Each year the Machinist Union joins with Labour Nationally and Labour accredited Health and Safety agencies nation wide in the effort to remember those tragically killed or maimed in the course of employment and, just as importantly, to continue to highlight the carnage and personal loss created by workplace accidents and disease. These efforts are critical to enhancing public awareness for our collective efforts to save lives and protect workers everywhere.
Recognizing that loss of life at work is tragic whenever and where ever it occurs, this year’s efforts are again more conspicuous by the horrific events of Christmas Eve December 09 in Ontario where four workers plunged 13 stories to their deaths from faulty scaffolding while in the course of employment. What is particularly significant about this event is that the Ontario Ministry of Labour had previously visited and inspected this very site and still four workers died and one remains in very extensive rehabilitation. This should be evidence enough that enough clearly isn’t being done! Patrick Dillon of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario rightly stated, “The deaths, as untimely and unwanted and preventable as they were, helped people see that there is … an absolute need to stop this kind of carnage in the workplace and that the status quo is not getting that done.” The system that failed these workers in Ontario is very similar to systems throughout the country and this event highlights the immediate need for statute and policy review everywhere workers continue to perish in employment. This tragic event has played a major role in motivating Ontario into action and to establish an ‘Expert Panel” of advisors to study, consult and subsequently advise the Ministry of Labour regarding much needed revisions. Although Labour is represented on this panel, it remains to be seen whether real change is effected. The Machinist’s Union has reached out to all national locals for first hand experience regarding flaws in Provincial systems nationwide to assist our panel representatives in their struggle to effect change in this Province. Your input is highly valued and much appreciated. Since the tragic events of December 09, three more workplace deaths have occurred in the Province of Ontario alone.
Although recognized workplace time-loss injuries recorded by all Provincial/Territorial Workers Compensation Boards across the country in the year 2008 stood reduced, down by 9,722 from 2007 to 307,802, clearly more tragic was the “Total Number of Fatalities Accepted” for the same year nationwide. The Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) reported a total of 1,036 “recognized” fatalities at work or on account of industrial causes. That is how many Canadian mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends never made it home alive from work or died from workplace causes in the year 2008. Decades of fighting workplace accident injury and fatality and the sad fact remains that each year brings new statistics representing the on-going travesty, heartache and hardship of personal loss from workplace causes.
We can take heart in the fact that efforts of occupational health and safety activists everywhere are reflected in lost time injury results, but severity of accidents and resulting deaths remain abhorrent. The sad fact is, twenty six years ago we mourned the loss of fewer workers than we do this day!
The resulting cost in human life and suffering is tragic and heartrending. The cost in dollars to the Canadian economy remains staggering. Public awareness must continue to play a major role.
Many Local lodges plan Day of Mourning Events. Many more attend those events that are staged by local labour councils. Please heed the call by our International asking that we all encourage maximum participation.
Major gains have been made with the adoption of legislation that corporations, and those in positions responsible for the direction of workers, be subject to criminal liability for workplace accountability. Enforcement of those provisions remains an issue. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has undertaken political action to address this significant short-coming similar to what Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) has accomplished with regard to the carnage on our roads and highways due to impaired drivers. You can assist by supporting the CLC, your Federation of Labour and Labour Councils by writing to your applicable Premier, Justice and Labour Ministers, Solicitor General or Minister of Public Safety and Security. Sample letters can be attained from the CLC or our own national Health & Safety representatives.
In addition to legislative gains achieved, improvements are also reflected in collective bargaining. However, in light of the foregoing statistics, much more needs to be done.
‘Mourn the Dead, Fight for the Living!’
