Day of Mourning ceremonies are held annually on April 28th for all to pause and remember those killed, made sick, or injured in the workplace.
While we pause to remember and mourn those we have lost,” says Kevin Smith, President of the Grey Bruce Labour Council, “we also take time to recommit ourselves to fight for the living. Too many workers are dying at work, while many more are injured or fall sick with occupational diseases. One death, one injury, one illness are one to many.”
2022 statistics show that nearly 1,000 people left for their shift and never came home and over 300,000 workers were injured or contracted an occupational disease while at work.
Statistics from 2023 show that, in Ontario, there were 92 Traumatic fatalities, 162 Occupational Disease fatalities, and 23,774 Occupational disease claims.
“We know this is the tip of those suffering with workplace illnesses as these statistics are just accepted claims by the workers compensation system,” adds Smith. “Many more die each year that are not counted while waiting for claims to be reviewed or appealed, the data shows that workplace injuries, accidents and illnesses are severely underreported.”
The Grey Bruce Labour Council invite you to join us at our event on April 28th at the Chesley Community Centre beginning at 10:30am to not only mourn but also to commit to safe and healthy workplaces and where Labour Council Executive Members and several Community Mayors will be speaking.
