Canada’s Day of Mourning landed on Sunday, April 28th this year in order to honour and remember the workers in BC who died from injuries sustained in their workplace.
Throughout 2023, WorkSafeBC says there have been 175 workers who lost their lives while doing their jobs.
According to WorkSafeBC, occupational disease remained the number one killer of workers over the last year with 93 workers dying of a disease or illness contracted because of their jobs.
Of those 93, 48 workers specifically died because of exposure to asbestos.
Occupational disease often takes decades to take the lives of the workers who die because of it.
In 2023, 60 workers died of traumatic injuries. This includes incidents such as falling from a high elevation, being struck by objects and being caught in equipment and/or machinery.
The remaining 22 workers who died were involved in work-related motor vehicle incidents.
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“As we remember those we have lost, we also recommit to making sure everyone, in every job, gets home safely at the end of the day,” said Premier David Eby.
“The National Day of Mourning is a powerful call to eliminate workplace tragedies—because every death is an outrage, and every loss is profound. To the friends, family and colleagues who have lost someone: we stand with you in your grief, and we will keep working with you to protect every worker in our province.”
Premier Eby said in a media release that earlier this year, new rules were brought in to enhance safety for workers involved in asbestos removal, transportation and disposal. Now in BC, asbestos abatement contractors must be licensed.
He also says that the Workplace Compensation Act has been amended to give people better support and to make it easier for workers to have more say in safety around their workplace.
“Because work-related injury and illnesses are not always physical, we introduced a mental-health presumption for workers’ compensation claims for certain professions,” said Premier Eby.
“This recognition fast tracks the claims process so that people suffering from work-related trauma have easier access to supports and compensation for those illnesses once a formal diagnosis has been made.”
Canada’s National Day of Mourning began in 1984 and is also observed in over 100 countries around the world.
It is meant to remember those who have passed and act as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety.
