March 9, 2010

Health and safety

Construction industry accounted for most 2009 workplace fatalities in Alberta

But year-over-year numbers down

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

VANCOUVER

The construction industry had the highest number of workplace fatalities of any sector in Alberta in 2009, but this figure is the lowest in the last five years. Alberta’s Ministry of Employment and Immigration reported at total of 110 workplace-related deaths in 2009.

They are broken down into nine industry sectors, with construction responsible for 34 deaths, or 31 per cent of all fatalities.

“The construction industry has more inherent risk and more opportunity for injury than other industries,” said Employment and Immigration spokesman Chris Chodan.

These numbers represent the first decline in the number of total and construction fatalities in the province since 2006. In 2004 through 2008, between 124 and 166 workers died annually.

In the same years, the construction sector accounted annually for up to a third of those fatalities, with 59 constrution workers killed on the job in 2008.

“The only thing we can think of that might have caused the fall in the number of fatalities is the economic downturn, because we don’t have all the data,” said Chodan.

“What we really need is the injury rate, which is a better indicator because fatalities are included in the total number of injuries.

“The bigger number gives us a much more accurate indication of where things are tracking.”

A provincial analysis of fatalities in 2009 won’t be completed until April.

Others in the industry agreed.

“This doesn’t mean that the Alberta workplace is a safer place than last year. It just means that there was an economic slowdown,” said Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan.

“We still have an unacceptable level of fatalities and accidents, especially in construction, oil and gas, and forestry. So, the numbers don’t reflect an improvement in the safety situation.”

During the recession, thousands of workers were squeezed out of the labour market.

About two million Albertans were employed in 2009, which is 25,200 fewer people than in the previous year.

McGowan said the most dangerous sectors were the ones that slowed down the most during the recession.

He maintained that the decline in fatalities isn’t due to anything that the government or employers have done to make things safer.

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