Artist's Statement
April 2012
The photographs in Sacrifices on the Job show examples of public art that acknowledge and honour people killed at worksites across Nova Scotia, in events that occurred over the last two hundred years. The events are described in text accompanying the photographs.
The oldest event depicted in this photo exhibit took place in 1797 when the ship The Tribune sank near Herring Cove, and most of the crew were drowned or dashed on the rocks. The most recent event took place in 2003 when Hurricane Juan struck the Halifax region, downing trees all over the city, included one that fell on the ambulance of John Rossiter, a paramedic who was on duty at the time, who was killed instantly.
Some of the events commemorated in this exhibit are well known, such as the Westray Mine tragedy in 1992 and the Halifax Explosion in 1917. Others are relatively obscure, not widely known outside of the families and communities directly involved. All of the photographs present the names and dates of specific individuals who lost their lives on the worksite. All of the events are tragedies.
Many of the tragedies in Nova Scotia occurred when a ship is lost at sea or a mine collapses. But death at the worksite can happen in many ways. Worksite deaths are not accidents. With better training, better equipment, better working conditions, and a safety-conscious mind-set that encompasses everyone, including managers, supervisors, workers, and the general public, occupational deaths, injuries, and diseases are preventable.
April 2012
The photographs in Sacrifices on the Job show examples of public art that acknowledge and honour people killed at worksites across Nova Scotia, in events that occurred over the last two hundred years. The events are described in text accompanying the photographs.
The oldest event depicted in this photo exhibit took place in 1797 when the ship The Tribune sank near Herring Cove, and most of the crew were drowned or dashed on the rocks. The most recent event took place in 2003 when Hurricane Juan struck the Halifax region, downing trees all over the city, included one that fell on the ambulance of John Rossiter, a paramedic who was on duty at the time, who was killed instantly.
Some of the events commemorated in this exhibit are well known, such as the Westray Mine tragedy in 1992 and the Halifax Explosion in 1917. Others are relatively obscure, not widely known outside of the families and communities directly involved. All of the photographs present the names and dates of specific individuals who lost their lives on the worksite. All of the events are tragedies.
Many of the tragedies in Nova Scotia occurred when a ship is lost at sea or a mine collapses. But death at the worksite can happen in many ways. Worksite deaths are not accidents. With better training, better equipment, better working conditions, and a safety-conscious mind-set that encompasses everyone, including managers, supervisors, workers, and the general public, occupational deaths, injuries, and diseases are preventable.
