Fallen workers remembered

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The provincial legislature observed a moment of silence on April 28 to honour the 28 men and women who died in work-related accidents over the past 12 months.

In 1984, the Canadian Labour Congress designated April 28 as a Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job, a day for people across he country to remember those workers and to renew commitments to work towards improving health and safety conditions in the workplace. The date April 28 was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the passing of Canada's first comprehensive Worker's Compensation Act.

Saskatchewan was the first Canadian province to officially observe the Day of Mourning, beginning in 1988. In 1991, the day was officially recognized by the federal government and was officially designated a National Day of Mourning.

Currently, almost 100 countries from around the world set the day aside to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job.

In Saskatchewan, the number of work-related deaths in the past year is up from the past two years. Last year, the names of 20 men and women were read and remembered in the provincial legislature on April 28. The year before there were 25 names read.

"April 28 is a day to mourn and a day to remember the working men and women who have given their lives to build this province and this nation. Almost three workers a day die on the job across Canada each year, and more than a million men and women are hurt on the job every year," Saskatchewan Labour Minister Deb Higgins said before reading the names of the 28 workers into the official record of the provincial legislature.

"Twenty-eight Saskatchewan workers have died within the last 12 months as a result of workplace accidents or illnesses ... and more than 30,000 more were injured. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to all who have experienced workplace tragedy," she said.

"We can never turn back time. We can never bring back those mothers or fathers, those sisters or brothers. But we can work to prevent other families from having to endure such anguish by renewing our efforts to reduce workplace injuries and deaths."