April 28 is the Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job

The International Day of Mourning is a time to remember workers who have been injured or killed on the job. Last year in Alberta, 188 workers died on the job or as a result of workplace injury. If the same number of people died of a disease in Alberta it would be classified as a pandemic! It astounds me how many employers focus on the monetary cost of injuries when so many injuries happen because of lack of funding!

This year, UNA has a member whose claim was accepted post-mortem by the Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta (WCB). 

“A 77-year-old former psychiatric ward nurse died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a result of over eight years of exposure to cigarette smoke in the workplace.” - Occupational Disease Fatalities, WCB, April 2013.

WCB conducted an investigation through its Special Investigation Unit, which in turn confirmed ”extensive exposure to second hand smoke” caused the UNA member’s death. It is unconfirmed whether this Registered Psychiatric Nurse was even a smoker.

Information considered for the decision came from the WCB Policy Manual, which states, “[t]o be considered compensable, an accident must meet two conditions: it must arise out of and occur in the course of employment.”

The Policy Manual also states that respiratory disease claims are adjudicated as any other occupational disease claim. However, when a worker has a respiratory disease due in part to occupational factors and in part to non-occupational factors, the overall disability is presumed to be related to employment.

What this member’s death highlights is how the conditions of your workplace today can impact your health tomorrow. When you go to work each day as an RPN or RN, you face many hazards.

Think of a pond. When you throw a rock into the pond on a calm day, there is a ripple effect when the rock hits the pond. Now think about if you were ever injured on the job or contracted a workplace disease or were a victim of bullying or violence, and the list goes on….

We all have people in our lives who are important to us: our partners, spouses, children, friends. Should you be injured at work, these are the people who are affected. Imagine if you couldn’t pick up a grandchild because your back is injured, or if you contracted a virus and brought it home. Each of these loved ones could be affected.

Think about one thing you like to do that is completely non-work related, like traveling, gardening, watching movies, cooking or taking your dog for a walk. How would your injury or workplace-contracted disease impact your ability to do the things you live to do outside of work?

Your workplace enables you to have a life and enjoy a lifestyle outside of work. Your workplace affects not only you but also your loved ones.

When you work in an unhealthy environment, it affects you personally.

When you see Occupational Health and Safety concerns that need to address, take those concerns and notify your manager. Take your concerns to the OH&S Committee and follow the process identified in your Collective Agreement. Get the concerns addressed.

What you don’t address today could have later consequences to you, your loved ones and your lifestyle. 

At 10 a.m. on April 28, I will light a candle to remember our fallen colleague who died from work-related causes.

Work Healthy and Play Safe. I don’t want to light a candle for you!

Dewey Funk

Occupational Health & Safety Advisor, UNA