April 28th is the National Day of Mourning, which is used to remember those who were killed in workplace accidents, as well as those who were injured or made ill on the job. The day is also used to empower workers everywhere to ensure safety for themselves, as well as their colleagues. (Image via the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
The Grey Bruce Labour Council is holding its 30th annual Day of Mourning events across the region this month.
Council Vice-President for Bruce County Dave Trumble says they are holding events on April 25 at the Chesley Community Centre Arena at 10 a.m., Heritage Square in Hanover on April 28 at 11 a.m. and at Bruce Power.
He says the Day of Mourning, which is recognized federally, honours workers who have been injured or killed while on the job.
For those who attend the Day of Mourning events, Trumble says it is not unlike Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“There is always a handful of speakers who will speak to either personal experience or a desire for us to get better and how we can get better. Then there is usually an opportunity for people to have their own input,” says Trumble.
He says based on statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), there are about 80 acute fatalities in the workplace each year.
“That would be falls, electrocution, struck by a motor vehicle accidents, fatalities in confined spaces,” says Trumble. “Exposure to hazardous materials in workplaces previously have resulted in a statistic where about one worker a day dies in Ontario from some exposure or some injury in the workplace.”
He adds the Day of Mourning is also about committing to ensuring workplace deaths and injuries occur less often.
“Although the statistics will tell us we have done better on injuries and illness, the statistics for many years don’t show that we have done a whole lot better on fatalities,” says Trumble. “Everybody knows that getting to zero is an unattainable goal, but everybody knows we can do better.”
He encourages people to exercise their right to refuse unsafe work and the right to participate in health and safety initiatives in the workplace.
