WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the injury prevention partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, is calling attention to the strides made in improving workplace safety and the work still ahead to prevent injuries and save lives.
Today, Saskatchewan workplaces are safer than ever before. The total injury rate of 3.91 per 100 workers was a historic low in 2024, declining for the second straight year. In fact, since WorkSafe Saskatchewan was established in 2002, the total injury rate has dropped by more than 65 per cent. Similarly, in 2024, the province recorded its lowest time loss injury rate ever at 1.72 per 100 workers. For the fifth year in a row, 90 per cent of Saskatchewan workplaces reported zero injuries and zero fatalities.
“This new historic low in our total injury rate represents the focus and hard work of workers, employers, safety associations, safety leaders across the province and [their] labour to enable worker safety in Saskatchewan,” said Gord Dobrowolsky, WCB chair. “Safety starts with us on every job, every shift. It is our combined efforts that continue to reduce injury rates. While these numbers are heading in the right direction, even one injury is too many.”
In 2024, 27 workers lost their lives due to work-related incidents or illnesses. Each of these tragedies leaves behind grieving families, friends, coworkers and communities. Every year in the province, approximately 2,400 workers suffer serious injuries. Between 11 and 15 per cent of all claims in the province continue to be serious injury claims, which make up more than 80 per cent of the costs to the Saskatchewan compensation system.
For the fifth year in a row, 90 per cent of Saskatchewan workplaces reported zero injuries and zero fatalities.
“While workplace injuries and fatalities in Saskatchewan are decreasing, we must never forget that workplace fatalities still tragically impact spouses, children, families, workplaces and communities every year,” said Dobrowolsky. “This must drive us to continually work toward making workplaces safe for every Saskatchewan worker.”
To further the province’s efforts in eliminating workplace fatalities and serious injuries, in 2023, WorkSafe Saskatchewan launched the 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy. The strategy is enhancing efforts to reduce injuries and fatalities through new regulatory, enforcement, prevention and learning initiatives. It is largely focused on three priority industries that include high-risk work: health care, transportation and construction.
“This strategy is playing an important role in helping us to implement initiatives that act to prevent injuries and fatalities, and enhance worker safety on the job,” said WCB CEO Phillip Germain. Learn more about the strategy at worksafesask.ca/fatalities-and-serious-injuries. “We are committed to ensuring safer workplaces in our province,” said Germain. “While safe workplaces are good for business, the most important part of every job is for each worker to come home safely.”
Continued collaboration between workers, employers, industry associations and government remains essential in creating safer workplaces for all. By strengthening prevention efforts, supporting safety leadership and prioritizing education and enforcement, Saskatchewan can continue to build on these historic gains.
