Workplace fatalities rose in Quebec last year

A man is dead after a workplace accident at a building in Phillips Square in Montreal (Scott Prouse/CTV News)

Quebec recorded 246 workplace fatalities in 2024, an increase of 36 compared to the year prior, the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) reported on Monday.

April 28 marks a day of remembrance for those killed or injured on the job, a moment of mourning that is observed in over 70 countries, according to the CNESST.

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Of the 246 deaths recorded in 2024 in Quebec, 172 were linked to occupational diseases, health conditions caused or made worse by work-related exposure.

Additionally, 96,721 workplace accidents were reported in 2024, with 10,403 workers saying they contracted an occupational disease.

Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet insists that occupational health and safety – including prevention – must be a priority in all workplaces.

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“Beyond the numbers, which everyone needs to reflect and focus on, there are loved ones, family members, friends and colleagues who are directly affected, left behind and deeply scarred,” he said.

– This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 28, 2024.