April 28 - A Day of Mourning Uniting Manitoba for Safety

WINNIPEG – April 28 is a nationally recognized Day of Mourning, a day to remember those who have died, experienced illness or been injured as a result of their work. Today commemorates 22 Manitobans who died in the job in 2008 and 13 occupational disease fatalities that were accepted by the WCB.

"Today we honour Manitoba workers who have died or been seriously injured at work. It is also a day for all of us to renew our commitment to stronger action for the prevention of injuries, illnesses and fatalities in our workplaces,” said Nancy Allan, Minister of Labour and Immigration.

“Even though Manitoba has seen a 27 per cent reduction to the injury rate since 2000, we need to do more to make our workplaces safer. I recently announced that our government is adding five new workplace safety and health officers in 2009, in addition to the ten added last year. These additional officers will allow us to boost workplace inspections and prevention activity across the province,” added Allan.

The SAFE Workers of Tomorrow held a Leaders’ Walk that began at the Union Centre on Broadway and concluded at the Manitoba Legislature where speeches were held.

Over 100 high school students attended including students from Collège St. Norbert Collegiate who gave affirmations about workplace safety, clearly indicating that safe workplaces are an expectation among the province’s next generation of workers.

“I will not let anyone, including myself, take my safety for granted,” said grade 9 Collège St. Norbert Collegiate student Renee Marion.

Over the past several years, the WCB and Workplace Safety and Health Division have been working together with employers and workers on the SAFE Work program to develop a number of initiatives aimed at reducing injuries, illnesses and deaths on the job, and to foster a core belief among Manitobans that work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable.

“This year’s Day of Mourning theme is ‘unite for safety’ and that’s just what the WCB is aiming to do,” said Doug Sexsmith, WCB President and CEO. “Through initiatives such as the SAFE Work program, we can unite the many communities within Manitoba behind the idea that injuries are not an inevitable part of working life. Everyone should get to go home at the end of the day.”

Flags at provincial government buildings and the WCB building were lowered to half-mast.  

For more information contact:

Warren Preece

Director of Communications

WCB Manitoba

(204) 954-4113
E-mail: wcb@wcb.mb.ca

Naline Rampersad

Press Secretary

Cabinet Communications

(204) 945-1494