Cases of workplace-related exposure resulting in disease and injuries remain highly under-reported.
That was one of the messages conveyed to Delta council at their April 8 meeting from CUPE Local 454 President Sam Abulail during his presentation on the upcoming official “Day of Mourning for Workers Killed and Injured on the Job” on April 28.
Representing unionized City of Delta employees and police civilian staff and speaking on behalf of the New Westminster and District Labour Council, Abulail noted that in 2022, almost 1,000 people in Canada died as a result of their work.
“Too many families lose loved ones to occupational diseases, and we know those numbers are just the tip of the iceberg, because they include only those fatalities accepted by the workers’ compensation system. In cases of workplace exposure to toxic chemicals or materials like asbestos, affects only become apparent months, years or decades later,” he said.
Meanwhile, cases of workplace injuries and accidents are also “severely” underreported, Abulail noted.
Abulail also noted that in 2022, the most recent year data is available, WorkSafe BC reported people missed 3.99 million days of work due to work-related incidents and disease.
WorkSafe BC also reported they accepted 191 work-related death claims.
Abulail said education is key for prevention, especially for young workers. Teachers and support workers in schools and programs, such as the BC Federation of Labour’s Alive After 5, together with an employer commitment to training are critical in ensuring young workers are not only safe at work but also won’t face life-long impacts from preventable workplace injuries.
They are also calling on all levels of government for accountability for workplace safety and health, he added.
Council, which observed a minute of silence, acknowledged the good work of a joint workplace safety committee with its workers.
As part of the national memorial event, the city’s practice is to allow CUPE Local 454 to fly its CUPE Day of Mourning Flag on the special flagpole beside Rotary Park at Municipal Hall for the week prior to April 28. All other flags at Municipal Hall will be flown at half-mast, from dawn to dusk, on Sunday, April 28. CUPE 454, in conjunction with the mayor, will be holding a ceremony at 10:45 a.m. that will commemorate that day.
