Each year on April 28, Brian Dzurban (BA ’05) takes pause and remembers.

Brock’s Health, Safety and Wellness Co-ordinator annually joins Canadians in observing National Day of Mourning, reflecting on workers who have died or suffered life-changing injuries on the job.

But in his moment of silence, memories come rushing back.

Early in his career, just after graduating from university, Dzurban witnessed a tragic industrial accident. A warehouse employee where he was working had been operating a forklift and removing building materials from a transport truck when the machinery toppled over.

“I heard a loud crash and I could see the forklift laying on its side,” Dzurban said.

He ran over to assess the situation and discovered the employee’s lifeless body.

For Dzurban, learning how to talk about the trauma he encountered that day has been a long but necessary process.

“Initially, your mind has a very difficult time processing the event — you feel remorse, frustration, irritability and anger all at once — and it takes quite a while to come to terms with what occurred. While it was difficult and upsetting, talking about the event was what helped me move forward,” he said.

According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, nearly 1,000 Canadians die each year from on-the-job injuries and work-related illnesses. An additional 241,500 claims are accepted for lost time due to a work-related injury or illness.

The Day of Mourning, observed annually on April 28, was declared by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984 to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illnesses in the workplace.

Brock University will show its respect and support on this day of remembrance by flying its flags at half-mast.

Brock faculty, staff and students are encouraged to take some time to observe the National Day of Mourning. Those wishing to take part are invited to pause for a moment of silence at 11 a.m. and tweet with the hashtags #DayOfMourning and #BrockU.

“It’s important that we honour those who have lost their lives or sustained a serious workplace injury or illness,” said Dzurban. “It’s also a good opportunity to renew our commitment to safe workplaces and reinforce that safety is everyone’s responsibility.”

If employees recognize a hazard or health and safety concern on campus, they’re asked to address it if they have the authority to do so, or let their supervisor know about it. An injury-incident report should be completed with a supervisor and emailed to besafe@brocku.ca

“Experiencing a workplace fatality made me appreciate how fragile life is and how critically important safety is in the workplace,” said Dzurban. “We all need to be proactive in reporting and addressing hazards to prevent incidents and injuries.”

For more information on the National Day of Mourning, visit the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety.