[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” status=”published” publish_date=”” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”intro-text” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” undefined=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]Every year on April 28, the International Day of Mourning is recognized around the world as a day dedicated to honouring workers who have lost their lives, been injured or made ill on the job.
On behalf of the Building Trades of Alberta and its affiliates, I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and coworkers of those who’ve been killed, injured or made sick as a result of an incident at the worksite. We must always remember the workers we’ve lost and do everything we can to support those injured and ill.[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” sep_color=”” top_margin=”30px” bottom_margin=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” /][fusion_imageframe image_id=”5370″ max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”center” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]http://bta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BTA-default-news-release.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” sep_color=”” top_margin=”30px” bottom_margin=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” /][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]Thankfully, occupational health and safety has been a large area of focus in recent years for the provincial government, and more has been done to address serious OHS concerns at worksites province-wide.
For example, in December 2017, significant improvements were made to laws that govern OHS in Alberta through Bill 30, which modernized Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and Workers’ Compensation Act. It was the first time our OHS legislation had been updated for more than 40 years.
However, despite these much-needed improvements, workplace fatalities still occur at an alarming rate.
According to Alberta’s Workers’ Compensation Board, worksite accidents took the lives of 162 workers in our province in 2018, with the number of injured and sick likely in the hundreds of thousands. These are very disturbing numbers and it’s clear more needs to be done to prioritize safer worksites.
Occupational health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, and I’m proud that the more than 60,000 members within the BTA work to promote a safer industry for everyone. But we still have work to do.
This is a time for us all to rededicate ourselves to take action and push for improved health and safety conditions on all jobsites. After all, everyone deserves to go home safe after a hard day’s work.
Download PDF of “2019 Day of Mourning statement from Terry Parker, Executive Director, Building Trades of Alberta”[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
