Stark Reminder
Last year, 165 Albertans died from work-related injuries and occupational disease.
In 2022, Canada recorded 993 workplace fatalities, including 33 young workers aged 15-24, as reported by the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC). These tragic losses have impacted each one of their families, forever changing their lives. The impact of these deaths also extends to workplaces, where employers, co-workers, and customers all feel the lasting effects of the loss.
In addition to the 993 workplace fatalities in 2022, there were 348,747 accepted claims for lost time due to work-related injuries or diseases, which is an increase of 71,530 from the previous year. This includes 40,203 claims from workers aged 15-24. These statistics only account for what is reported and accepted by compensation boards, indicating that the actual number of impacted workers is likely even higher.
According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, since 1985, over 25,000 workers have died due to work-related injury or disease.
These numbers are a sobering reminder of the ongoing need to prioritise safety and to work towards eliminating workplace hazards.
3 Ways to Make the Day of Mourning Matter in Your Company
- Perform an annual assessment of your health and safety initiatives. This practice will help guarantee the safety of both yourself and your employees while at work.
- Attend a Day of Mourning ceremony and encourage your staff to do the same. Visit https://canadianlabour.ca/events/dom2024/ for a list of all of the ceremonies in Canada.
- Pledge to foster a workplace environment centred on health and safety to minimise incidents of injury, illness, and fatalities. Even a single work-related fatality is unacceptable.
Health and Safety for Your Business: How to Get Started
An effective program for your workplace should include:
- Providing health and safety training for new and young employees
- Establishing a plan for conducting regular safety meetings and inspections
- Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of employers, supervisors, and workers
- Implementing a schedule for regular maintenance and review of the safety program
Creating and maintaining an effective health and safety plan doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. WorkSafe BC offers a useful guide that can assist you in creating a robust health and safety program to ensure the safety of you and your employees. Check it out here: Developing a health & safety program – WorkSafeBC
History
In 1991, eight years following the initiation of the Day of Remembrance by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Parliament of Canada approved the Workers Mourning Day Act, designating April 28 as an official Day of Mourning. Over time, this day has evolved into Workers' Memorial Day and is observed in over 100 countries worldwide.
