Alberta, Canada: Workplace Injury Rates at Record Low

Aug. 25, 2005
Alberta workplaces have had their best safety performance in over a decade.

In 2004, the injury rate of 2.6 serious injuries per 100 full-time jobs was the lowest since 1991, according to the province's Human Resources and Employment Ministry.

Injuries in Alberta workplaces decreased to 2.6 lost-time claims (LTCs) per 100 full-time jobs, down from 2.9 in 2003. The LTC is a claim for an occupational injury or disease serious enough for workers to miss at least the next shift after the day of injury.

Among other highlights:

  • There were 35,119 LTCs a reduction of 4 percent from 2003.
  • Lost-time claim rates decreased in all industry sectors.
  • Mining and petroleum development had the lowest LTC rate of all industry sectors.
  • Overexertion was the most common cause for LTCs.

Human Resources and Employment Minister Mike Cardinal credited the Work Safe Alberta initiative, a program that brings together government, industry, labor, safety associations and the Worker's Compensation Board to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities, for playing a major role in reducing the workplace injury rate in the Canadian province.

"This is a good start and with the Occupational Injuries and Diseases in Alberta 2004 Summary identifying the risks in our workplaces, employers can further reduce workplace injuries and fatalities," Cardinal said.

The Occupational Injuries and Diseases in Alberta 2004 Summary includes information on the Work Safe Alberta initiative; a provincial summary of LTC rates by industry sector; demographics of injured workers and the nature of their injuries or disease; and occupational fatalities accepted by WCB. It is available online at http://www.gov.ab.ca/hre/whs/publications/statistics.asp.

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