144
One Hundred and Forty-Four, that’s the number of lives we lost in Alberta due to workplace injury or illness in 2016.
One Hundred and Forty-Four Men and Women just like you.
The Day of Mourning has been recognized worldwide as a day to remember those killed and injured on the worksite and to strive for more improvements to everyday workplace safety for workers around the world.
April 28th is as much a day to commemorate those workers whose lives have been lost or injured as it is a reminder to strengthen our resolve and establish safer work practices and conditions. Together we can work toward a safer workplace for all workers!
In workplaces across the nation, participants observe a moment of silence at 11 o’clock.
National Quick Facts
- In 2015, 852 workplace fatalities were recorded in Canada – including the deaths of four young workers aged fifteen to nineteen years; and another eleven workers aged twenty to twenty-four years.
- Add to these fatalities the 232,629 claims accepted for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease, including 8,155 from young workers aged fifteen to nineteen, and the fact that these statistics only include what is reported and accepted by the compensation boards, and it is safe to say that the total number of workers impacted is even higher.
- Statistics source: Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC)
- In 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act making April 28 an official Day of Mourning.
- The Day of Mourning has since spread to about 100 countries around the world and is recognized as Workers’ Memorial Day and as International Workers’ Memorial Day by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Feel free to download the below posters – courtesy of WCB.
