Day of Mourning
On April 28 flags on Parliament Hill will fly at half-mast and people across the country will light candles, were ribbons and black arm bands as they observe a moment of silence to acknowledge those Canadians who have died in the past year due to workplace illness or injury.
As we cross-check those final exams for any grammatical errors or missing pages, and once again verify for possibly- the third or fourth time with our students the exact room location for their final test. Insuring that Labs and shops are amply equipped with supplies for the final practical tests. The Machinery and tools are subject to the instructor’s detailed inspection, final overviews and expectations of what will be on the tests are concluded. Like Clockwork, Instructors reiterate, for the umpteen time the importance of Workplace Safety, and that students need to be attuned to any hazards or possible accidental incidents.
Protection and awareness for oneself is a priority, however, the attentiveness to ones surrounding, and any fellow team/workmate is also significantly important.
Excitement and enthusiasm to get ‘finally done’ is understandable, but in the haste to be overly efficient is when accidents can happen.
Many of our Trades Instructors can testify to the absolute necessity for promoting a Safe Work environment. Accidents in the Trades are plentiful, many result in serious injury, and some have tragic consequences, quite often death.
The Canadian Parliament passed the Workers Mourning Day Act making April 28 an official Day of Mourning. To date, the Day of Mourning has 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 organization (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
An alarming statistic taken from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) is that in 2014, 919 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada – more than 2.5 deaths every single day. Among the 919 dead were thirteen young workers aged fifteen to nineteen years; and another twenty-five workers aged twenty to twenty –four years.
We are not immune from Workplace Incident Fatalities here in Alberta. According to the Alberta Government, Alberta lost 125 men and women to workplace injury or illness in 2015. Fatality statistics from the Industry Sector: Construction and Construction Trades in 2015> 10, Fatalities in 2014> 17 Fatalities: Transportation, Communications and Utilities in 2015 > 4 Fatalities, in 2014 > 6 Fatalities: Mining and Petroleum in 2015 2, Fatalities in 2014 > 8 Fatalities. Manufacturing and Processing in 2014 > 3 Fatalities. These statistics identify only 4 of the 8 Industry Sectors in Alberta.
“It is the hope of CCOHS that the annual observance of this day will help strengthen the resolve to establish safe and healthy conditions in the workplace, and prevent further injuries and deaths. As much as this is a day to remember the dead, it is also a call to protect the living and make work a place to thrive”…from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
Several Canadian Monuments memorialize fallen workers:
Canadian Labour Congress Monument, Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa.
Falconbridge Memorial, Sudbury Ontario.
Miners Memorial, Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
Fire Fighter Monument, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Their Light Shall Always Shine, Memorial Park, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
I am sure that many of our colleagues at SAIT have experienced tragic fatalities in their former working occupations. These incidents can have an emotional and psychological impact on a person, and is not easily forgotten.
On April 28 please take a few minutes of your valuable time to remember those unfortunate individuals that died on the job.
James McWilliams, SAFA Faculty Association President.