{"id":296393,"date":"2024-04-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csdconstruction.qc.ca\/?p=296393"},"modified":"2024-08-01T10:13:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T14:13:47","slug":"workers-memorial-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/csdconstruction.qc.ca\/en\/2024\/04\/26\/workers-memorial-day\/","title":{"rendered":"68 Occupational Deaths in Construction in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Montreal, April 26, 2024\u2014On the occasion of Workers\u2019 Memorial Day, a day commemorating those killed or injured on the job and celebrated on April 28, CSD construction is dismayed to learn that, year over year, the number of work-related deaths, accidents and illnesses in the construction industry is not improving.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Commission des normes, de l\u2019\u00e9quit\u00e9, de la sant\u00e9 et de la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 au travail (CNESST) just released 2023 statistics for fatalities and occupational injuries. A total of 68 construction workers lost their lives on the job in 2023, compared with 57 in 2022. Construction fatalities account for 32% of total workplace fatalities in 2023 even though construction workers represent around 5% of the employed workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These alarming numbers are deeply concerning for CSD Construction, whose elected members will gather this Sunday, April 28, in Quebec City to mark the Day of Mourning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE NUMBER OF REPORTED OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES AND ACCIDENTS DID NOT DECLINE IN 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, CNESST recorded a total of 8,676 work-related accidents and 914 occupational illnesses for the construction industry. \u201cWe believe that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg, since they only include injuries that were reported and accepted by the CNESST. Given the lack of job security in our industry, we know that many accidents, illnesses and other issues on construction sites go unreported for fear of employer reprisals. Furthermore, many risks\u2014particularly psychosocial ones\u2014are not taken into account when assessing the quality of work on construction sites,\u201d says Carl Dufour, President of CSD Construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PREVENTION IS THE NAME OF GAME<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For years, CSD Construction has been calling for mobile teams, independant from employers, to be introduced to the construction industry to ensure more effective prevention. \u201cOnce again, we have proof that employers, who are responsible for health and safety, are not adequately protecting the women and men who work for them. Prevention needs a major overhaul, and we don\u2019t believe that Jean Boulet\u2019s occupational health and safety reform is doing enough. We hope that 2023\u2019s heavy toll will make all industry partners aware of the importance of prevention,\u201d adds Carl Dufour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INCREASED PREVENTION WORK REQUIRED AS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS GROW WITH MASSIVE WAVE OF NEW WORKERS ENTERING THE INDUSTRY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the coming years, the construction industry will welcome 17,000 new workers a year to meet construction needs. \u201cThe massive influx of new people, often with no work experience, combined with work that is intensifying, is a recipe for increased injuries. Here again, it all comes down to prevention,\u201d concludes CSD Construction\u2019s president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TVA\u2019s story on the topic<\/strong> (French):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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