A solemn but stirring ceremony marked the Day of Mourning in Dougall Park Thursday, April 28.
About 30 people gathered to remember those who lost their lives at work during the past year, with lists of names being read and a moment of silence observed. While tears were shed for those who died, there was a call to action by those in attendance, resulting in a collective pledge to do more to ensure workplace tragedies are avoided in the future.
One such tragedy that struck close to home this year was the death of 28-year-old logger Ken New-combe, who left behind a wife and four young children.
Occupational safety officer with WorkSafe BC Morris Benetton said the tragic accident left him shaken.
"That was one that really struck close to my heart, because I have two daughters," he said.
Sadly, Newcombe's name will likely be added to a list of hundreds more across Canada who will die at work in 2011 if the previous years' deaths are any indication.
In 2010, 143 workers died, and more than 95,600 were injured as a result of work-related injury or illness in B.C. Across Canada, 1,012 workers lost their lives from work-related incidents.
Benetton believes those accidents were preventable.
"Accidents happen, they do, but every one is preventable if we can identify the causation. And that's why it's just as frustrating on the incident investigation side, when we're not seeing the effort put into trying to identify the causes that may have attributed to that accident and working to eliminate or mitigate those causes in the future," he said.
Those gathered to mark the Day of Mourning were challenged to lobby their government for better laws to protect workers and to seriously examine potentially unsafe work situations, refusing to work if necessary.
"We all have a right to a safe workplace and we all have the right to refuse to work in unsafe conditions. Let us remember our responsibilities and rights so we can come home safe and sound," Benetton said.
Some speakers at the event shared personal remembrances of loved ones lost and their frustration around the preventable aspect of the tragedies. They too echoed the need for everyone to take workplace safety seriously.
Speaker Mark Christofferson urged everyone to remember those who died, and also not forget those who have been injured on the job, many of whom still suffer.
Christofferson himself was a victim of a workplace accident when he was knocked unconscious by a boat and had 11 air tanks fall on his head during his work as a deep sea commercial diver. He talked about the hardships he and his family have had since the accident that left him unable to work, including his ongoing fight for wages owed to him and payment of medical bills.
"Remember the dead but don't forget the injured," he said.
Everyone paused for a moment of silence at 11 a.m. to remember those injured and killed on the job and wreaths and flowers were laid in remembrance on a stone memorial at Dougall Park.
To find out more about workplace safety and workers' rights, go to www.worksafebc.com.
