April 28 is recognized as a Day of Mourning to pay tribute
to those who have died, suffered injury, or experienced illness
as a result of their jobs. As Sudbury's member of provincial
parliament, I urge all citizens to mark this important day and
reaffirm a shared commitment to workplace safety.
The Day of Mourning is a time to reflect on the past and
remember the tragedy of our fallen, injured and ill workers. It
is also an opportunity to look toward the future and work
together to improve the safety of Ontario workplaces.
While great strides have been made in health and safety,
there is still much more to be done. In 2004 alone, the
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reported 296 work-related
deaths and more than 277,422 workplace injuries. These deaths
and injuries are tragic and unacceptable.
Improving workplace health and safety must be a community effort; employers, workers and parents all have a role to play. Employers must provide safe workplaces with appropriate training and education.
Workers must follow safety procedures and report any safety
hazards or concerns. Parents need to talk to their sons and
daughters about health and safety before they begin summer or
part-time jobs.
The Day of Mourning remains a stark, yet important, reminder
there is more to be done to improve workplace health and
safety. Working together, we can achieve our goal of healthier
and safer workplaces.
Rick Bartolucci MPP, Sudbury