Emily Gofton can’t forget the morning that changed her life in June 2023.

“When I got the call, I knew immediately … that gut feeling,” the 24-year-old recalls.

The voice on the other end of the phone said her boyfriend Liam Johnston, 27, a plumbing apprentice, had been buried in a trench collapse while working on a sewer job at a Calgary home.

She rushed to the scene, but never saw Liam alive again. Experts say he likely died within minutes under the weight of earth and concrete blocks and it took nine hours for firefighters to recover his body.

Johnston was one of about 350 Canadians who die every year from a traumatic injury suffered at work, based on newest reports from the University of Regina .

Emily Gofton's life changed the day she found out her boyfriend died while at work. She's hoping there will be criminal charges laid for his death. (Anis Heydari/CBC)

There are regulatory charges for safety violations in his death, which could lead to fines if there’s a conviction.

But Gofton, as well as Johnston’s family, say fines aren’t enough and hope for criminal charges in this case.

“We need punishment that makes them say, whoa. That's not worth it ,” said Kim Ivison, Johnston’s mother.

In Canada, criminal charges when someone dies at work are rare . Now, s ome legal experts, labour groups and safety professionals argue that needs to change.

Westray law can lead to bosses being prosecuted

While occupational health and safety regulations can see corporations or employers fine