Labour Day and workplace safety progress in Saskatchewan
Labour Day has long symbolized the achievements of working people. Today, it also stands as a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility in ensuring every worker returns home safely. That responsibility is upheld by an enduring relationship among many–workers, employers, safety associations, labour and WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.
“You may not know that workplaces in Saskatchewan are safer now than ever,” said Kevin Mooney, the WCB’s vice-president of prevention and employer services. “The efforts of workers, employers, safety associations and safety leaders across our province have made Saskatchewan workplaces safer than they have ever been.”
Mooney pointed to numbers that support that message. The province’s total injury rate has reached a new low for the past two years, falling almost 69 per cent since WorkSafe Saskatchewan was established in 2002. In 2024, the time-loss injury rate was the lowest ever recorded. And for the fifth consecutive year, 90 per cent of Saskatchewan workplaces reported zero fatalities and zero injuries.
“These are inspiring numbers for all of us,” Mooney said. “I applaud the collaboration between labour and employers across Saskatchewan who are focused on reducing workplace injury rates. But even one injury is too many, and we believe that every workplace injury is preventable.”
Despite the progress, approximately 2,400 Saskatchewan workers are seriously injured and nearly 30 workers are killed due to work-related incidents every year. That’s why WorkSafe Saskatchewan’s 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy is supporting industries with the highest injury rates and focusing on the most common workplace hazards. The strategy’s approach includes prevention campaigns, targeted inspections, industry partnerships and training programs designed to address risks before an incident occurs.
Part of prevention is ensuring every worker knows their rights:
The right to know about hazards in the workplace.
The right to participate in health and safety matters.
The right to refuse work they believe is dangerous.
Employers play a key role in supporting those rights, from providing training and equipment to fostering an open culture where safety concerns are heard and addressed. In turn, workers contribute by following safe work procedures, reporting hazards and participating in safety programs.
“A safe workplace takes leadership, commitment and a culture where safety is truly valued,” Mooney said. “To raise the standard of success, we must innovate and push the limits of what we currently know and do.”
Labour Day is more than a holiday. It’s a time to renew that shared commitment. The progress Saskatchewan has made in reducing workplace injuries shows what is possible when everyone works together. By continuing to invest in safety, respecting workplace rights and supporting one another, Saskatchewan can keep building a future where every worker goes home safely at the end of their shift. We are stronger together, and together we can make every workplace safer.