April 21, 2008

Manitoba vows to cut workplace injury rate

WINNIPEG

The Manitoba government has pledged to cut the province’s workplace injury rate by about 15 per cent over the next five years, though new statistics suggest there’s a long way to go.

There were 30 workplace deaths in Manitoba last year, compared with 17 in 2006.

The province has earmarked $1 million to hire 10 new safety inspectors — seven in Winnipeg and three in smaller communities.

Inspectors in outlying areas will inspect construction sites and the mining industry in northern Manitoba and agricultural work sites. Construction, trucking and agriculture make up the bulk of the workplace deaths.

“This is a real concerted effort, a real call to action,” said Labour Minister Nancy Allan.

After a damning report on Manitoba’s workplace health and safety regime by the provincial auditor a year ago, the province also cracked down on companies that violate safety laws.

Last year, there were a total of nine prosecutions that resulted in court-ordered fines.

The province’s injury rate has declined steadily for the last several years, but is still among the highest in Canada, according to statistics from a national association that represents workers compensation boards.

In 2007, there were 4.2 injuries per 100 workers, down from 4.3 the previous year. The province wants to reduce that number by 15 per cent to 3.5 by 2013.

Five years ago, the provincial government promised to cut its injury rate by 25 per cent, a promise it fell short of keeping.

Since 2002, the injury rate has dropped just six per cent according to statistics kept by Manitoba’s Workers Compensation Board.

Peter Walker, the health and safety representative at the Manitoba Federation of Labour said the new inspectors are a great step forward for workers, adding the province has made serious strides in the last few years tackling Manitoba’s high workplace injury rate.

“It’s not a contest and it’s one you hate to win but that’s the mess we”ve been in,” he said.

“Considering the province had to change the whole culture, that safety had to be on everyone’s lips all the time, that was a huge change.”

Canadian Press

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