flash, CCOHS
• Working Alone, CCOHS
• Artificial Intelligence (AI), CCOHS
• Battery Safety Research, University of Waterloo

Your health and safety program is a plan of action to protect workers from injuries and illnesses on the job. It should follow the health and safety legislation that applies to your industry, job activities, and location, and can be customized to meet the unique needs of your workplace. Include these core elements in your program to build a foundation for a safer, healthier workplace.

• Commit with a policy. A health and safety policy defines your organization’s approach to a safe and healthy workplace. The statement outlines your commitment to following health and safety laws, addressing workplace hazards, and reducing any risk of harm to your workers. It should be written in clear terms, communicated to all workers, signed by senior executives, and reviewed and updated annually.
• Set up a health and safety committee. Your health and safety committee is a group made up of management and non-management representatives. They meet regularly to recommend safe work practices, resolve any health and safety issues, and perform workplace inspections. Depending on the number of employees you have and your jurisdiction, you may need a health and safety representative rather than a committee.
• Establish safe work procedures. Safe work procedures are step-by-step instructions that explain how to do a job safely. First, select a job for analysis. Then, break it down into steps or sequences. This can help you identify possible hazards and preventative measures. Be sure to consider all aspects of health and well-being in your assessment, including psychological and physical hazards that could harm workers.
• Train and educate. Communicate your safe work procedures to your team. Provide training and education to new workers, those being reassigned to different roles, processes or equipment, and when new legislative requirements come into effect. Seasoned staff should also receive regular refresher training.
• Customize your program. Tailor your program to address the specific risks, roles and operations of your workplace. This may include specialized personal protective equipment, chemical safety training, emergency response procedures, and ergonomic workstation assessments.
• Monitor and evaluate. With your program up and running, take steps to ensure it remains effective. Measure key metrics like training completion, frequency of health and safety meetings, hazard reporting, and incident rates. Be sure to also talk to your workers. Their suggestions and feedback can help make the workplace safer for everyone.

Need to brush up on the basics? Our Back to the Basics collection is filled with essential courses, tools, guides and templates to help you build and maintain an effective health and safety program. 

Partner News TBD 

Podcasts TBD

Despite workplaces making significant investments in programs meant to improve occupational health and safety, serious incidents still happen. Criminal Code expert Rob Stewart joins us to discuss why compliance at the leadership level may not be making things safer on the ground in the workplace, and how employers can learn to identify warning signs before they turn into tragedies.

Listen to the podcast now

We’re inviting workers, employers, and anyone with an interest in workplace health and safety to help shape CCOHS’ next strategic plan.  

We want to hear your perspectives on the opportunities and challenges that could impact health and safety in Canada. Your feedback will help identify the priorities that will guide our work over the next four years and ensure we continue to deliver value as your national resource for the advancement of workplace health and safety.   

The survey is anonymous and should take you less than 10 minutes to complete. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on CCOHS and our future work.

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Experience two days filled with valuable insights on important topics, from musculoskeletal disorders to Indigenous perspectives to moving beyond legal minimums and more. Secure your spot at CCOHS Forum in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on October 28-29. 

Joining the speaker lineup: 

• Dr. Steven Fischer, Professor; Associate Chair of Applied Research, Partnership and Outreach, University of Waterloo: Steven discusses how emerging ergonomics technologies are helping organizations see musculoskeletal disorder risks in new ways, and how prevention depends on the programs built around those insights. 

• Alex Tuff, Health and Safety Advisor, WorkplaceNL: Alex shares a deeply personal perspective on the tragic human cost of inadequate frontline supervision, suggesting that regulatory compliance provides a baseline, but true workplace safety requires moving past legal minimums to build deeply competent leaders. 

• Toby Desnomie, Founder, President and CEO, Indigenous Centre for Occupational Health & Public Safety and Trina Maher, President, Bridging Concepts Inc.: In a joint presentation, Toby and Trina discuss the intersection of Indigenous inclusion, occupational health and safety, leadership, and organizational accountability, emphasizing that Indigenous perspectives on health, safety, and well-being have existed since time immemorial and offer valuable lessons for modern workplaces. 

Stay tuned to our Forum website for more information on the speaker lineup and the latest updates: www.ccohs.ca/forum. 

Register now. Forum is more than 80% sold.