Twenty Workplace Fatalities In Nova Scotia In 2021
HALIFAX–Twenty Nova Scotians died at work, or because of their work, in 2021.
According to numbers released by the Workers Compensation Board and the province, five died from acute traumatic injuries on the job, all in the fishing and construction sectors.
Fifteen of the deaths were classified as chronic, with seven related to occupational diseases and eight because of health-related issues.
The 20 workplace deaths in 2021 represent a decline from the previous year. In 2020, 32 people died on the job in Nova Scotia. Eighteen of those were acute deaths.
The worst year for workplace deaths in the province in recent history was 2018, when 40 of the province’s workers died on the job.
WCB Nova Scotia CEO Stuart MacLean says even one death is one too many.
“It’s just far too many. Certainly, we want to do better. Anytime you have a fatality, it’s a failure of the system in my estimation,” says MacLean.
MacLean says he’s proud of the progress in the fishing sector over the last few years, as the safety association has been active with man overboard drills and education on wharves.
“We’re having good progress, but we still had fatalities last year. That’s a reminder that we’re not done, and there’s still room for improvement.”
MacLean says workers compensation claims in the industry are down 50 percent over the last few years.
Kevin Northrup is a reporter with CJLS in Yarmouth, a Huddle content partner.