New injury prevention strategy launched in Nova Scotia
Nov. 28, 2025
Collaboration between WCB, the Province and partners will keep more people safe at work
HALIFAX, NS - The Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB) and the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) have launched Safer Workplaces Together, a new collaborative injury-prevention strategy to help keep more Nova Scotians safe on the job.
The strategy builds on two decades of progress that have seen Nova Scotia cut its workplace injury rate by more than half — from over three injuries per 100 workers to 1.25 today. Despite this progress, too many people are still being injured at work, a key finding reinforced in last year’s government review of the workers’ compensation system.
“The review of the system was very clear: to have a big impact on injury prevention, we need to work differently and think differently – and that means stronger collaboration,” says WCB Board Chair Saeed El-Darahali. “Through this plan, we’re choosing a different future for people working in Nova Scotia, one that’s safer and focused on the prevention priorities that matter the most.”
The framework outlines three province-wide prevention goals for 2025-2026:
- Reducing strains and sprains, Nova Scotia’s most common workplace injury.
- Supporting employers in addressing psychological harm, focusing on harassment and traumatic incidents.
- Strengthening frontline leadership by equipping supervisors with the tools and confidence to build strong safety cultures.
WCB and LSI will regularly meet with employers, unions, safety and industry partners to review data, share insights and coordinate action to ensure the strategy remains responsive and based on evidence.
“Every worker deserves to come home safe at the end of the day,” says Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “By focusing on the biggest risks and supporting employers and supervisors with practical tools, we’re taking real steps to build safer, healthier workplaces across Nova Scotia.”
The initiative supports WCB’s Protect More Strategic Plan goal of reducing injuries to 1.16 per 100 workers by 2030— an ambitious but achievable target.
“That target represents thousands of Nova Scotians who will return home safe each day because of the prevention work we are doing today,” El-Darahali adds.
Safer Workplaces Together sets a new foundation for building safer, stronger workplaces across Nova Scotia – one team with a clear goal.
Additional Quotes:
“Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is excited to be partners in the Safer Workplaces Together initiative. CME shares the same passion and vision for the health and safety of all Nova Scotia workers. Our vision is to continuously improve around these core principles: 1) Building trust and visible leadership around safety 2) Continue to grow a culture that empowers workers to act and evolve their safety culture and 3) Share best practices and technologies available to evolve organizational safety capability.”
– Michel Raymond, Vice-President – Nova Scotia of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.
“Industry has long called for real collaboration. We applaud WCB and LSI for listening and acting. The only path to zero is true collaboration and solution building. Together, we will keep Nova Scotia workers and workplaces safe.”
– Duncan Williams, President and CEO of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia.
“When it comes to workplace safety, education and collaboration are crucial. By educating workers, employers and stakeholders on best practices in health and safety, we create an informed and safer workplace.”
– Melissa Marsman, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour.
More Resources:
VIDEO: Safer Workplaces Together
Safer Workplaces Together report
WCB’s 2024 Impact of Injury Report