The Brock University community will join Canadians in observing the National Day of Mourning, held annually on April 28, by remembering workers who have died or suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses on the job.In memory of those who have lost their lives or suffered life-changing injury or illness due to workplace incidents, the Brock University community will join Canadians in observing National Day of Mourning.
On Thursday, April 28, the University will lower its flags to half-mast and the Schmon Tower will be lit in yellow. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. and share messages of support on social media with the hashtags #DayOfMourning and #BrockU.
Brock faculty and staff interested in learning more about health and safety resources at the University can visit the Health, Safety and Wellness Toolbox on SharePoint.
To report an incident, injury, near miss or health and safety hazard at Brock, fill out an injury/incident report or tell a person of authority, such as an area supervisor or Brock employee. Completed reports and questions can be directed to besafe@brocku.ca
Brock University Associate Professor of Labour Studies Simon Black has weighed in on the National Day of Mourning and says it’s an important opportunity to discuss occupational health and safety issues across the country, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With COVID-19 outbreaks in sectors from agricultural and meatpacking to warehousing and logistics, some of Canada’s most vulnerable and precarious workers have been let down by provincial ministries of labour, sometimes with deadly consequences,” he says. “Hopefully, the pandemic leads to a reckoning with the state of worker health and safety in this country.”
Black also discussed the National Day of Mourning in this 2019 Research at Brock video:
For more information on the National Day of Mourning, visit the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
