Around 9000-13000 Canadians may die from work every year.
If this number sounds shocking, it’s because it is – but that doesn’t make it potentially less true.
Officially, Canada reports approximately 1000 worker deaths annually. In 2023, the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) reported 1,057 workplace fatalities and more than 274,000 time-loss injury claims.
However, these are just the incidents we know about, the ones that are formally reported and handled appropriately. Studies done in Ontario and British Colombia suggest that 40-60% of all reportable workplace incidents, illnesses, and deaths go unreported. To make matters worse, some of the incidents that are reported are incorrectly analyzed or classified, making it difficult to accurately assign the true contributing factors. Research done by the Occupational Cancer Research Center and Cancer Care Ontario in 2022 estimates that around 5000 Ontario workers died from work-related cancer that year alone. These deaths rarely appear in traditional injury or fatality statistics, despite being directly linked to occupational exposures.
No one should be prevented from returning home safely because of work. No family or community should be devastated by the loss of a loved one due to workplace tragedies. Yet, injuries and deaths in the workplace continue to be a matter of important concern across Canada, with the highest rates of injury occurring in construction and hospitality industries.
National Day of Mourning
Every year on April 28, Canada observes the National Day of Mourning; dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job, or experienced a work-related tragedy. It is also internationally recognized by the United Nations as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. In over 100 other countries, April 28 is a time to think about the individuals, families, and communities impacted by these tragedies, and to restrengthen our commitment to preventing these accidents in the future.
The National Day of Mourning is not only about remembrance; it is also a call to action. It encourages employers, workers, and people at every level to pause and reflect, and to renew their commitment to creating safer workplaces. By acknowledging those we have lost, we are reminded that workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities are preventable. That behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a community whose lives were permanently changed.
Threads of Life – Steps for Life
Kasa Consulting is proud to participate again this year in Steps for Life, in support of Threads of Life – Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support.
All of the proceeds raised by Steps for Life support the charity Threads of Life: a national organization dedicated to helping families heal after they’ve been affected by a traumatic workplace fatality, life-altering workplace injury, or occupational disease.
This cause is deeply important to our organization. Every day, we work alongside clients to help prevent workplace tragedies and to build healthier, safer work environments for everyone
We invite you to consider donating to our team or joining us as we walk in honour of those affected by workplace tragedy and in support of the families they leave behind.
If you would like to donate to our walking team, please follow the steps below:
- Visit https://secure3.convio.net/thread/site/TR?fr_id=1480&pg=entry
- Click on “Donate”
- Click on “Donate Now”
- Select “Team” and search Kasa Consulting
For more information, visit Workers’ Compensation Board – Alberta’s National Day of Mourning
website or the United Nations’ World Day for Safety and Health at Work website. Additional resources
can also be found at CCOHS: National Day of Mourning and Mental health in the workplace – Canada.ca
For information about Threads of Life and the fundraiser walk in May, please visit their website at www.threadsoflife.ca