In heavy construction, every project comes with tight timelines, complex work sites and, at times, significant, but manageable, risks. Saskatchewan’s recent record-low injury rates show how far the province has come, but serious injuries and fatalities remain a challenge across the province.
As a result, WorkSafe Saskatchewan wants all workers to be aware of their rights on the job. That includes the right to work in a safe environment.
In 2024, the province recorded its lowest total injury rate in history at 3.91 injuries per 100 workers, down from 3.95 per 100 workers in 2023. Since the WorkSafe Saskatchewan partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety was established in 2002, the province’s total injury rate has dropped by more than 65 per cent. The time-loss injury rate in 2024 also reached its lowest level in Saskatchewan’s history at 1.72 per 100 workers, down from 1.78 per 100 workers in 2023.
This data reflects the collective efforts of workers, employers, safety associations and safety leaders across the province. However, serious injuries remain high, averaging about 2,400 cases per year. They represent 11 to 15 per cent of all injuries, but account for approximately 80 per cent of compensation costs. Specific to the construction industry, from 2010 to 2024:
More than 51 per cent of fatalities were from occupational diseases in the construction industry.
95 per cent of occupational disease fatalities in the construction industry were from exposure to asbestos.
89 per cent of the public was not aware of the risk of asbestos exposure during home renovation work.
Learn more about commercial construction safety statistics on WorkSafe Saskatchewan’s website at worksafesask.ca/commercial-construction-stats. All workers in Saskatchewan are covered by three important rights that are intended to keep them safe on the job. Those rights are protected under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.
The right to know
If you are employed in Saskatchewan, you have the right to know about any safety hazards in your workplace. A hazard is anything that might cause an injury or illness. This knowledge is important in protecting yourself and your co-workers. As a worker, you have the right to receive the training, information and supervision needed to do your job safely. Your employer should provide you with instructions on how to stay safe before you start your job and before work begins on a new project.
Safety information, including training and instructions, can be given online, in writing or in person. The information and training may come from a supervisor, co-worker or someone outside of your workplace, but your employer must pay for all training that is part of your job. Clear communication is also a key component of the right to know. Your employer needs to give you the information you require to do your job safely in a way that you can understand. Ask questions whenever any safety instructions aren’t clear.
The right to participate
Each worker has the opportunity and freedom to get involved in their workplace’s health and safety activities. You have the right to share your concerns and ideas about how to make your workplace safer. If you encounter an unsafe situation on the job, this right gives you the opportunity to help rectify the situation, preventing injuries to you and your co-workers. There are several ways for workers to exercise their right to participate, including:
Reporting your concerns to your supervisor or manager about any health and safety issues that could cause harm to you or your co-workers.
Making suggestions to your supervisor or occupational health committee about how to make your workplace safer.
Joining your occupational health committee if your workplace requires one.
Acting as an occupational health and safety representative for your workplace if given the opportunity.
The right to refuse
Every workplace has hazards, most of which are not likely to cause serious injuries or fatalities. This right applies to the hazards that are considered unusually dangerous to yourself or others. An unusual danger or hazard could include:
A danger that would normally stop work, such as operating a forklift with a flat tire.
Something that is not normal for the job, like repairing a roof in bad weather with dangerous winds.
A situation you haven’t been properly trained for, or where you don’t have the right equipment or experience to do the work safely. For example, cleaning windows on a tall building without any training or fall protection equipment.
The right to refuse is only used when the first two rights have failed to protect your health and safety in the workplace. In other words, exercising your right to refuse is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly; it should be used as a last resort when other measures have been unsuccessful.
However, you should also not be afraid to speak up when you believe your work is unusually dangerous. If you or the people around you are at risk, you can say no. You absolutely cannot be disciplined or fired for exercising your right to refuse, as the right to refuse is protected under the Saskatchewan Employment Act. There are several steps to take when opting to refuse unsafe work, in this order:
Stop performing the task. Tell your supervisor what you think is unusually dangerous about the task.
Consult with your workplace’s occupational health committee if you and your supervisor can’t reach a solution.
If the matter is still not resolved, contact the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety’s Occupational Health and Safety Division at 1-800-567-7233. An occupational health officer will provide their decision in writing to you and your employer.
If you don’t agree with the occupational health officer’s decision, you have a right to appeal.
Each year in Saskatchewan, approximately 21,000 workers are injured on the job. Working together, we can make Saskatchewan a safer place to work.
For more information on the three rights, including videos and other resources for workers and employers, visit the WorkSafe Saskatchewan website at worksafesask.ca.
The company was charged with contravening clause 3-1(a) of the regulations, which means an employer failed to comply with the duties of an employer at a place of employment, including the provision and maintenance of a plant, systems of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of the employer’s workers, resulting in the death of a worker.
As a result, the court imposed a fine of $17,857.14, along with a surcharge of $7,142.86, for a total amount of $25,000. In addition, Ramage Land & Cattle Company Ltd. will be establishing a $4,500 scholarship through Canadian Western Agribition in honour of the deceased. Further, there will be two educational articles published, including:
an article in the Western Producer detailing the case, the lessons learned, the steps taken and the resources available for the agricultural sector
The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on Aug. 23, 2023, near Walpole, Sask. A worker drowned as a result of entering a dugout on horseback.
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.
Every year on April 28, Canada marks the National Day of Mourning. Provincially, flags at all government buildings are lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
April 28 was first declared as the National Day of Mourning by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984. The day is now annually observed across Canada as a way to pay tribute to individuals killed, injured or stricken with illness in the workplace. In 2024, 27 workplace fatality claims were accepted by the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.
“Our condolences are with the friends, families and colleagues of those who lost their life to a workplace injury or illness,” Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said. “Safety must be a priority in everything we do.”
“Today is an important day to reflect on how we can create safer workplaces, so each worker can return home safely at the end of the day,” Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board Chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky said. “There is always more work to be done to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.”
In 2023, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, a partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, released the 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy to help prevent and reduce serious workplace injuries and fatalities.
Copies of the 2023-28 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy are available at www.worksafesask.ca.
In Saskatchewan, all workers are protected by three fundamental rights under The Saskatchewan Employment Act that are crucial for maintaining safety on the job.
The right to know
If you are employed in Saskatchewan, you have the right to know about any safety hazards in your workplace. Hazards in construction and trades can range from operating heavy machinery to working at heights. Being informed about these risks is essential to protect yourself and your fellow workers.
You also have the right to receive the necessary training, information and supervision to do your job safely. Before you start a job or begin work on a new project, your employer should ensure you understand how to work safely. Safety information, including training and instructions, can be provided online, in writing or in person. It might come from a supervisor, a co-worker or an external expert, but your employer must cover the cost of all job-related training.
Do not be afraid to speak up if you believe a task is too dangerous. Your safety and the safety of those around you are paramount. You cannot be disciplined or fired for refusing unsafe work.
Clear communication is key. Your employer must give you safety information in a way that you can understand. If any safety instructions are unclear, it is your right to ask questions until you fully understand how to perform your tasks safely. If you are unsure how to do a task safely, do not hesitate to ask for clarification or additional training. This right ensures that you can speak up whenever necessary, especially when you are assigned a new task, tool or material.
The right to participate
As a worker in heavy construction, you have the right to participate in your workplace’s health and safety activities. Your insights and observations can help make your workplace safer for everyone. There are various ways to exercise your right to participate:
Report any safety concerns that could cause harm to you or your co-workers to your supervisor or manager.
Offer suggestions to your supervisor or occupational health committee on how to improve workplace safety.
Join your workplace’s occupational health committee (if one is required).
Volunteer as an occupational health and safety representative if the opportunity arises.
The right to refuse
Construction sites and other trade workplaces inherently have hazards, but when a situation presents an unusually dangerous risk, you have the right to refuse to perform the work. An unusual danger could be something like:
Operating a crane or heavy equipment that hasn’t been properly maintained.
Working at heights without the necessary fall protection.
Undertaking a task for which you have not received proper training or where you do not have the correct equipment to do it safely.
This right allows you to refuse work that you believe is unusually dangerous to yourself or others. It is a protection enshrined in The Saskatchewan Employment Act, meaning you cannot be fired or penalized for exercising it. The right to refuse should be used when the other two rights – knowing and participating – have not addressed a safety issue. It is a serious step, but it is there to protect you and your colleagues when other measures have failed.
Clear communication is key. Your employer must give you safety information in a way that you can understand. If any safety instructions are unclear, it is your right to ask questions until you fully understand how to perform your tasks safely.
Do not be afraid to speak up if you believe a task is too dangerous. Your safety and the safety of those around you are paramount. You cannot be disciplined or fired for refusing unsafe work. If you decide to refuse unsafe work, follow these steps:
Stop the task and inform your supervisor about what you believe to be the unusually dangerous condition.
If you and your supervisor cannot resolve the issue, consult with your workplace’s occupational health committee.
If the issue remains unresolved, contact the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety’s Occupational Health and Safety Division at 1-800-567-7233. An occupational health officer will review the situation and provide a written decision.
If you disagree with the occupational health officer’s decision, you have the right to appeal.
Each year, more than 21,000 workers in Saskatchewan are injured on the job. WorkSafe Saskatchewan is focused on ensuring the health, safety and well-being of all workers in the province, with the goal of working together to make Saskatchewan the safest place to work in Canada.
Canada’s construction industry welcomes long overdue federal leadership on the National Infrastructure Assessment
After four years on the shelf, the federal government announced the council appointed to deliver the National Infrastructure Assessment. This initiative has long been a cornerstone of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA)’s advocacy, with representatives recently raising awareness of the issue on Parliament Hill in November, 2024.
The newly-appointed Canadian Infrastructure Council will prioritize housing-enabling infrastructure like water, wastewater, public transit, active transportation and waste management. While this is a promising first step, more action is needed. Infrastructure demands across the country also include transportation and trade-enabling projects, which are vital to strengthening Saskatchewan’s economy and connecting communities.
“We are thrilled to see the federal government finally take leadership in addressing the need for a long-term plan for Canada’s infrastructure,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, CCA president. “While the scope of the council is incomplete, we do appreciate the government finally listening to the industry responsible for building Canada’s infrastructure.”
While the industry is overall pleased with the announcement, the newly-formed Canadian Infrastructure Council lacks clear industry and financial representation. CCA has long urged the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities to appoint an independent representative from the construction industry to the council. Failing to consult with those that build the infrastructure Canadians rely on, and those that finance it, will create significant challenges. Without this input, there will be a lack of understanding on key issues, limitations, and opportunities that exist in building a strong and resilient Canada.
CCA will continue to monitor the development and progress of the Canadian Infrastructure Council, and welcomes further consultation with industry and the federal government.
WCB announces 2025 preliminary average premium rate
The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) announced the 2025 preliminary average employer premium rate will remain unchanged from the 2024 rate at $1.28 per hundred dollars of payroll. The announcement was made at the WCB’s annual preliminary rate information meeting with Saskatchewan employers, workers and stakeholders on Oct. 31, 2024.
“Year over year, the WCB aims to uphold a balance between stable rates and a fully funded compensation system,” said the WCB’s chair, Gord Dobrowolsky. “The two key drivers of the 2025 preliminary average premium rate are claim costs and payroll. While we are forecasting claim costs to increase, we expect these to be offset by rising employer payroll. This is why we are proposing the 2025 preliminary average premium rate remain at $1.28.”
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system based on collective liability, where all employers share responsibility for workplace injury insurance. Employers are grouped together to form an industry rate code. Premium rates are set for each rate code based on the collective claims experience of employers within each industry rate code. All employers within an industry rate code start with the same industry premium rate.
With the 2025 preliminary rate proposal:
The overall 2025 proposed average preliminary premium rate will remain at $1.28 per hundred dollars of payroll.
Industry premium rates for approximately 76 per cent of Saskatchewan’s employers covered by the WCB will see a decrease or no change for 2025.
Industry premium rates for approximately 24 per cent of Saskatchewan’s employers covered by the WCB will increase this year.
The WCB works to uphold a balance between stable rates that ensure fairness, transparency, collective liability and predictability, and a fully funded compensation system.
“While we are proposing the 2025 preliminary average premium rate remain consistent with last year’s rate, we are seeing claims getting more costly, which coupled with inflation, is expected to put long-term upward pressure on premium rates,” said the WCB’s CEO, Phillip Germain. “By working together to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities in our province, we can help to minimize the impact of factors that are pushing premium rates upward.”
In 2024, the WCB completed an optimization of its investment strategy to improve the long-term expected return on its investments. Increased investment income benefits employers by reducing the premiums needed to operate the compensation system.
Additionally, employers can influence their individual premium rate through effective injury prevention and return-to-work programs. The degree to which employers in an industry work to eliminate workplace injuries also affects industry premium rates. Employers who have a fully functioning safety program and a solid return-to-work program can help prevent and manage work-related injuries.
In 2023, for the fourth year in a row, 90 per cent of employers in the province achieved zero injuries and zero fatalities in their workplaces. On an annual basis, serious injuries account for approximately 11 to 14 per cent of total claims and more than 80 per cent of claim costs in the system.
“The WCB will continue to work to prevent work disability through active worker and employer contact, and collaborative return-to-work plans with workers, employers and health-care providers,” said Germain. “Through all of these efforts, we can work together to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities that significantly impact individuals, families and communities.”
Outstanding achievement in the skilled trades honoured at the 2024 Apprenticeship Celebration Dinner
Nearly 350 people attended this year’s event, sponsored by more than 30 organizations. Held at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina, the Apprenticeship Celebration Dinner brought together industry partners and stakeholders, training providers and employers who help build a successful apprenticeship system in Saskatchewan to recognize award winners and celebrate their achievements.
“Skilled tradespeople in Saskatchewan play an important role in building a growing province, and our government is committed to creating more skills training and education opportunities, as guided by the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said. “Congratulations to those being recognized tonight for their contributions to Saskatchewan’s apprenticeship and trade certification system.”
Thirty-one journeypersons who achieved the highest mark on their trade’s certification exams between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, received the Outstanding New Journeyperson awards. Eleven additional awards issued by the SATCC included the First Nations and Métis Scholarship, the Scholarship for Journeypersons with Disabilities, the Outstanding Instructor and Employer awards, and the Apprenticeship Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition to the awards from the SATCC, industry partners including training providers, industry associations, employers and unions also issued scholarships and awards recognizing the achievements of apprentices and journeypersons.
“We are proud to honour and recognize the people who demonstrate excellence in the skilled trades,” SATCC Commission Board Chair Bryan Leier said. “On behalf of the SATCC and the Commission Board of Directors, congratulations to all the award winners for your outstanding achievements that contribute to a strong and successful apprenticeship system in Saskatchewan.”
Canada’s construction leaders call on the federal government to address labour shortages, outdated policies and investment gaps
A strong and healthy construction sector is the key to a solid Canadian economy, but outdated procurement strategies, labour shortages and a lack of adequate investment are preventing the industry from realizing its full potential. On Nov. 19, 2024, construction leaders from across the country headed to Parliament Hill to advocate for urgent intervention from the federal government.
Invest in long-term infrastructure, with a focus on housing, transportation and trade-enabling projects.
Grow the construction workforce to address critical labour shortages.
Modernize procurement processes and cut unnecessary red tape.
Construction contributes $162 billion annually to Canada’s GDP and employs over 1.6 million Canadians. Supporting construction means supporting job creation, trade, critical infrastructure, productivity and growth.
“It’s not promises that build the economy – it’s construction. It drives growth, creates jobs and builds and maintains the essential infrastructure we all depend on,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, CCA president. “To secure Canada’s future, we need to invest in infrastructure, expand our workforce and modernize procurement. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient Canada.”
Canada’s builders are asking for substantial changes in how the federal government approaches infrastructure investment, workforce development and procurement. By cutting red tape, collaborating on a long-term vision for infrastructure and addressing labour challenges, we can deliver the projects Canadians need for a stronger future.
Skilled Trade and Technology Week proclaimed in Saskatchewan
To celebrate the week, Skills Canada Saskatchewan hosted a networking breakfast, followed by a skills fair on Thursday, Nov. 7 at Campus Regina Public. Middle years and high school students were invited to learn about available post-secondary and career opportunities in these fields.
Careers in trades and technology provide many opportunities for Saskatchewan youth. Educators were invited to explore a number of activities with their students to learn more, including connecting with Skills Canada Saskatchewan to host Trade and Tech Days at their school, inviting apprentices, journeypersons and other industry representatives into their classrooms to deliver presentations or administer the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) program.
Developed and overseen by the SATCC, SYA enhances students’ understanding of apprenticeship and careers in the skilled trades through 12 activities, including researching and writing a report on a designated trade, interviewing a journeyperson and attending a career fair. Students who register as apprentices in Saskatchewan within five years of program completion receive 300 trade time hours and the waiver of their apprenticeship registration fee and Level 1 technical training tuition.
Two companies fined in workplace incident causing serious injury to a worker
Strathcona Resources Ltd. was fined for contravening clause 3-12 (a) (ii) of the Act. As a result, the court imposed a fine of $60,714.29 with a surcharge of $24,285.71 for a total amount of $85,000. One other charge was withdrawn.
Steel View Energy & Industrial Services Ltd. was fined for contravening clause 3-1 (a) of the regulations (being an employer failed to comply with the duties of an employer at a place of employment, including the provision and maintenance of a plant, systems of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of the employer’s workers, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).
The court imposed a fine of $39,285.71 with a surcharge of $15,714.29, for a total amount of $55,000. The charges for both companies stemmed from a single incident that occurred on Dec. 5, 2022, near Major, Sask., when a worker was seriously injured when they were struck by an ejection clamp.
The company was fined for contravening subsection 7-6 (1) of the regulations (being an employer fail where there is a risk of injury to the head of a worker to provide approved industrial protective headwear and require a worker to use it, resulting in the serious injury of a worker), as well as contravening subsection 9-2 (2) of the regulations (being an employer fail to ensure that workers use a fall protection system at a temporary or permanent work area if a worker may fall three metres or more; or there is a possibility of injury if a worker falls less than three metres, resulting in the death of a worker).
The Court imposed a total fine of $232,142.86 with a surcharge of $92,857.14, for a total amount of $325,000. Five other charges were withdrawn.
The charges stemmed from two separate incidents that occurred near Spiritwood, Saskatchewan. The first occurred on November 11, 2021, where a worker was struck by a gate and seriously injured while attempting to load bulls onto a trailer.
The second incident occurred on January 26, 2022, where a worker was fatally injured while attempting to clear snow off a roof when the worker fell through a fiberglass skylight.
