How dangerous is it to go to work? For many people around the world, just carrying on each day can be risky, putting them in danger of injury or death. People know about the risks police officers and construction workers face, but they might be surprised to hear how common workplace injuries are. According to the International Labour Organization ’s website, approximately 6300 people die every day in workplace-related accidents, with 337 million accidents and 2.3 million deaths every year.
While many accidents are not life-threatening, they can adversely affect workers, their families, and employers. In response to this situation, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has established April 28th as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work to raise awareness of the issues and to promote safety standards in keeping with practices established in 2001. Working from its headquarters in Geneva, the ILO is helping to encourage employers and employees to adopt safety standards that would help make the workplace a safer place to be.
The National Day of Mourning in Canada
In Canada, the celebration of world Day for Safety and Health at Work has an additional feature, as April 28th has been named the National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed or injured on the job. As the website of the Canadian Labour Congress states, the government first established the Day of Mourning in 1984 at the urging of the Canadian Labour Congress, and the celebration has now spread to eight other countries worldwide.
Although Canada has laws to protect workers and to encourage employers to implement safety strategies in the workplace, enforcement of these laws has been problematic, and people continue to be injured or killed in their workplaces. The Canadian Union of Public Employee’s National Health and Safety Committee reports that the number of work-related deaths in 2011 has already surpassed the number reported in 1998, the worst period of time in recent years.
Safety Standards and Workplace Injuries
Ending workplace injuries is a complicated task, but enforcing safety standards is a beginning. The provincial governments of Manitoba and Nova Scotia have appointed special prosecutors to oversee cases involving workplace injuries and employers in Quebec and Ontario have been charged for endangering their workers, but many accidents continue to happen. Not all injuries or deaths are easily preventable, but the Day of Mourning helps to raise awareness of the need for better care of workers on the job.
Establishing a day of mourning for workers killed on the job or setting aside a day to promote awareness of the need for workplace safety is only a small part of helping to improve conditions for people whose lives are at risk. However, the increased awareness that these celebrations bring could help make small changes that could eventually lead to major adjustments in workplace practices. In time, these changes could help make a difference in the lives of people around the globe.
Sources:
- · Canadian Labour Congress. “National Day of Mourning—Is Today the Day You Die at Work?”
- · Canadian Union of Public Employees. Take action on the April 28 Day of Mourning
- · International Labour Organization. “World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2011.”
- · International Labour Organization. “World Day for Safety and Health at Work - OSH Management system: A tool for continual improvement.”
Susan Huebert - My name is Susan Huebert, and I'm a writer and editor from Winnipeg, Manitoba. I've always enjoyed words, and I graduated with a Bachelor ...
