Recent numbers released from the Saskatchewan Worker’s Compensation Board reports that the total injury rate for 2018 was 5.44 per 100 workers, a 3.6 percent increase from last year.
This increase, however, does not seem indicative about the state of workplace safety overall in the province; through health and safety prevention efforts, 88% of Saskatchewan employers achieved Mission: Zero, which means they reported no workplace injuries or fatalities whatsoever.
The release noted that an increase in injury rates in 2018 could predict an increase in rates in 2019, and that employers will need to continue being diligent with workplace safety procedures.
The most alarming statistic reported in the WCB's report is the 48 fatalities reported in 2018, a 78% increase from the year before — although 2017 saw the lowest number of fatalities in the past 15 years.
The majority of fatalities were caused by occupational diseases and vehicular collisions, which WorkSafe Saskatchewan is targeting as an area for improvement. The WCB has also paired with SGI to share information and determine the cause of vehicle-related accidents.
“Keeping our workplaces safe is a shared responsibility,” said WCB Chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky in the release. “We can only achieve Mission: Zero when everyone works together. We will keep working with employers, workers and partners until we achieve zero injuries and zero fatalities.”
