This month we honour fallen workers
April 28th marks the National Day of Mourning in Canada — a day to remember and honour those workers who have lost their lives or suffered injuries on the job. It’s an important reminder of the ongoing need to prioritize workplace safety and prevent future tragedies. We must all do our part to prioritize workplace safety, whether by speaking up about hazards, following safety protocols and guidelines, or advocating for better policies and regulations. Together, we can create a safer and more just workplace for all.
According to the latest data from the Government of Alberta, from 2023 to 2024 Alberta’s workforce increased to 2,518,900 workers, a 3.1 per cent increase, and in 2024 WCB Alberta accepted 49,831 claims, of which 75 percent were modified-work claims and 56 percent were lost-time claims. The disabling injury and illness in 2024 were the lowest in the past five-years, the government’s records show, and both declined by more than 5.7 percent over 2023, which suggests improvements in workplace safety since the total number of person-years worked in the province rose by 2.5 percent during the same period.
However, the stats also show that fatality rates have increased. In 2024 there were 203 accepted fatality claims, including 170 fatalities that occurred that year, and the fatality rate was the highest in 10 years; from 2023 to 2024, the overall fatality rate increased by 57 percent. Occupational illnesses remained the leading cause of fatalities, accounting for 51 percent of all fatal claims, but that was a five-year low, while
fatalities from workplace incidents peaked at a new high of 31 percent.
These figures indicate that while progress is being made on the injury front, fatalities are still a significant and growing problem. They also involve primarily older workers — aged 65 years and older. This age group continued to have the highest fatality rate in 2024 (94.74 per 100,000 person-years) and the highest increase in fatality rate occurred in workers aged 45 to 54 years. In that group the fatality rate more than tripled in 2024 over the previous year.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling following a work-related injury or fatality, Threads of Life can provide a wealth of support and resources.
The impact that these and other work-related accidents have on workers and their families can be devastating, as they struggle to put their lives back together either after the loss of a loved one, or figure out how to recover and cope with life-altering injury or illness. Despite the assistance and support provided by the Workers’ Compensation Board, the Alberta Health Care system and other government programs, the fallout and lingering effects continue long after the crises are over and out of the headlines. On April 28th, the Canadian Flag will fly at half-staff and workers around the country will light candles, wear black armbands and ribbons and observe a moment of silence to honour injured and fallen workers.
As always, we are available to answer your questions or address your concerns to the best of our ability. You can reach us directly during business hours using our chat feature or by phone, at 1-844-377-9545, by email at [email protected], or you can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.