Day of Mourning. April 28, 2010

Transcription

1 Day of Mourning April 28, 2010

2 Day of Mourning April 28, 2010 Day of Mourning is a day intended to recognize those who lost their lives as a result of a work-related incident or occupational diseases. The Day of Mourning started in Canada in 1991 and is now recognized annually around the world in more than 100 countries. April 28 th was chosen because it was on this date in 1914 that the first Workers Compensation Act was brought into effect in Canada. Deaths from workplace injury average nearly a thousand per year in Canada. There are approximately one million workplace injuries a year in Canada a compensable injury occurs every seven seconds of each working day.

3 Work related fatalities in Canada Canada BC

4 2009 BC Fatalities 43 Traumatic (21 in 2008) 19 Motor vehicle incidents (21 in 2008) 59 Occupational Disease (76 in 2008) 121 Total work related fatalities in BC in 2009 (160 in 2008)

5 Day of Mourning There were 4 fatalities directly related to the forest sector in 2009

6 Manual Tree Falling February 24, 2009: A worker was falling trees along a highway for road clearance. As he was falling an alder 33 cm in diameter at the stump, it barberchaired (split at the base when back cut), kicked back, and fatally struck him.

7 Falling and Bucking May 22, 2009: A manual faller was preparing to fall a red cedar danger tree. A green tree was limb tied to the cedar. The faller was trying to push over the green tree with another tree when a large slab fell backwards from the cedar and fatally injured him.

8 Loading Barge with Logging Equipment May 4, 2009: A loader became unstable while descending a steep barge ramp. The loader overturned and became partly submerged in about 8 feet of water. Co-workers were not able to rescue the trapped worker.

9 Manual Tree Falling. July 9, 2009: A faller bucking the rootwad off a windfall ended up underneath resulting in fatal injuries.

10 Day of Mourning In 2010 there have been 2 fatalities in the forest sector

11 Log Hauling January 26, 2010: A logging truck driver stopped to wait in a landing for his turn to get loaded, while waiting he decided to adjust his brakes. In doing this he left his truck running in neutral and chocked the wheels with a small log. Landing had a 10% grade, log truck started rolling backwards while driver was under the truck.

12 Log Hauling February 19, 2010: A loaded off-highway log truck left the roadway and struck a rock wall, then caught fire.

13 The Moment Decisions are made every moment by every individual, every day they are at work. These are decisions that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. How do you make a good decision? Recognize when you are in an upset condition (the hair raises on the back of your neck) or you are doing something out of the ordinary. Recognize what alters your decision making process in an upset condition (stress, rushing, complacency etc.) Step back, think and ask What am I about to do? What could happen? What is the likelihood something will happen? Who else could be impacted? What are my options? If you cannot decide on a safe way to proceed, stop and call your supervisor for direction. You have influence on what happens around you. You are the only one that controls you but the choices you make in the moment can effect a great number of people. Most of us have a different life outside of work; whether it is family or friends, hobbies or vacations. We dream of what we will do when we retire.. So please focus and think for the moment so you can enjoy all the other moments in your life. Please observe a moment of silence to remember all who have lost their lives.

14 I Chose to Look The Other Way I could have saved a life that day, But I chose to look the other way. It wasn't that I didn't care, I had the time, and I was there. But I didn't want to seem a fool, Or argue over a safety rule. I knew he'd done the job before, If I spoke up, he might get sore. The chances didn't seem that bad, I'd done the same, He knew I had. So I shook my head and walked on by, He knew the risks as well as I. He took the chance, I closed an eye, And with that act, I let him die. I could have saved a life that day, But I chose to look the other way. Now every time I see his wife, I'll know, I should have saved his life. That guilt is something I must bear, But it isn't something you need share. If you see a risk that others take, That puts their health or life at stake. The question asked, or thing you say, Could help them live another day. If you see a risk and walk away, Then hope you never have to say, I could have saved a life that day, But I chose, to look the other way. Don Merrell donmerrell@hotmail.com

15 Day of Mourning April 28, 2010 Activities Lower operations flags to half mast Gather crews (at a time that is appropriate for each operation) and review the intent of the Day of Mourning Observe a minute of silence in memory of the 121 people who lost their lives to workplace incidents in British Columbia in Encourage employees to attend an event in their community. A flower can be dedicated to a fallen worker at

16 Day of Mourning Events April 28, 2010 Duncan 10 am (tentative) Steel Workers Union Hall 351 Brea Road, Duncan. Fort St James 11 am Memorial Site in front of District office. Kamloops 5:30 pm St. Andrews Square (159 Seymour Street). Kelowna 7 am School District Operations Site (685 Dease Road). Kelowna 11 am School District Administration Office (1940 Underhill Street) Kelowna 12 pm Ben Lee Park. New Westminster 9 am Queen s Park (1 st Street and Third Avenue) near Bandshell. Prince George 12 pm Worker s Memorial (Patricia Boulevard and QueenswayStreet). Sidney 1 pm Town Worksyard ( Ocean Avenue), Trail 4 pm Begins at Union Hall. Ceremony will take place at the Workers Monument (across from arena). Vancouver 10:30 am on the southwest side of the Vancouver Convention Center (1055 Canada Place). Victoria 12 pm Centennial Square (Douglas Street and Pandora Avenue). Please check back regularly for event updates.

17 Links to sites with Day of Mourning information and event details WorkSafe BC For detailed information on events around BC Day of Mourning website where flowers can be dedicated to a worker. Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety Injured Workers All Across Canada (IWAAC)