The Day of Mourning was first officially observed in Canada in 1984. Today the Day of Mourning is observed in more than 100 countries worldwide. It was established to recognize workers who died or suffered from exposures to hazards at work and encourages us to think of ways in which we can help to achieve the goal of safer and healthier workplaces.

To make the case for prevention, we commonly cite workers compensation statistics. Every year in Canada, hundreds of workers are killed and thousands more are injured or stricken with an occupational disease because of their jobs. Over the past 10 years that the ‘official’ statistics are available, more than 10,000 workers died as a result of their employment with another 250,000 injured.

When you consider the full weight and magnitude of Canada's workplace health and safety performance, it sounds more like we're talking about a war zone in some far flung region of the planet - not the safety track record of one the most prosperous countries in the world; and certainly not the safety track record in our own backyard.

And it bears noting, as the old saying goes...."there are lies, there are damn lies and then there are statistics." And it's no less true here as well. While these "official" workplace safety statistics are shocking, it is also widely accepted that these numbers are vastly under-reported. Buried within these numbers are real people, with real lives, with real families and friends.

From my personal experience, I can tell you that I have reason for hope. In my travels, I take heart in witnessing first hand, time and time again, Boilermakers and our allies on job sites across the country, who fight to improve health and safety every day for themselves, their brothers and sisters and for future members coming behind them.

To improve workplace health and safety there is an ever greater reliance on the involvement and participation of everyone in the workplace decision making and action-taking. There needs to be recognition that workers and front line supervision not only face the direct workplace risks, and as a result suffer many of the consequences, but they are also best positioned to identify, recognize and offer solutions to deal with the work site safety problems at the earliest possible time.

And there are many other opportunities for continued improvement. Good laws and good standards need good enforcement. Workers have basic health and safety rights, and employers have responsibilities. All levels within the workplace have important roles to play in their workplace health and safety.

We need to improve - and we can improve - if we make the commitment. As we observe this Day of Mourning to remember those who have suffered and died as a result of their employment - let us renew the fight for safe workplaces. Using our collective experiences and commitment, we each have a role to play to fight to improve health and safety everyday: to recommit ourselves to workplace health and safety for each other. To mourn for the dead, but fight for the living.

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers