Flags at municipal locations across Chatham-Kent were lowered on Friday in memory of those who have died or been injured in the workplace.
Dozens gathered in the atrium of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Civic Centre Friday morning for a moment of silence as well as a speech from Denise Lidster, manager of occupational health and safety.
"The municipality, as the employer, wants everyone to go home the same way they came into work," she said. "We want to ensure that they are protected against hazards that they face."
Although the day of mourning began in 1984 it didn’t become a national observance until 1990, said Lidster. It is now practiced in more than 80 countries
On April 28 it will be the 29th time Canadians will participate in a Day of Mourning.
According to Lidster, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety reported that 951 workers died in Canada in 2017, a number which amounts to almost three per day.
"It reminds our staff to keep safety in the forefront," said Lidster. "We strive to reduce injuries in the workplace."
At the ceremony, mayor Darrin Canniff said in addition to deaths there are thousands more who are injured each year. He stressed injuries can happen at home in addition to at work, and urged vigilance wherever a job is being done.
