FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2020
WorkplaceNL observes National Day of Mourning
St. John’s, NL – Each year, WorkplaceNL observes the National Day of Mourning to remember workers who were injured or lost their lives due to their job.
Unfortunately, there were 26 work-related fatalities in 2019; 10 accidental and 16 from occupational disease. In the past five years, 124 workers in Newfoundland and Labrador have lost their lives as result of workplace incidents or occupational disease. The majority of the occupational disease-related fatalities are from the mining industry, from illnesses caused by exposures to dangerous substances years ago.
“As the Minister responsible for occupational health and safety, I am committed to ensuring that workers in our province have the proper protections, legislation, and regulations to prevent workplace incidents,” said the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister Responsible for WorkplaceNL. “As we navigate through the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever that essential service workers have the protections and supports they need to safely do their jobs, so they can return home healthy to their families each day.”
“Today, as we remember those who have been killed or injured on the job, we would also like to recognize essential workers at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dennis Hogan, WorkplaceNL CEO. “Workers in health care, grocery stores, transportation and others essential services continue to work every day in order to provide much-needed goods, services and supports to our communities. We owe it to them to do our part to help keep them safe and healthy.”
On April 28, WorkplaceNL is asking the public to join them in a moment of silence, and to light a candle, at 12 p.m. to remember workers who have died from a workplace injury or disease.
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About WorkplaceNL
Serving approximately 13,000 injured workers and 17,500 employers, WorkplaceNL administers an employer-funded, no-fault insurance system that promotes safe and healthy workplaces, provides return-to-work programs and offers compensation to injured workers and their dependents.
Media contact:
Carla Riggs, Director of Communications
709.778.1590 or carla.riggs@workplacenl.ca