Workplace injury in the province has dropped by one third in the last 10 years. Current injury rates stand at 3.7 per 100 person-years of employment, down from 5.5 in 1992.

"Our performance has improved year by year," said Workers Compensation Board Vice President of Prevention Roberta Ellis. "The statistics translate into fewer workers hurt or killed on the job and more cost-efficient businesses across the province.

For every one-per-cent drop in workplace injuries, the province avoids $12 million in claims payouts and gains 36,000 productive days. The WCB attempts to reduce workplace injuries by setting prevention targets each year -- and, so far, all targets have been surpassed.

WCB President Ralph McGinn believes this year’s theme, Prevention is the Cure, is appropriate. “The combined efforts of the employers, workers and our staff at the Board have contributed to a steadily declining injury rate," he says. "British Columbia is living proof that prevention pays off for everyone."

The BC WCB represents almost two million workers and 170,000 employers. For more details on NAOSH, visit the website at www.worksafebc.com.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to visit CanadaOne's article knowledge base for more informative articles.