The last time the number of lost-time injury claims reported was below the 4,000 mark was in 1958, when there were 3,410 claims. The number of claims has been above 4,000 ever since, peaking at 10,642 in 1989.
The lost-time incidence rate, measuring the number of claims per 100 workers employed in the province, remained at an all-time low of 1.9. The rate has declined steadily from a high of 3.2 in 2000.
The number of accidental workplace fatality claims reported in the year, however, increased to 25, the highest in 20 years. In 2008 there were six accidental workplace fatality claims reported. There were also 17 fatality claims from industrial disease reported in each of the past two years.
“The significant reduction in workplace injuries is evidence of a strengthening culture of safety in this province, but the good news was completely overshadowed by the devastation of so many workers losing their lives on the job,” said Commission Chief Executive Officer Leslie Galway. “The number of workplace fatalities in 2009 made it a tragic year for Newfoundland and Labrador. These tragedies must remind us to be constantly vigilant for our safety – particularly in high risk areas.”
Workplace fatality claims in 2009 include 13 deaths from the March 12 Cougar helicopter crash claiming the lives of 17 workers (fatality claims are reported in the year the claim is filed and accepted by the Commission, not necessarily the year the death occurred). In addition, there were five fishing-related fatality claims reported in 2009, two in construction, two in aviation, two related to previous workplace injuries and one to contagious disease. (workersxzcompxzkit)
In other indicators, the number of medical aid only claims in 2009 was 2,335, down 25.6% from the 3,139 reported a year earlier. The incidence rate among young workers declined to 1.8 per 100 workers, down from 2.0 a year earlier.
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