On-the-job deaths of two Okanagan workers a sign government, employers need to do more to make workplaces safe, said the BCFED in a statement released Tuesday morning.
The BC Federation of Labour is renewing its call for the BC government to make workplaces safer after two workers were killed in fatal incidents at Okanagan timber facilities over the last five days.
On Friday, a worker at a log sorting facility in Lumby was killed on the job. Monday, an employee at a the Tolko plant in 麻豆精选 also died in a workplace accident. The RCMP and Workers鈥� Compensation Board are investigating both tragedies.
RELATED: TOLKO EMPLOYEE KILLED ON THE JOB
鈥淲e extend our condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the two workers who died on the job,鈥� said Irene Lanzinger, president of the BC Federation of Labour.
鈥淎ll workers must enjoy the basic right to be safe on the job and to come home safely to their families at the end of their shift. But these two deaths鈥攁long with a third involving a Victoria construction workers two weeks ago鈥攁re a sign that more needs to be done to protect workers."
Lanzinger said the BCFED held the view that the government and employers aren鈥檛 doing enough to keep workers safe on the job.
鈥淗ealth and safety protections are weak and not always rigorously enforced. Worker safety is being compromised. Injured workers aren鈥檛 fairly compensated, and employers whose negligence kills or seriously injures workers are let off with a slap on the wrist," she said.
Lanzinger says the BCFED will continue to press the provincial government and Opposition NDP for more stringent laws and rules, more frequent workplace safety inspections, tougher enforcement, more stringent penalties for employers who commit violations, and for greater balance and fairness at the WCB.
