Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
Job fatalities in Nova Scotia in 2018, according to statistics that WCB Nova Scotia and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education released on April 17, 2019.
Fourteen workers died from acute traumatic injuries and 26 fatalities were classed as chronic – 12 related to occupational diseases and 14 were caused by health-related issues like heart attack. Industries with the highest acute-fatality counts include six people who drowned or were lost at sea in fishing and three deaths in construction.
“So many of these deaths are because of preventable incidents at work,” says WCB Nova Scotia’s chief executive officer Stuart MacLean. “Although we continue to see reductions in overall workplace injury, this is a startling number of workplace fatalities.”
Labour and Advanced Education Minister Labi Kousoulis says the agency will continue to work with safety associations, employers and partners to create a culture of safety in the province.
Statistics also show how workplace injury is changing. According to MacLean, claims today are more complex and require different levels of service. As the population ages, claims are more likely to include a mix of physical injury and mental-health considerations.
There was also a significant increase in claims related to mental health. Time-loss claims for psychological injuries went up almost 50 per cent over 2017 – more than three times what they were in 2014. This includes claims for post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological injuries.”
My opinion
This trend seems to be steady right across Canada even though the number of lost-time claims has dropped. I wonder if the criteria for reporting occupational health and safety incidents/accidents has changed?
I hope that the province takes a long look at causes and deals with them directly. I also hope that all employers will be held responsible to ensure that their workplace develops a safety culture, one where the worker feels safe and that their workplace safety is the company’s top priority!
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – “In Canada, ALL Accidents are Preventable”
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Due Diligence’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.