When does it take place?

On December 28, 1990, the government passed the Workers Mourning Day Act, which established an official day observed every year to commemorate workers injured on the job, killed, disabled or who suffer from occupational illnesses. This day is also intended to show Canadians’ concern for occupational health and safety. The day chosen for this observance is April 28, since this was the day that the first comprehensive Worker’s Compensation Act was passed in the province of Ontario.

Commemorations echoed around the world

Although it all began in Canada, the Day of Mourning is now commemorated in more than 70 countries worldwide. In the United States, the AFL–CIO adopted April 28 as the Worker’s Memorial Day. In 1996, the International Confederation of Free Trade (ICFTU) organized the first International Day of Mourning. Representatives from several European trade unions participated in a candle lighting ceremony and vigil to protest unsustainable work practices.

What are the hard facts?

In Canada, it is estimated that one worker out of 16 suffers an injury while at the workplace. This translates into one injury every nine seconds. More than 800,000 injuries are reported in Canada each year, of which more than 750 are fatal and more than half of the injuries result in lost work time. In total, more than 16 million days of work are lost each year— the equivalent of the average annual work of 67,000 people. Young, inexperienced workers are particularly at risk. Between 1993 and 1998 about 30% of all accident victims compensated for time lost were young Canadians aged 15 to 29.

In 1997, workers’ compensation boards across Canada paid out about $4.5 billion in benefits—an average of $5,750 per compensated case. With the addition of the indirect costs, the annual cost of occupational injuries to the Canadian economy is close to $9.1 billion.

Although no cost can convey the amount of human suffering involved, these figures reveal tremendous impact on human resources and the huge financial losses caused by occupational injuries—and underline the need to redouble efforts to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.

More than Mourning

The Day of Mourning is as much about a commitment to safer workplaces as it is about remembering those who were killed or injured on the job. CCOHS hopes that the annual observance of this day will strengthen the resolve to establish safe conditions in the workplace for all.

As workers in Canada and around the world join together to remember their colleagues who have been killed or injured on the job, they must also organize and mobilize themselves to continue to strive for safe jobs and working conditions.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims. We share with them the loss of their loved ones and the loss of our fellow Canadians," said the Honorable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour. "We will, in order to honour their memory, continue efforts to make the workplace healthy and safe."

What can employers do?

Businesses should honour workers everyday by committing to make theirs a safe workplace. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) calls on every employer to emphasize safety and health management, to work with their employees to provide a safe and healthy work environment, and to dedicate themselves to preventing workplace deaths, illnesses and injuries.

What can workers do?

Workers across Canada may mark the day at their local worksite. Many workplaces may choose to respect a moment of silence, or hold a candlelight vigil or memorial service to remember those who have died or have been injured on the job. Others may choose to wear black armbands, hold a short lunch-hour event or fly flags at half-mast.

But the struggle is far from over. Each and every day on the job—workers and employers should work together in achieving safer jobs and healthier work environments.

For more information on workplace hazards, contact the Inquiries Service at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety in Hamilton, Ontario, at 1-800-668-4284; by fax (905) 572-4500; or submit an inquiry form on the internet at: http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/inquiries/inquiries_form.html