H&S: National Day of Mourning

April 28th is the National Day of Mourning in Canada, to commemorate workers whose lives have been lost or injured in the workplace.

The National Day of Mourning was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991. At present time about 80 countries around the world recognize April 28th as their National Day of Mourning for lost or injured workers.

Businesses are asked to participate in this day by declaring April 28th as their day of mourning and observe a moment of silence. The goal of this annual observance is to create awareness about the importance of Health & Safety Programs in the Workplace and establishing safe work conditions for all. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety states: "It is as much a day to remember the dead as it is a call to protect the living."

In 2010 there were 1014* documented workplace fatalities, which is an increase from 939 in 2009. This averages out to 2.78 each day.

Maintaining a "culture of safety" at your business is critical for protecting the well-being of your employees and for creating a productive, effective working environment. Not meeting the required standards can result in fines, lost productivity, direct involvement by the Ministry of Labour and WSIB in your business, and worst of all, injury or death of your workers.

Clear Path recommends the following tips for implementing and managing your Health & Safety Program:

• Create and Maintain a written health and safety policy and program
• Ensure that your company complies with the Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations
• Documented system for identifying, reporting and responding to hazards
• Establish safe practices, procedures and controls for the hazards identified
• Provide training to all employees: managers, supervisors and workers
• Communicate regularly with employees about foreseeable health and safety hazards
• Allocate adequate time and resources to the health and safety program
• Monitor and audit your program on a regular basis

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*Fatalities accepted in 2010 according to "Number of Fatalities, by Jurisdiction 1993-2010" summary table, statistics from the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada.

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