Province has 27 workplace fatalities in the same year
The number of time-loss injuries in Nova Scotia workplaces has dropped to a new low, according to the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Nova Scotia’s 2011 annual report.
Last year, 6,616 Nova Scotians suffered a workplace injury that resulted in time lost from work. The 2011 statistics represent a 27 per cent decrease since 2005 and a four per cent decrease from 2010.
Assessable payroll, the WCB’s measure for the number of covered workers, has consistently increased. The injury rate — the number of people per 100 covered workers who are seriously injured on the job — is 2.02, the lowest it’s been since the current measuring format was put in place, the WCB said.
“We’re seeing a safety culture emerge in Nova Scotia and it’s the result of the hard work of many individuals and groups working together with a common goal of making this province a safer place to live and work,” said Stuart MacLean, CEO of the WCB. “Most importantly, it’s the result of employers and workers doing things differently.”
In other encouraging news, the vast majority of workers — 95 per cent — were eligible to return to full-time employment after their injury. There were 40,391 fewer workdays lost due to injury —the equivalent of 110 person-years of work, according to the WCB.
There were 27 workplace fatalities in 2011. Six of those deaths were due to acute incidents in the workplace, while 21 were due to conditions arising from previous exposures or other health conditions. The number of acute fatalities has been declining in recent years, the WCB said.
“No other statistic presents such a compelling case for continuing to focus on injury prevention in Nova Scotia,” said MacLean. “Our challenge now is to build on our progress to ensure that all workers come home safely to their families at the end of the day.”
Volatility in financial markets continues to impact the WCB’s investment portfolio, and has contributed to an overall comprehensive loss of $65.5 million.
“Investment returns are a critical component of the funding strategy that is largely outside the WCB’s control,” said MacLean. “Our financial results underscore the need to maintain an unwavering focus on the things that we can influence most — preventing injury and helping those who are injured safely return to work.”
