Total injury rate was 8.7 per cent in 2010
In 2010, Saskatchewan achieved its lowest total workplace injury rate in more than 20 years. The total injury rate decreased from 9.32 per cent in 2009 to 8.7 per cent in 2010.
The province’s time loss injury rate was 3.12 per cent, a decrease of 9.1 per cent from 2009, which represents the eighth straight year of decreases.
“These reductions are very significant. These are not just numbers. With every percentage the injury rate drops, more Saskatchewan people are coming home safely at the end of the work day,” said David Eberle, chairperson of Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB).
While he is proud of the achievement to date, there is still much work to be done, Eberle said.
The WCB and Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety forged the WorkSafe Saskatchewan injury prevention partnership in 2002, through which they have developed a broad based provincial prevention strategy. The WorkSafe goal is to eliminate workplace illness, injury and death.
“These numbers are noteworthy because in 2010, we had more Saskatchewan people working and fewer being injured,” said Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Mike Carr. “We are encouraged by these reductions, but even one workplace injury is too many. We must all continue increasing our efforts to eliminate workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.”
