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WorkSafeBC commemorates the Day of Mourning
Richmond B.C., April 28, 2005 — The Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia (WCB) will today observe the annual Day of Mourning to remember workers who have been seriously injured or killed as a result of workplace injury, illness, or disease.In 2004 in B.C. there were 134 workplace deaths.
This included 51 deaths from occupational disease and
8 workers between the ages of 15 and 24.
"Work-related death, injury, illness, and disease are not, and should not be, an inevitable and acceptable cost of doing business," says David Anderson, WCB President and CEO.
"Workplace injuries and fatalities are preventable and the WCB and our partners - the workers and employers of British Columbia - need to work together to create a culture of safety in B.C."
The WCB, B.C. Federation of Labour, and Business Council of British Columbia will co-host a public ceremony today at the Workers' Memorial in Vancouver. Workers, employers, families of fatally-injured workers, and other interested parties are invited to attend.
10 a.m. The Sanctuary in Hastings Park
(Between the PNE buildings and Playland - accessible from Renfrew Street, near the Gate 2 entrance)
The ceremony will feature a procession to the memorial and a moment of silence. Guest speakers will include:
- Paul Douglas, diagnosed with mesothelioma (a terminal occupational
disease)
- Josh Dueck, seriously injured in a workplace accident
- David Anderson, President & CEO, WCB
- Jim Sinclair, President, B.C. Federation of Labour
- Jerry Lampert, President, Business Council of British Columbia
Paul Douglas will share his story of hope. "The oncologist told me I should go home and do my paperwork because I had only three to six months to live," recalls Paul. "That was six years ago."
Josh Dueck will look back to the day he broke his back at work. "The doctors told me my life would forever be changed - talk about an understatement," says Josh. "The loss of my legs, bowels, and bladder was a tough pill to swallow."
In B.C.
An average of 3 workers die every week
Over 3,000 work injuries are reported every week
And 18 workers are permanently disabled every working day
The Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves nearly two million workers and 179,000 employers. The WCB was born out of a compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. The WCB is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits to workers injured as a result of their employment.
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For more information please contact: |
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| Donna Freeman, Manager Corporate Public Affairs 604 276-3141 or 604 802-1127 dfreema1@wcb.bc.ca |
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