WorkSafeBC reports that in 2017, 158 B.C. workers died from a workplace injury or disease. Of the 158 accepted work-related deaths, 87 were the result of occupational disease. The gender breakdown for these work-related deaths is 152 males and six females. Six of these deaths took place in the Thompson Nicola Regional District. Families and communities are left to mourn.
On April 28, Canada’s designated Day of Mourning took place to remember the workers that died.
“Gilbert Smith Forest Products in Barriere, B.C., held their own ceremony on Apr. 25,” reports Darcey Woods, Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator for Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd.
“We took a moment to reflect on this sad statistic and renew our commitment to safety at work. As workers, families, employers, and communities came together at ceremonies held around the province to remember those who have lost their lives to work-related incidents or occupational disease, we renewed our commitment to creating a healthy and safe workplace,” said Woods.
Woods also noted that the National Day of Mourning is also now followed by the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week May 6-12, which is an opportunity for companies to really celebrate safety and engage workers.
More information can be found at: http://www.dayofmourning.bc.ca
or: www.naosh.org
