Alberta workplace deaths down in 2009

Provincial statistics released Wednesday show there were 110 workplace-related deaths in Alberta last year, a drop from166 who died in 2008.

"As proud as I am about the numbers and as proud as I am about the fact that whatever it is that we're doing appears to be working, I will not be resting on the laurels of these numbers," Alberta's employment and immigration minister, Thomas Lukaszuk, said.

"I will be the first one to tell you that we still have a long way to go."

The statistics were released on the National Day of Mourning.

It prompted theNDP and Liberals to renew their calls for Lukaszuk to release the names of Alberta employers who repeatedly ignored safety orders and had worker injury ratesthree or four times above the provincial average.

The issue was raised by Acting Auditor General Merwan Saher in his report released two weeks ago.

Lukaszuk said he will comply with all of the auditor general's recommendations and repeated his promise to releasea list of thecompany names as soon as he has the legal permission do so.

"The auditor general, as I understand right now, is working on advice for me, which I should receive in a matter of days," he said. "And the moment that I have a green light from the auditor general and from my department, I will release it."

Of the 110 workplace deaths in 2009 , 41 were workplace accidents, 49 were due to occupational diseases and another 20 were from vehicle collisions.

There were 47,505 disabling injury claims in 2009, down from 60,692 in 2008. There were also another 26,096 workers who lost time because of a workplace injury, compared to 31,410 in the previous year.

The figures come from the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta and were prepared by Alberta Employment and Immigration.