Workplace safety may fall to fiscal pressures

Wed, April 29, 2009

By RANDY RICHMOND, LONDON FREE PRESS

With the economy threatening to make workplaces even more dangerous, Canada is on pace for a record number of deaths and injuries, labour advocates warned in London yesterday. The poor economy will make workers afraid to report injuries, employers more likely to cut corners and politicians more willing to turn a blind eye to abuses, they said. Already this year in Ontario, 92 claims of workplace death and 42,933 claims of injuries have been reported to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

"With the recession, the numbers are likely to increase," said Wendy Knelsen, who works with injured workers.

London Coun. Susan Eagle agreed. "As the economic downturn continues, there is pressure to cut corners and cut costs," she said. "There is pressure on elected officials to turn a blind eye."

About 30 labour advocates gathered at the Tolpuddle Housing Co-operative yesterday to mark the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job. In 2007 -- the most recent year of complete statistics -- 439 Ontario workers were killed on the job. That's a 78% increase over the past decade, said Patti Dalton, president of the London and District Labour Council. Overall in Canada, 1,055 workers were killed in 2007.

"We will not let these lost lives be forgotten or waiver in our resolve to fight for workplaces," Dalton said. She and other speakers told fellow labour activists they have to work harder than ever to make sure governments pass and enforce health and safety regulations and employers follow them.

Speaking out can work, said Vern Edwards, director of occupational health and safety for the Ontario Federation of Labour. Organized labour recently won a battle for legislation against violence in the workplace, which could come into force by fall, he said. "We will need to work hard to see that employers meet their obligations," he said.

The next battle should be over regulations aiding workers who suffer repetitive strain and muscular injuries, Knelsen said. "These injuries are preventable."

So far, only guidelines to prevent those injuries have been approved, said George Botic, national representative for the Canadian Auto Workers. "That is a tool that is not enforceable in court," he said.

Randy Richmond is a Free Press reporter.

randy.richmond@sunmedia.ca