Day of mourning held for workers killed last year in B.C.

WorkSafeBC says there were 146 claims last year for work-related deaths in the province, as the agency, members of the labour movement and others on Monday marked an annual day of mourning to honour those killed.

Suzana Prpic, senior manager of prevention services with WorkSafeBC, said the day was an occasion to pause, reflect and remember those whose lives were changed forever because of a workplace death, injury or illness.

She said 78 of the deaths recorded last year were the result of occupational illness, including 37 tied to asbestos exposure. 

Prpic said one of the statistics that jumped out to her from last year was six young people — meaning under 25 years old — were killed on the job.

"New workers, young workers, they need oversight by strong supervisors who are trained and competent and on any large job site where these workers are present — or any workers — there needs to be the co-ordination of work each day so the work can proceed safely," she said.

Men overwhelmingly more likely than women to die on the job

Of the 146 work-related death claims last year, 139 were men, with just seven women. The annual total was the lowest in at least five years.

Last year, there were 38 claims for fatalities resulting from traumatic incidents, largely in the construction and forestry sectors, according to Prpic, and 30 involving motor vehicles.

She said WorkSafeBC pays extra attention, including increased inspections, to certain sectors that have an outsized impact. Those include construction, forestry, health care, social services and manufacturing.

According to Sussanne Skidmore, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour, the annual day of mourning is an opportunity to push for policies that will make workers safer and pressure the government to act more swiftly.

The labour group uses a different number, 195, to reflect the number of reported work-related deaths last year.

Work and the opioid crisis

"We're not seeing enough improvement, so next year, I truly hope that we're able to see that there's more impact on working people's lives," said Skidmore, adding there isn't currently enough focus on psychological impacts and the injuries and incidents that lead to mental health issues and addiction.

"If you draw a line backwards, they're often started with a workplace injury, and there are many workers who get injured on the job and, for a variety of reasons, are no longer with us because of the opioid crisis that we're in," she said.

According to the B.C. Coroners Service, 2,253 people were killed by unregulated drugs in 2024.

Skidmore acknowledged that some progress had been made to make workplaces safer, and in terms of compensation for things like handling asbestos.

"When you go to work in the morning, you leave your family, you leave your home. You should be able to return home at the end of the day, it's not too much to ask," she said.

Politicians, including Premier David Eby and Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside, marked the sombre day with statements.

"Every workplace fatality is a tragedy that ripples through families, coworkers and entire communities. We stand with those who carry the grief of that loss, and we reaffirm our commitment to stronger protections and a culture that truly values the health and safety of every worker," said Whiteside.