Safety is everyone’s responsibility. On Friday, people in Grande Prairie gathered for National Day of Mourning to remember workers and family members who never made it home.
Canadian Union of Public Employees 787’s Tim Rochon says it’s so important for workers to speak up and report when they feel work is unsafe.
“If you think that whatever vehicle you’re using or situation you’re in is unsafe, report it and refuse to work. It is you’re right to refuse to work and your employer cannot fire you or discipline you for that because your safety and the safety of your coworkers is fundamentally the most important thing that you can do for society.”
National Day of Mourning was started by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Its purpose is to remember those who have lost their lives or suffered injury or illness on the job or due to a work-related tragedy.
In 2018, 162 workers were killed or injured while on the job in Alberta. Rochon says that while it’s important to always remember those who died, the day is also about continuing to raise awareness about workplace safety.
“If you don’t remind people, people get complacent and complacency is dangerous because you just think oh it will never happen to me but then something does happen.”
National Day of Mourning is held every year on April 28th. A Day of Mourning memorial is located in the Safety City at Grande Prairie and Area Safe Communities.