Province has 45 deaths in 2010, compared to 34 in 2009
Saskatchewan had 45 workplace fatalities in 2010, up from 34 in 2009, according to the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). While the board reported its eight straight year of lower time-loss injury rates in 2010, fatalities were up in the same year.
“Every workplace death is a tragedy, and we should never lose sight of this,” said David Eberle, WCB chair. “But this increase does not mean our workplaces are becoming less safe. In fact, there are more people working in Saskatchewan in 2010 and fewer people being injured.”
Of the fatalities, 16 were from occupational diseases. These deaths occurred from exposures in workplaces that happened years ago, according to the WCB .
There were no fatalities for workers under the age of 25 in 2010 and the number of fatalities from a traumatic event declined, from 11 in 2009 to eight in 2010, it said.
There is a need to be vigilant, said Eberle.
“We do not want to see history repeat itself,” he said. “We are being diligent so that we don't see today’s workers coming forward in another decade as fatality claims from exposure to hazards in the workplace. We can never relax our efforts or our practices when it comes to health and safety.”
The labour minister expressed sympathy to the families of the workers.
“Every injury and every fatality is a tragedy,” said Don Morgan, labour relations and workplace safety minister. “As I have said before, zero is the only right number when it comes to workplace injuries, diseases and fatalities.”
In addition to WCB fatality claims, there are about 14 deaths and more than 200 hospitalizations from farming and ranching work-related incidents every year. About 75 per cent of farm-related deaths and 50 per cent of farm-related injuries are machinery-related, said the WCB.
