B.C. reports 138 work-related deaths in 2025; occupational diseases the leading cause

Construction workers build the wood frame of a new waterfront home in El Porto Beach, El Segundo, Calif., on Friday, April 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

RICHMOND — British Columbia’s workers’ compensation agency says 138 people died on the job or from workplace injuries and illnesses last year.

WorkSafeBC says in a statement that 79 of those deaths were from occupational diseases, including 36 from asbestos exposure.

The deaths for 2025 also include 41 deaths from traumatic workplace injuries such as falls, being struck by objects or being caught in equipment and machinery.

There were also 18 deaths stemming from work-related motor-vehicle accidents.

The figures were released in advance of the annual day of mourning on Tuesday to commemorate fallen workers in the province.

WorkSafeBC says last year’s death rate is the lowest in recent years, with the number of fatalities reaching 181 in 2022, then sliding since then to 146 recorded in 2024.

Men made up most of work-related fatalities last year with 134 of the deaths, while four women died.

Events for the annual day will be held at the legislature in Victoria, and in communities across the province, including Prince George, New Westminster, Delta, Abbotsford, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Terrace and Nanaimo.

“Behind every number is a person, a family, co-workers, and a community that are forever changed,” says WorkSafeBC head of prevention services Todd McDonald in a statement. “The Day of Mourning is a time to remember the workers we’ve lost and reflect on what we can all do to make workplaces safer.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026.