One hundred and fifty-eight B.C. workers died from a workplace injury or disease last year.
It’s a staggering number that no one wants to see repeated, which is why unions and the labour force are hoping to change those statistics through education and awareness.
This Saturday has been designated the Day of Mourning across Canada. Locally, CUPE Local 454 is hosting a ceremony, open to the public, at Rotary Park next to Delta City Hall in Ladner at 10:45 a.m.
At Monday’s Delta council meeting, civic politicians welcomed Lori Mayhew and Aimee Cho from the New Westminster & District Labour Council who spoke about the Day of Mourning and this year’s themes.
Cho said the purpose of the Day of Mourning is two-fold: to remember workers killed and injured on the job and to prevent future injuries through education.
She said unions are leading the way in education and prevention, including a BC Federation of Labour centre that has helped thousands of workers and companies know their rights and responsibilities for workplace safety.
Cho added that this year BC Fed has joined with the BCTF, CUPE BC and WorkSafe BC in a Day of Mourning schools project.
“Many students and young people don’t know the dangers they may face at work or their rights at workers. As a consequence, young workers are the most vulnerable group in the workforce and they are statistically more likely to suffer injury or death in the workplace,” she said.
“Workers in B.C. can enter the workplace as young as 12 years of age. In B.C. an average of 27 young workers have time loss injuries every day. Every week seven young workers are permanently disabled in B.C.”
This year the issue of workplace violence and harassment is also being highlighted during Day of Mourning.
The Canadian Labour Congress has launched a campaign to bring awareness to the fact many workers are at risk of violence and could suffer bullying and harassment while at work.
Mayhew said education and prevention are critical to identifying and preventing violence in the workplace.
“Violence prevention programs must be developed as part of the overall workplace health and safety program,” Mayhew said. “Teachers, health care workers, first responders, public service and government employees, customer service agents and those who work alone are all examples of workers who are vulnerable to violence from the public in their workplace. Employers, workers and unions all have a role to play in coming together to make workplaces safe and free from violence.”
