Day of Mourning - April 28, 2013

Day of MourningApril 28, 2013

“Day of Mourning” is a day intended to recognize those who lost their lives as a result of a work-related incident or occupational diseases.

Ceremonies have been held across the country ever since the Canadian Labour Congress initiated a national Day of Mourning ceremony on April 28, 1984 and is now recognized annually around the world in more than 100 countries.

April 28th was chosen because it was on this date in 1914 that the first Workers’ Compensation Act was brought into effect in Canada.

Deaths from workplace injury average nearly a thousand per year in Canada.

There are approximately one million workplace injuries a year in Canada – a compensable injury occurs every seven seconds of each working day.

6 were related to forest products manufacturing

In 2012 there were 149 work related fatalities

in BC

10 were directly related to harvesting

Skidder Operator

January 16, 2012: The operator was outside the cab of his skidder conducting maintenance. This skidder was stopped and shut down near the corner of a sloped main skid trail (i.e. 20% slope). Another grapple skidder with a drag (i.e. 3 full length logs in its grapple ), came down the skid trail behind the stopped skidder and proceeded to navigate the corner. As the operating skidder drove around the stopped skidder, the operating skidder's drag contacted the rear of the stopped skidder. This caused the stopped skidder to begin rolling downslope, and the injured worker to fall from the position he was standing on "on" the skidder. This worker was then run over by the rolling skidder and fatally injured.

Manual Tree Falling

January 30, 2012: A certified manual faller was struck in the back by a "cut up" hemlock tree approximately ten-inches in diameter. He succumbed to his injuries on site.

March 5, 2012: A certified faller felled a green tree that disturbed a root wad causing a danger tree to break off and strike the faller.

June 11, 2012: A manual tree faller fell a larger diameter Douglas fir on a slight up angle, when the faller started to buck the tree he was struck by an object which caused significant injuries.

September 13, 2012: A certified faller was fatally injured after being struck by a portion of a tree.

Loader Operator

February 21, 2012: The operator of a wheeled loader equipped with a grapple attachment used to unload trucks, exited the cab of the loader at a log dump. The operator began to assist a truck driver to prepare to have the empty trailer loaded back onto the truck. While doing so the loader rolled forward crushing the operator between the grapple of the loader and the reach of the trailer.

July 17, 2012: A young worker standing with his back against a road side bank was bucking a log. When the log dropped it created a chain reaction of log movement above the worker. A portion of a previously bucked tree rolled down the bank striking the worker.

2nd Loaderman

Log Truck Driver

July 19, 2012: The driver of a loaded logging truck was fatally injured when he was struck (run over) by the wheels of his truck as he attempted to jump clear from the moving vehicle on a steep grade.  

.October 16, 2012: A worker was caught between the cab and boom of an excavator and suffered fatal crushing injuries.

Mobile equipment

Chokerman

September 23, 2012: There were workers on the ground marking logs and a helicopter flying logs from the ground with grapple in a helicopter logging setting. The helicopter picked up two logs with the grapple, determined the lift was too heavy, and dropped (aborted) the two logs to the ground. One of the logs hit and fatally injured one of the workers on the ground.

Manufacturing Fatalities

Jan 20, 2012: Sawmill explosion with 2 fatalities.

April 23, 2012: Sawmill explosion with 2 fatalities.

May 3, 2012: A contract millwright was performing some repairs on the strip conveyor of the tilt-hoist in the planer mill. The unsecured swing gate fell over from its upright position, pinning the worker against the side of the conveyor plating. The worker was fatally injured as a result.

July 11, 2012: The worker was dismantling an elevated catwalk approximately 12 feet by 20 feet. As he cut some of the supporting elements, the remaining supports buckled and fell onto the worker.

2013 fatalities

January 7, 2013 : A log truck driver was fatally injured in a collision with another commercial vehicle on Highway 16, east of Prince Rupert. A third commercial vehicle was also involved and reports indicate that poor road conditions were a major factor in this incident.

April 8, 2013 : A log truck driver was fatally injured while attempting to cut free a log that was not positioned properly in the load. After using a chainsaw to buck a section of the log free, the remainder of the log swung around and struck the driver. This incident occurred at a dryland sort on West Thurlow Island, which is located east of Campbell River.

Staying safe

We all play a role in keeping ourselves and our co-workers safe.

Take a moment to recognize how you can impact workplace safety:

•Report unsafe acts or conditions - don’t walk by.

•Be prepared for work – mentally and physically. Recognize the signs when you are rushed, distracted or complacent and may be making unsafe decisions. Stop and reassess what you are about to do.

•Take an active role in your crew members wellbeing. If a co-worker is distracted or otherwise unfit for work talk to them or your supervisor. An injured worker impacts us all.

•Ask for assistance – if you are unsure of how to proceed or need additional support.

I Chose to Look The Other Way I could have saved a life that day,But I chose to look the other way.It wasn't that I didn't care,I had the time, and I was there. But I didn't want to seem a fool,Or argue over a safety rule.I knew he'd done the job before,If I spoke up, he might get sore. The chances didn't seem that bad, I'd done the same, He knew I had.So I shook my head and walked on by,He knew the risks as well as I. He took the chance, I closed an eye,And with that act, I let him die.I could have saved a life that day,But I chose to look the other way. Now every time I see his wife,I'll know, I should have saved his life.That guilt is something I must bear,But it isn't something you need share. If you see a risk that others take, That puts their health or life at stake.The question asked, or thing you say,Could help them live another day. If you see a risk and walk away,Then hope you never have to say,I could have saved a life that day,But I chose, to look the other way. 

Don Merrelldonmerrell@hotmail.com

Day of Mourning website http://www.dayofmourning.bc.ca/

WorkSAFE BC http://www.worksafebc.com/news_room/campaigns/day_of_mourning/default.asp

Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety http://www.ccohs.ca/events/mourning/

Poem http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/healthandsafety/Poem/i_%20chose_to_look_the_other_way.pdf

BC Forest Safety Council www.bcforestsafe.org

Day of Mourning links