'Every single fatality is preventable' says CEO Karen Adams as she outlines a shift towards greater accountability
Earlier this month WCB Nova Scotia released its 2024 Impact of Injury Report, showcasing significant progress in reducing workplace injuries while underscoring the ongoing challenge of preventing fatalities.
The report reveals a 30% reduction in the injury rate within the province’s largest sector—health and social services. According to WCB Nova Scotia CEO Karen Adams, this achievement is the result of “people across Nova Scotia recognizing that injuries are preventable” and implementing effective safety measures.
“In healthcare and social services, it’s Nova Scotia Health keeping people—nurses, CCAs, anybody involved in healthcare—safe by ensuring there are health and safety committees and prevention tools in place,” Adams says. “This is the culmination of many years of work.”
One notable success story involves 90 healthcare workers who remained on the job in 2024 despite suffering injuries. Adams attributes this to strong support from employers who provide “transitional duties” for injured workers. “If I’m a nurse and I’ve hurt myself, I might take on a role where I’m helping train other nurses while I recover,” she explains.
However, despite these improvements, the report also reveals a sobering reality: 20 Nova Scotians lost their lives in 2024 due to acute workplace incidents, occupational diseases, or other work-related health issues. “Every single fatality is preventable,” says Adams. “We continue to see lung disease cancers, particularly among firefighters who inhale smoke over time. It’s a real tragedy.”
New strategic direction with accountability at the core
The 2024 report also marks the first full year of WCB Nova Scotia’s Protect More Strategic Plan (2024-2030), which Adams describes as a shift toward greater accountability for all parties involved in workplace safety—WCB, employers, and workers alike.
“We are holding ourselves accountable for making sure that we are simplifying processes, focusing on processing claims quicker, getting back to people, basically just giving the service that Nova Scotians deserve,” she says. “We’re seeing results already, and 2025 is going to blow 2024 out of the water.”
A key element of this strategy is a renewed focus on faster return-to-work outcomes. In the first three months of 2025, more than 70% of injured workers returned to work within 90 days. Adams attributes this success to a new service model that emphasizes early intervention.
Preparing for the Duty to Cooperate Law
Looking ahead, WCB Nova Scotia is preparing for the introduction of the Duty to Cooperate Law, which Adams believes will strengthen accountability even further. “It’s accountability times ten,” she says. “But even without the law, the accountability measures we’ve put in place are already making a difference.”
WCB Nova Scotia is also expanding its focus on psychological injuries, including gradual onset psychological injuries such as those caused by workplace bullying or harassment. “Relatively new, but long overdue,” Adams notes, explaining that the province now compensates workers for psychological harm.
Call to action for safer workplaces
Despite the progress highlighted in the report, Adams insists that WCB Nova Scotia’s mission is far from complete. “The main point I want to make is that what we should be doing as employers across the province is not just not hurting people physically and psychologically,” she says. “That’s a pretty low bar. Let’s try to aim for creating workplaces where people can thrive, both physically and psychologically.”
The 2024 Impact of Injury Report, available on the WCB Nova Scotia website, provides a detailed breakdown of the province’s workplace injury statistics, ongoing safety initiatives, and the organization’s evolving approach to worker protection.
