Remembering those who lost their lives on the job.
Hundreds gathered at the head offices of Bruce Power yesterday morning for the annual Day of Mourning ceremony.
There was the laying of the wreath at the Cairn outside the building.
Inside, seven speakers delivered messages including 18-year old Chrissy Dobbyn, a Grade 12 student at West Hill Secondary School in Owen Sound, who was chosen to make a speech at the ceremony.
Ceremony Chair and President of the Grey-Bruce Labour Council Dave Trumble says they are making strides in preventing workplace injuries and death.
But he says it is difficult knowing that despite getting the message out, there are around 300 people who are killed while on the job and about 300 thousand more who are injured every year in Ontario.
Trumble says there is never enough emphasis for businesses and labour groups to work on improving workplace safety.
He says the province recently unveiled a Repetitive Strain Injury Standard (RSIS) but thinks it can have more impact if that was enshrined as a regulation.
He says violence in the workplace is also a huge problem and that also contributes to the toll.
In his presentation Project Director of the Bruce “A” Restart, Peter Bailey, says they have been able to achieve around 9 million man hours without an injury or death.
Trumble says that shows Bruce Power, Ontario Power Generation, and its associated unions all live and breathe a Safety First philosophy and the numbers show that.
He hopes everyone can focus on safety not only for that one day but for all 365 days of the year.
