Wendy-Ellen Nittel, a mother whose son Blaine died in a workplace accident, now works with Threads of Life to support families of workplace fatalities. She shares her son’s story at exhibitions and trade shows to raise awareness about the importance of safety on the job. National Day of Mourning has been observed in 80 countries since 1991 to pay tribute to those who lost their lives while working. In 2022, approximately 1,000 people died due to job-related incidents in Canada, with 165 of those deaths occurring in Alberta in 2023.
Nittel emphasizes the need for people to recognize that each workplace fatality represents a person with a family and loved ones. Tim Scott, a health and safety coordinator, highlights the long-term consequences for families affected by workplace tragedies. While the City of Lethbridge has not experienced any traumatic workplace deaths recently, organizations such as CUPE 70 are working to empower employees to speak up about unsafe working conditions. Nittel encourages workers to assert their right to refuse to engage in unsafe work practices.
The City of Lethbridge held a special ceremony to honor those who have died in workplace incidents, emphasizing the importance of remembering the individuals behind the statistics. Nittel and other advocates for workplace safety acknowledge that progress has been made in supporting health and safety initiatives, but stress that there is still room for improvement. Jeremy Charlesworth, from CUPE 70, emphasizes the difficulty workers face in speaking up about unsafe conditions, especially those who do not have union support. Nittel urges workers to stand up for their safety and not feel pressured to engage in hazardous work practices.
The collaboration between organizations like Threads of Life, health and safety coordinators, and union groups highlights the importance of supporting families affected by workplace tragedies and empowering workers to prioritize safety. Nittel’s dedication to sharing her son’s story and advocating for workplace safety serves as a reminder of the real impact of workplace fatalities on families. With continued efforts to raise awareness and improve workplace safety protocols, there is hope for reducing the number of job-related incidents and ensuring that workers feel empowered to prioritize their own well-being. Despite progress, there is still a need to strengthen support for health and safety initiatives and encourage a culture of safety in the workplace.
