REGINA – The Saskatchewan Worker’s Compensation board announced there were 60 workplace fatalities in the province in 2012. That’s the highest number of workplace deaths in over thirty years and nearly twice as many as were recorded in 2011.
Taking a closer look at the numbers, nineteen of those fatalities were due to exposure, mostly asbestos exposure from years previous. Fifteen cases were heart attacks. Falls and motor vehicle accidents were also reasons for workplace deaths, which occurred across all industries. Fourteen of the fatalities happened on construction sites.
Saskatchewan has the second highest number of workplace injuries in the country. Workers’ Compensation Board CEO, Peter Federko says he’s not sure why Saskatchewan lags behind other jurisdictions.
“I’ve had people suggest that because of our agricultural background, we have a more, I think, “get ‘er done” attitude, so at all costs we just get the job done. And certainly we’re known for our work ethic, but you know, there’s farming and ranching in Alberta; there’s farming in Ontario,” he said.
Alberta’s injury rate is about one and a half percent while Saskatchewan’s injury rate is almost double that – 2.8 percent. Federko is not convinced there is something special about the culture in Saskatchewan other than the fact he said we have to convince people they can prevent workplace injuries.
Don Morgan, minister of workplace safety said Tuesday, the government would also be stepping in.
“The falls, or working in unsafe conditions, the ditches, that’s where we think government has a role in getting aggressive on enforcement. And we get calls from employers saying, ‘We’re doing this, but we know the jobsite down the way isn’t,’ so we know there’s a strong push from everyone,” he said.
There is also a serious financial cost of getting hurt on the job. Total claims last year amounted to $196 million.
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