April 28, 2007 - National Day of Mourning

Resource Information for 2007 Day of Mourning

Data from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada show that there were 1,097 workplace fatalities in Canada in 2005. This is up significantly from 798 in 1998.

• 798 deaths in 1998
• 835 deaths in 1999
• 882 deaths in 2000
• 920 deaths in 2001
• 934 deaths in 2002 and
• 963 deaths in 2003
• 928 deaths in 2004
• 1,097 deaths in 2005

Since 1984, 18,829 workers in Canada have been killed on the job and over 18 million have been injured. Almost 6,000 deaths and over a million injuries since 2000. In 2005 the numbers showed a significant rise due almost entirely to an increase in occupational disease, which rose from 1.5% to 3.4% per 1000 workers between 1996 and 2005. This increase represents over three work‑related deaths for each day of the year or one death for every 15,000 workers.

We continue to see alarming numbers in the deaths in certain industries. Manufacturing and Construction continue to top the list.

A frightening thought is the inaccuracy of these numbers. As anyone who has the misfortune of making a claim through their Worker’s Compensation Board can attest, it is extremely difficult to prove injuries or deaths due to diseases that have been contracted through the workplace. A study done earlier this year points to the significant increase in fatalities caused by occupational diseases mainly asbestos related. Asbestos‑related deaths alone account for a significant percentage of the increase in occupational disease with the fatality rate rising from 0.4 % per 100,000 workers in 1996 to 2.1% in 2005. In addition, because there are industries and businesses that are not covered under a workers’ compensation act, the federal Department of Labour believes statistics the department was gathering up until 2000 on injury and fatality rates could have been underestimated by as much as 19%.

Even worse, is the fact that many of these deaths and injuries are attributable to employer actions or negligence and were entirely preventable had the employer adhered to current health and safety laws.

Canada also rates poorly in International terms with the 5th highest incidence of workplace fatalities out of 29 OECD countries. Only Korea, Mexico, Portugal and Turkey showed worse rates than Canada.

Following are some yearly stats from the Association of Worker Compensation Boards of Canada so that you can clearly see the increase.

n/a: Statistics unavailable
Source: Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada

Source: Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada

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