Province and Labour Commemorate Day of Mourning

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--Province and Labour Commemorate Day of Mourning

Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash joined the president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, Rick Clarke, at a solemn ceremony at Province House today, April 28, to honour the thousands of Nova Scotians who were injured, and the 23 who died because of work-related accidents or illness in 2003.

Every year on this date, government and labour leaders join friends and family members to remember those workers killed or injured on the job and to renew their commitment to making Nova Scotia an accident-free province.

"Tragedies in the workplace are sobering and disturbing events for all of us, but most especially for the families, friends, and co-workers of the victim. Many lives and communities have changed forever," said Mr. Morash. "Everyone involved -- employer, employee and government -- has a role to play to prevent future injury and death. We all have to work together to deliver the changes in attitudes and habits about workplace safety."

According to Workers' Compensation Board statistics, during a typical day in Nova Scotia, 92 people will get hurt at work. Twenty-five of them will be unable to return to work the next day. In the next 16 days, someone will die as a result of their work.

"Although there have been gains made in occupational health and safety over recent years, more needs to be done as reflected in the annual statistics of workplace injuries and fatalities," said Mr. Clarke. "More must be done by all workplace stakeholders, including government, to reduce incidents of injuries and deaths."

Mr. Clarke said this is the 20th year that Nova Scotians will commemorate the Day of Mourning. "In 2003, 23 workers did not come home. This year, as in years past, we gathered at Province House to mourn the dead and fight for the living."

During the ceremony, Mr. Morash called on employers and employees to intensify their health and safety practices and to renew their commitment to reducing workplace injury and illness.

Two years ago, a native Nova Scotia red maple tree and plaque were placed on the grounds of Province House to honour the memory of those who lost their lives on the job, and to reaffirm government and labour's joint commitment to preventing work- related injury and illness. "Today," said Mr. Morash, "the tree is growing stronger and so, too, is the workplace health and safety culture of the province. Workplace health and safety remains a top priority for government."

The Department of Environment and Labour administers the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Its laws are designed to protect the province's more than 400,000 workers. For information on workplace health and safety see the occupational health and safety division website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ohs/ or call 1-800- 952-2687 or 1-800-9LABOUR.