WCB statistics say Sask. had lowest workplace injury rate ever in 2023

Saskatchewan’s workplace injury rate for 2023 was the lowest in the province’s recorded history.

Statistics released by the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) show the total injury rate for 2023 was 3.95 per 100 workers, down from 4.33 per 100 workers in 2022. That’s an 8.78 per cent decrease year over year.

From 2009 to 2023, the WCB’s Total injury rate has fallen by 57.62 per cent.

The statistics also showed the province’s time loss injury rate was 1.78 per 100 workers in 2023, down from 2.04 per 100 workers in 2022. That represents a decrease of 12.75 per cent.

“Through the WorkSafe Saskatchewan partnership with the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, as a province, we are on the right track as we see our Total and Time Loss injury rates continue to come down,” WCB chair Gord Dobrowolsky said in a release.

“This is thanks to the combined efforts of workers, employers, our safety associations, safety leaders across the province and labour, including the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and the Saskatchewan Building Trades. But even one injury is too many, so there is still much to do to ensure that every worker in Saskatchewan is able to come home safely at the end of the day.”

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The WCB said that for the fourth year in a row, 90 per cent of Saskatchewan workplaces reported zero deaths and zero injuries in 2023.

However, there were 29 workplace deaths in 2023 — 10 due to occupational disease (including five from exposure to asbestos), 10 from medical complications due to workplace injuries, heart attacks or traumatic events, and nine resulting from motor vehicle collisions.

“Each of these fatalities represent spouses, children, families, workplaces and communities who have been tragically impacted by these losses,” Dobrowolsky said in the release.

“We need to remember the 29 workers in our province who lost their lives because of a work-related injury last year. To honour their memories, we all must intensify our efforts to make every workplace safe from injuries and fatalities.”

There were 39 workplace fatalities in 2022.

According to the WCB, total claims accepted in 2023 decreased by 6.80 per cent to 16,143 from 17,321 in 2022.

“We believe every workplace incident is preventable, and serious injuries represent approximately 11 to 14 per cent of our total claims,” WCB CEO Phillip Germain said.

“Serious injuries account for more than 80 per cent of our claim costs in the province’s compensation system each year. We will not rest until Saskatchewan records no workplace fatalities and the lowest serious injury rate in Canada. We believe we are on the right track to get there.”