REGINA, SASK. – Saskatchewan’s Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) announced that the province’s death toll for 2017 stands at 22, prompting officials to examine efforts to prevent deadly workplace-related incidents and hazards.
“Tragically, another 22 lives were lost this year in Saskatchewan workplaces,” said Phil Germain, vice-president of prevention and employer services, in a press release. “But this is not about a number. These are fathers and mothers, sisters, brothers, parents and children whose lives have been cut short and the impact to families and their communities is forever life altering.”
Four died in motor vehicle or aircraft incidents, four due to traumatic injury, 12 from occupational disease and two deaths were unspecified.
In 2015, Saskatchewan had the fifth highest number of fatalities in Canada, in spite of increases in prevention and safety training as well as intervention and safety promotional campaigns throughout the province.
Officials noted more needs to be done to bring fatalities down.
“We’ve partnered on a distracted driving program which has been in place for several years but more needs to be done,” said Germain. “With occupational diseases, some fatalities are related to old exposures to asbestos, but we firmly believe there are many workers today who may be exposed to asbestos during renovation projects. For this reason, we are working with partners to create awareness and improve training for employers and workers who may come into contact with asbestos.”
Germain added it is not acceptable for anyone to be injured on the job let alone be killed while working. However, long-term trends show that injury claims in the past 10 years are going down.
WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the WCB’s injury prevention partnership with the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, and the WCB’s Prevention Department are working with employers in higher risk industries to address the issue and put preventative measures in place as part of the Priority Employers program. However, Germain explained that putting an end to workplace injuries and fatalities requires a systemic view and partnering at all levels.
“At the end of the day, the job of keeping our workplaces safe is something that every single one of us shares a responsibility in,” Germain said. “For example, failing to invest in strong safety programs and adhere to preventative measures such as regulated Personal Protective Equipment puts all of us at risk. No life is worth that.”
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