Day of Mourning urges more prevention
Workplace injuries too common, event told
Ramiro Escoto carries a wreath as people march down Wyandotte Street East during the National Day of Mourning tribute Sunday.
Photograph by: Dax Melmer, The Windsor Star , The Windsor Star
Ramiro Escoto believes little has changed in the workplace or safety inspection monitoring since his son Takis was killed two years ago when hit by a front-end loader at a local construction site.
Escoto's workplace fatality was the last one in Windsor and Essex County, but injuries continue to be too numerous, said his father, who served as the honorary wreath carrier Sunday during a local tribute and march on the city's east end to mark the 29th Day of Mourning, which recognizes workers killed or injured on the job.
"Today is pretty emotional," Ramiro Escoto said. "It's only been two years since my son was killed."
Takis, 34, was said to be finished work, on his way to his vehicle with lunch box in hand, when he was struck and killed by the front-end loader backing up at a site in the 1200 block of McKay Avenue in June 2011.
In January, employer Coco Paving was hit with a $212,505 combined fine and surcharge after pleading guilty to one count of failing to carry out property safety measures. Provincial safety regulations prohibit operating a machine in reverse unless there's no practical alternative.
A date has not yet been set for a coroner's inquest that will look for recommendations to help prevent deaths like Ta-kis Escoto's.
His father said Sunday he still sees a lack of enforcement by the Ministry of Labour, "to prevent accidents and not just investigate after.
"We should get more (inspectors) in the field to check work sites. Accidents are more frequent now and it should be the other way around."
The WSIB paid out $2.85 billion in claims in 2011. Windsor and Essex County topped the province, with 139.9 allowed claims per 10,000 employed workers.
During a 10-year period starting in 2002, there were 687 men and 50 women across Ontario killed by workplace-related accidents.
Sunday's event at St. Augustine church in the 5100 block of Wyandotte Street East featured reflections from a number of local labour leaders and affected family members who have lost loved ones to workplace injuries.
"More and more, we are seeing the loss of limbs, the loss of lives," said Chris Taylor, president of CAW Local 200. "Today is a time to reflect and ask what can we do to put a stop to this around the world."
Many of the speakers reflected on this week's tragedy in Bangladesh that saw nearly 400 workers killed when an illegally constructed factory building collapsed. Many of those killed were employed at clothing factories within the building which supply garments at low prices in Canada and U.S.
"It begs the question to each of us on what the value of a $5 T-shirt really is," said local MPP Taras Natyshak (NDP-Essex). "Knowing so many lives are lost, is it worth it?"
The tribute was followed by a march led by Escoto involving nearly 200 from the church down to the riverfront where Windsor's monument to fallen workers is located. Red carnations were laid at the monument to honour the dead and injured.
Organizers of Sunday's tribute said it is important to remember those locally who have died or been seriously injured in the workplace.
"The numbers go up and down each year, but it's not getting better as a trend," said Tracey Edwards, chairwoman of the Day of Mourning committee.
Escoto's workplace fatality was the last one in Windsor and Essex County, but injuries continue to be too numerous, said his father, who served as the honorary wreath carrier Sunday during a local tribute and march on the city's east end to mark the 29th Day of Mourning, which recognizes workers killed or injured on the job.
"Today is pretty emotional," Ramiro Escoto said. "It's only been two years since my son was killed."
Takis, 34, was said to be finished work, on his way to his vehicle with lunch box in hand, when he was struck and killed by the front-end loader backing up at a site in the 1200 block of McKay Avenue in June 2011.
In January, employer Coco Paving was hit with a $212,505 combined fine and surcharge after pleading guilty to one count of failing to carry out property safety measures. Provincial safety regulations prohibit operating a machine in reverse unless there's no practical alternative.
A date has not yet been set for a coroner's inquest that will look for recommendations to help prevent deaths like Ta-kis Escoto's.
His father said Sunday he still sees a lack of enforcement by the Ministry of Labour, "to prevent accidents and not just investigate after.
"We should get more (inspectors) in the field to check work sites. Accidents are more frequent now and it should be the other way around."
The WSIB paid out $2.85 billion in claims in 2011. Windsor and Essex County topped the province, with 139.9 allowed claims per 10,000 employed workers.
During a 10-year period starting in 2002, there were 687 men and 50 women across Ontario killed by workplace-related accidents.
Sunday's event at St. Augustine church in the 5100 block of Wyandotte Street East featured reflections from a number of local labour leaders and affected family members who have lost loved ones to workplace injuries.
"More and more, we are seeing the loss of limbs, the loss of lives," said Chris Taylor, president of CAW Local 200. "Today is a time to reflect and ask what can we do to put a stop to this around the world."
Many of the speakers reflected on this week's tragedy in Bangladesh that saw nearly 400 workers killed when an illegally constructed factory building collapsed. Many of those killed were employed at clothing factories within the building which supply garments at low prices in Canada and U.S.
"It begs the question to each of us on what the value of a $5 T-shirt really is," said local MPP Taras Natyshak (NDP-Essex). "Knowing so many lives are lost, is it worth it?"
The tribute was followed by a march led by Escoto involving nearly 200 from the church down to the riverfront where Windsor's monument to fallen workers is located. Red carnations were laid at the monument to honour the dead and injured.
Organizers of Sunday's tribute said it is important to remember those locally who have died or been seriously injured in the workplace.
"The numbers go up and down each year, but it's not getting better as a trend," said Tracey Edwards, chairwoman of the Day of Mourning committee.
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