Scott McCloy, WorkSafe BC director of communications said he hopes many will attend the up and coming Day of Mourning ceremony, to remember those that lost their lives in the Babine Forest Products tragedy.
McCloy said it is the first time a Day of Mourning ceremony will be held in Burns Lake and said he hopes the community will make it an annual event.
"Day of Mourning ceremonies are federal and provincial events that are held to remember workers that lost their lives due to injury, illness and disease," he said.
McCloy said that although there has been memorial services held by the families of the two local men that lost their lives in the Jan. 20, 2012 sawmill explosion and fire, there has not been an opportunity for the community as a whole to come together.
"This ceremony is a time for everyone to pay tribute to those two workers, and to those that were injured that night," he said.
According to McCloy, 142 workers died due to workplace related accidents or illnesses this past year.
"Half of those were due to occupational diseases, mostly from asbestos from 20 to 40 years ago, 20 per cent were motor vehicle accidents and the remainder were from traumatic injuries such as falls."
There is 28 ceremonies being held across the province on April 28.
"We are hoping that everyone will come, firstly to remember those that lost their lives and secondly to recommit to workplace health and safety. We can't let people die in the workplace."
McCloy said that often deaths in the workplace occur out of sight and out of mind of the general public.
"Very few occur in a high profile fashion like the Babine Forest Products tragedy. When people leave for work in the morning they don't think they are going to die at work that day. They think they are going to come home that night in the same shape they went to work in. Statistics mean nothing to the families of those that died, so it is important to make workplace health and safety a number one priority," he said.
Mayor Luke Strimbold said, "It is a good opportunity for the community to recognize those that lost their lives in the workplace and to emphasize safety at work, especially in light of the Babine Forest Products tragedy."
The 2012 Day of Mourning Ceremony for Burns Lake will be held at Spirit Square on April 28, 2012 at 11 a.m.