Lost workers remembered at ceremonies – Journal of Commerce

Posted on May 7, 2012 8:38 am

The construction industry accounted for the highest number of work related deaths in B.C. and Alberta last year, as labour unions and the provincial health and safety authority held ceremonies across the country to recognize and mourn workers, who died on the job.

“Today, we gather to remember 142 people who tragically lost their lives on the job in B.C.,” said Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government at a ceremony outside of the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 27.

“Along with their families, friends, and co-workers, we join together to remember, and to commit to doing even more to prevent these tragic workplace deaths from happening in the future.”

According to WorkSafeBC, 142 workers died due to their job in 2011.

Out of these fatalities, 71 were traumatic deaths and 71 were the result of occupational diseases, mainly from exposure to asbestos.The general construction sector recorded the most fatalities overall with 26, followed by 24 in transportation and 14 in mineral products.

via Lost workers remembered at ceremonies – Journal of Commerce.