‘Lives cut short’: Vernon ceremony honours victims of workplace incidents

“Today is a day of somber reflection.The National Day of Mourning is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job, or experienced a work-related tragedy,” Jennie Small, the occupational health and safety advisor for the City of Vernon, said at the ceremony.

“While the National Day of Mourning is April 28, today is the day where we gather with friends, family and colleagues to show respect and solidarity for those who have been injured in the workplace, and to remember those who lost their lives on the job.”

In total, there were 175 workers throughout B.C. who lost their lives to workplace injury or illness in 2023, including five in the North Okanagan.

Of the deaths across the province, 93 fatalities were the result of occupational disease, including 48 linked to asbestos, and 82 were associated with traumatic incidents, including 22 lives lost in motor vehicle incidents while on the job.

Anna Billingsley, an occupational safety officer with WorkSafeBC, told the crowd that work was ongoing to protect British Columbians who work with asbestos.

“While we can’t change the past, we can take steps to change the future. As of January 1st of this year, asbestos abatement contractors must be licensed to operate in B.C. Anyone performing asbestos abatement work must now be trained and certified,” Billingsley said.

“As of today, we have issued more than 5,600 certifications to workers and 476 licenses to employers in that industry. These changes will go a long way to help protect workers and the general public from the deadly effects of asbestos exposure.”

Billingsley added workers have rights, including the right to know of hazards and the right to refuse unsafe work, which Elia Nicoloyannias, a member of Vernon’s city yard uilities staff and representative for CUPE Local 626, expanded on at the ceremony.

“As workers, we have a crucial role to play in ensuring our own safety and the safety of our colleagues,” Nicoloyannias said.

“We must be proactive and find potential risks and report them to our supervisors. By speaking up, we can help create a workplace culture that values safety and encourages everyone to take an active role to prevent accidents and injuries.”

He added education and training are also “vital components” to creating safe workplaces as it helps advance safety practices and regulations.

Nicoloyannis went on to say workplace safety goes beyond physical health and safety and also includes emotional and psychological well-being, stating “fostering an environment that supports good mental health is essential to maintaining a healthy workplace.”

Anna Billingsley, an occupational safety officer with WorkSafeBC, speaking at the Day of Mourning ceremony in Vernon (photo by Liam Verster)

Elia Nicoloyannias, a member of Vernon’s city yard utilities staff and representative for CUPE Local 626, speaking at the Day of Mourning ceremony in Vernon (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

The speakers, including the local federal representative, all noted these incidents don’t just affect the people involved, but also their family, friends, colleagues, and the community as a whole.

“Each year, we read and hear statistics of lives lost in the workplace, but we’re here today to recognize more than statistics: we’re here to recognize that of the 175 people that passed away last year to workplace injuries or illness, 74 went to work that day to support themselves and their families and never returned home at the end of the day because of traumatic injury and death,” Mel Arnold, MP for North Okanagan-Shuswap, said at the ceremony in Vernon.

“I think as well, as we head off to work each day, we expect to return home safe and healthy. Unfortunately, those morning goodbyes to family and partners are, unexpectedly, the last goodbyes. So as we gather today, let’s join in supporting those left behind, and also pledge to do everything we can to reduce those unexpectedly last goodbyes.”

Vernon-Monashee MLA, Harwinder Sandhu, was not in attendance for the event, but did provide a written statement in which she recognized the impact of workplace incidents and the “lives cut short, leaving behind grieving families and communities grappling with profound sorrow.” In her statement, Sandhu reaffirmed her government’s commitment to prioritizing occupational safety.

Mayor Victor Cumming said the City of Vernon has a duty to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment for every one of its staff members and the public they serve.

“We are here today to reaffirm our commitment to the health and safety of all our colleagues and employees to ensure that we never lose sight of why that is so important,” Cumming stated.

by Liam Verster

‘Lives cut short’: Vernon ceremony honours victims of workplace incidents

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