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Occupational Disease Fatalities
January 1 to December 31 2004
Occupational Disease Fatalities
Occupational disease fatalities accepted by WCB consist mostly of recognized occupational
disease, meaning disease known to be primarily or exclusively work-related e.g. asbestosis,
black lung disease. Occupational diseases are frequently diagnosed many years after the initial
or crucial exposure to the toxic substance, and it can often be very difficult to determine when
the fatal exposure occurred. The occupational disease category should not be interpreted to
reflect present work site hazardous conditions or exposures.
Occupational disease also includes heart attacks suffered on the job. The most frequent
occupational disease fatalities accepted by the Workers’ Compensation Board in recent years
concern exposure to asbestos fibres.
Industry Descriptions
Industry Sector Description
Agriculture and Forestry Includes greenhouses and market gardens, feed lots, timber management,
logging and related woodlands operations including the trucking of logs.
Mining and Petroleum Includes underground and open pit mining, oil sands mining and
Development processing, operation of oil and gas wells, drilling and servicing of wells,
and related services in the oil fields.
Manufacturing and Involves manufacturing beyond the raw product: includes saw mills, pulp
Processing mills, food and beverages, metal fabrication, petrochemicals, and oil
refineries.
Construction and Includes the construction of houses, apartments, industrial plants, roads,
Construction Trades bridges and pipelines, and specialized construction trades (e.g. plumbing,
painting, roofing, and bicklaying).
Transportation, Includes public transportation (air, rail, bus), trucking, radio, television, live
Communication and theatre, electricity, natural gas and garbage collection.
Utilities
Retail and Wholesale Includes food and beverage stores, department stores, home improvement
Trade centres, and sale and service of automobiles and equipment.
Public Administration, Includes the provincial government, all forms of local government,
Education and Health universities, colleges, business schools, libraries, hospitals and long term
Services care facilities.
Business, Personal and Includes building and grounds maintenance, financial services,
Professional Services restaurants, hotels and recreation facilities, security services, and
professional services such as engineering.
Occupational Disease Fatalities 1
January 1 to December 31, 2004
Industry Sector 2004 2003
Number of Fatalities Number of Fatalities
(Year-to-date) (Total)
Administrative 0 0
Agriculture and Forestry 0 0
Mining and Petroleum Development 4 5
Manufacturing and Processing 8 11
Construction and Construction Trades 26 16
Transportation, Communication and 2 6
Utilities
Retail and Wholesale Trade 4 7
Public Administration, Education and 7 11
Health Services
Business, Personal and Professional 1 2
Services
Unknown 2 0
Federal Government 1 0
TOTAL 55 58
Date of Description
Acceptance
MINING AND PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT
March 2004 A 71-year old worker was severely injured in a vehicle accident in 1958 leaving him a
quadriplegic. Failing health and complications related to the effects of his quadriplegia
resulted in his death.
June 2004 A 54-year old rig worker was exposed to asbestos between 1967 and 1980 while
handling brakes and other asbestos containing items and developed peritoneal
mesothelioma.
October 2004 A 70-year old chemist was exposed to sulphur and many types of asbestos over a 30-
year period in the gas industry and developed malignant mesothelioma.
December 2004 A 76-year old gas plant operator developed mesothelioma during his occupational
exposure to asbestos from 1956 –1989.
MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING
Jan. 2004 A 71-year old machinist died from malignant mesothelioma caused by exposure to
asbestos from 1946 to 1976.
February 2004 A 47-year old pipe fitter suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation requiring surgery
and extensive treatment. Complications related to adverse reactions to medication
resulted in his death.
April 2004 A 74-year old heavy equipment operator developed metastatic lung cancer from
exposure to silica dust over a 20-year period in the concrete industry.
July 2004 A 79-year old boilermaker/pipe fitter was exposed to asbestos over a 30 year period
and developed asbestosis resulting in respiratory failure.
September 2004 A 73-year old pipefitter died from mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos
during his 45 years of employment at an oil refinery.
Occupational Disease Fatalities 2
January 1 to December 31, 2004
Date of Description
Acceptance
October 2004 A 51-year old self-employed welder developed throat cancer from exposure to toxic
welding fumes from 1972-2003.
October 2004 A 78-year old engineering technician died from malignant mesothelioma caused by
exposure to asbestos from 1968-1983.
November 2004 A 67-year old laborer died from pulmonary fibrosis from exposure to silica dust over a
25-year period in the steel industry.
CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES
Jan. 2004 A 50-year old pipe fitter developed mesothelioma due to his exposure to asbestos in
the workplace.
Jan. 2004 A 78-year old cabinet maker developed malignant mesothelioma due to his
occupational exposure to asbestos over a 21-year period.
March 2004 A 67-year old sandblaster was exposed to silica dust while in the sandblasting
industry from 1969-1971. He developed chronic lung disease and silicosis resulting in
respiratory failure.
March 2004 A 77-year old steamfitter/pipe fitter developed asbestos related pleural disease
resulting from asbestos exposure in the workplace.
March 2004 An 82-year old insulator developed asbestosis as a result of exposure to asbestos
during many years in the insulation industry.
March 2004 A 30-year old labourer developed metastic carcinoma of the nasopharynx resulting
from prolonged exposure to dust and chemicals.
Mach 2004 A 73-year old plumber/steamfitter was exposed to asbestos and various pollutants
during his 20+ year career. He developed pleural disease, which caused respiratory
failure.
April 2004 A 74-year old electrician developed asbestosis as a result of exposure to asbestos on
industrial worksites.
May 2004 A 53-year old paraplegic suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest as a result of chronic
respiratory failure that developed from complications related to his fall injury 18 years
ago.
May 2004 A 62-year –old insulator died from severe pulmonary fibrosis as a consequence of
asbestos exposure in the workplace from 1958-1961.
June 2004 A 50-year old scaffold foreman suffered a heart attack resulting from significant
physical exertion associated with climbing up and down scaffolding.
June 2004 A 78-year old cement finisher was exposed to silica dust while cutting and jack
hammering concrete between 1960 – 1990, and developed asbestosis with related
pleural disease.
July 2004 A 77-year old insulator developed carcinoma of the lungs resulting from asbestos
exposure during his employment in the insulation industry.
August 2004 A 68-year old electrical contractor developed malignant mesothelioma caused by
exposure to asbestos while working on airport hangers during the 1950’s.
September 2004 An 83-year old construction worker developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
as a result of his occupational exposure to asbestos from 1951-1960.
Occupational Disease Fatalities 3
January 1 to December 31, 2004
Date of Description
Acceptance
September 2004 A 58-year old worker developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of exposure to
asbestos during the 1970’s as a roofer and to airborne asbestos in the 1980’s on
construction sites.
October 2004 A 70-year old plumber died from malignant mesothelioma caused by repeated
exposure to asbestos during his life long occupational career.
October 2004 A 53-year old plumber/gasfitter developed epithelioma malignant mesothelioma due to
his occupational exposure to asbestos over a 10-year period.
October 2004 A 51-year old construction worker died from acute pulmonary thromboembolus
resulting from complications related to an ankle fracture sustained in a fall.
October 2004 A 48-year old labourer developed mesothelioma during his occupation as an asbestos
remover from 1986-1993.
November 2004 A 64-year old plumber/pipe fitter developed pleural epithelial mesothelioma due to his
occupational exposure to asbestos over a 10-year period.
November 2004 A 78-year old plumber/pipe fitter developed sarcomatous mesothelioma due to his
occupational exposure to asbestos from 1956 to 1990.
November 2004 A 77-year old journeyman plasterer developed mesothelioma resulting from asbestos
exposure during 30 years of employment.
November 2004 A 67-year old insulator developed asbestosis as a result of exposure to asbestos
during his 10-years in the construction industry.
November 2004 A 70-year old insulator was exposed to asbestos during his employment in the
construction industry, and developed bronchogenic carcinoma resulting in respiratory
arrest.
December 2004 A 74-year old welder died from bronchopneumonia superimposed upon pulmonary
fibrosis as a consequence of asbestosis.
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION AND UTILITIES
February 2004 An 80-year old janitor died from malignant mesothelioma resulting from exposure to
asbestos between 1964-1984.
October 2004 A 42-year old truck driver died from complications as a result of injuries sustained in a
work related MVA.
RETAIL AND WHOLESALE TRADE
May 2004 A 50-year old sales representative suffered severe permanent disability after a motor
vehicle accident in 1992. The worker died from aspiration type pneumonia resulting in
respiratory failure related to her injury.
June 2004 A 61-year old equipment operator suffered a heart attack resulting from significant
physical exertion associated with climbing up steps into the box of a trunk to sweep
hoppers.
August 2004 A 79-year old car mechanic developed asbestosis as a result of exposure to dust and
fumes while working on automobile brakes.
November 2004 A 77-year old owner/manager in the retail business developed metastatic
mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos fibres when renovations were being carried
out in 1958, and construction of a new building in 1991.
Occupational Disease Fatalities 4
January 1 to December 31, 2004
Date of Description
Acceptance
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES
Jan. 2004 A 52-year old firefighter developed acute myelogenous leukemia as a result of
repeated exposures to smoke during his 28-year career.
March 2004 A 50-year old firefighter developed a malignant brain tumor as a result of being
exposed to various toxins and fumes over his 28-year career.
March 2004 A 63-year old firefighter developed chronic lymphocyte leukemia as a result of being
exposed to various toxic chemicals over his 33-year career.
May 2004 An 82-year old boiler maker developed mesothelioma resulting from asbestos
exposure during his years of employment from 1961 – 1986.
August 2004 A 78-year old worker developed chronic lung disease resulting in respiratory failure as
a result of exposure to asbestos at the work site.
October 2004 A 71-year old plumber/gasfitter developed malignant mesothelioma due to his
occupational exposure to asbestos over a 13-year period.
December 2004 A 71-year old firefighter died from pneumonia which was directly related to his non-
Hodgkin’s lymphoma which he developed during his 35-year career.
BUSINESS, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
February 2004 A 72-year old laborer was diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to
asbestos while working in grain elevators from 1961-1978 and in buildings where
renovations were being carried out in the 1980’s.
UNKNOWN
May 2004 A 72-year old plumber/insulator died from cerebral metastatic carcinoma as a result of
exposure to asbestos from 1959 – 1965.
June 2004 A 78-year old heavy duty mechanic suffered myocardial infarction and congestive
heart failure as a result of asbestosis related to workplace exposure.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
October 2004 A 74-year old developed diffuse malignant mesothelioma resulting from asbestos
exposure during his career as a carpenter from 1957 – 1989.
Occupational Disease Fatalities 5
January 1 to December 31, 2004
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