A minute of silence will be observed around the province today to honour the workers who lost their lives or were injured in the workplace.
The BC Federation of Labour says 203 workers lost their lives in British Columbia in 2014 as a result of their work.
The organization claims nearly four workers died in B.C. each week last year.
“These numbers are devastating,” says president of the BC Federation of Labour, Irene Lanzinger, in a release. “One worker death is too many.”
Nationwide, 902 workplace deaths were recorded in 2013. This amounts to 2.47 deaths every single day.
In the 21 year period from 1993 to 2013, 18,941 people lost their lives due to work-related causes, an average of 902 deaths per year.
The National Day of Mourning honouring the workers is marked on April 28 every year.
“It is a day to remember all those who have lost their lives or been injured because of their work,” says Lanzinger. “It is a day to honour the families, friends and co-workers who are left behind when a worker dies, or who must care for their family members who have been seriously injured.”
Lanzinger says today is meant to raise awareness about healthier and safer workplaces, greater accountability of negligent employers and full compensation for injured workers.
The National Day of Mourning was officially adopted by the federal government in 1991. It is recognized in more than 80 countries around the world.
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