WorkplaceNL says injury rates at all-time low in N.L.

This rate includes more than 3,500 new lost-time claims accepted by WorkplaceNL in 2016, the administrator of the employer-funded, no-fault insurance system said in a news release.

The rate has improved from a high of 5.2 per 100 workers in 1989.

Since the rate has dropped only modestly from 1.6 to 1.5 in the past five years, WorkplaceNL said it will be increasingly challenging to lower the rate even further.

“Reducing workplace incidents is everyone’s responsibility, and together we must continue to find ways to ensure that everyone ‎returns home healthy and safe at the end of their work day,” said Perry Trimper, minister responsible for WorkplaceNL, said in a news release.

There were 13 work-related fatalities in 2016, including eight from occupational disease.

The number has decreased from the 24 work-related fatalities, including 17 from occupational disease in 2015.

“On April 28, we join the country in marking the National Day of Mourning, to remember workers who were injured or lost their lives while on the job,” said Dennis Hogan, CEO, WorkplaceNL. “We will continue to work directly with labour, employers and our other partners on focused programs that actively make a difference in preventing workplace injuries and illnesses, paying close attention to high-risk industries and priority employers, so that workers throughout the province go home safely to their loved ones at the end of their workday.”

The lost-time incidence rate has decreased in three industries, remained the same in three industries and increased in six industries.

Lost-time incidence rate among young workers declined, to 1.3 per 100 workers in 2016 from 1.4 in 2015 – lower than the provincial rate.

Other statistics

• Lost-time incidents due to soft-tissue injuries remained stable at 1.0 per 100 workers.

• Lost-time incidents due to serious injury declined, to 9.7 per 10,000 workers in 2016 from 11.6 in 2015.

• Lost-time incidents due to falls from heights declined, to 7.4 per 10,000 workers in 2016 from 7.8 in 2015.

• Lost-time incidents due to assaults and violent acts increased, to 8.9 per 10,000 workers in 2016 from 7.6 in 2015.

The lost-time incidence rate represents the number of injured workers who received compensation while missing time from work due to a workplace incident.