National Day of Mourning Wednesday, April 28, 2010 7:00 p.m. Province House, Charlottetown

Posted April 22, 2010

The Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace became a national day of observance for Canadians for the first time on April 28, 1991.  It originally was called Workers’ Memorial Day in 1984, and the CLC officially declared it an annual day of remembrance on April 28, 1985.  April 28 was chosen because on that day in 1914 the Workers Compensation Act received its third reading in Ontario’s legislature. The Day of Mourning prompts Canadians and Islanders to remember workers killed, disabled or injured in the workplace and workers afflicted with disease. 

The Federation of Labour invites Islanders to attend the annual Day of Mourning ceremony at Province House on Wednesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. to remember the victims of workplace injury and disease. In 2008 three people died in Prince Edward Island due to workplace injury and or illness (2009 figures not available).  This is simply unacceptable.  The research shows that workplace injury and illness are preventable.  Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility. 
 
Employer responsibilities:
The Occupational Health and Safety Act states that employers are:
• to provide and maintain all materials and equipment in a safe manner
• to provide training and supervision necessary to ensure safe working conditions
• to cooperate with safety committees, representatives and OHS Officers
• to display a copy of the OHS Act and Regulations and post the phone number where the WCB can be reached
• to post any orders issued from the OHS Officers where employees can read them
• to provide and post the names and contact information of all current JOSH Committee members or OHS Representatives
• to report all serious workplace injuries to the WCB at 902-628-7513 and complete the Employer’s Report – Form 7.

Worker responsibilities:
The Occupational Health and Safety Act states that workers are:
• to work safely, protect the health and safety of others and follow safe work procedures at all times.
• to wear personal protective equipment (if required to do a job safely) such as safety glasses, hearing protection and steel-toed boots. Equipment guards must also be kept in place and used properly.
• to co-operate with the OHS Representative or JOSH Committee, and OHS Officers. The Internal Responsibility System depends on open communication.
• to report hazards, injuries and unsafe working conditions to the supervisor. If the supervisor is unable to respond to the issue, then the safety representative or committee member must be notified. If the problem is still not resolved, report it to the WCB at (902)368-5697. After hours, if there is an immediate hazard, call the 24 hour emergency toll free number (902) 628-7513.

What are the responsibilities of Occupational Health and Safety Officers?

• OHS Officers inspect all workplaces across Prince Edward Island under provincial jurisdiction. They ensure that all health and safety standards are being met by both the employer and the workers. The Officer documents the entire inspection and prepares a report, on-site. If there is a violation of the OHS Act, the Officer issues an Order to remedy the situation and it includes a due date in which the Order is to be complied with. Employers with higher workplace injury rates and high risk jobs will be inspected more often.

•  OHS Officers conduct workplace injury and fatality investigations.  OHS Officers will respond to a workplace following a report of a serious workplace injury or fatality to the WCB. They can request records and documents, take samples, seize items and take witness statements. The purpose of the investigation is to collect information to help workplaces prevent further injuries, and to determine if there were any violations of the OHS act, in which case the employer may be prosecuted.

•  OHS Officers will respond as quickly as possible to reported work refusals or complaints to assist the OHS Representative or JOSH Committee in determining whether there are reasonable grounds for the refusal. Orders may be issued to the employer if the OHS Officer determines the workplace is unsafe.

Internal Responsibility System
The Internal Responsibility System is based on the
principle that all persons in a workplace (workers and employers)  
share the responsibility of health and safety.  It stands to reason
that the people managing and doing the work are most often aware of
the hazards around them and their solutions.