Albertans mourn 144 workers who died from a work-related illness or injury in 2025

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) says employers need to start taking the safety of workers more seriously.

Workers who died on the job were honoured Tuesday during the National Day of Mourning.

According to the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), 144 Albertans died as a result of a work-related illness or injury in 2025.

“These 144 people were more than workers. They were parents, siblings, spouses, children and friends,” said Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, in a statement. “The National Day of Mourning reminds us that everyone, employers, workers and governments, have a responsibility to create healthy and safe workplaces.”

This year, the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) is highlighting workers facing burnout, chronic stress and mental health crises caused by work.

The union said that 1,458 psychological claims were accepted by WCB in 2024, while 1,848 claims were denied.

“The actual number of workers with work-related psychological injuries is likely to be far higher,” said AFL in a statement. “Workers in Alberta were about 28 times more likely to submit a physical injury claim than a psychological injury claim, and physical injury claims were far more likely to be accepted and compensated,” said AFL president Gil McGowan.

Data from the WCB by the AFL suggests claims are trending upwards over the last decade.

“It is not surprising that appeals of WCB-Alberta decisions are increasing,” said McGowan. “The cost-of-living crisis means workers can’t afford to miss time from work and not get paid, so more appeals are being filed.”

In 2024, WCB-Alberta received 3,864 appeals, an increase of 773 from 2023.