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Day to remember dead workers to be officially recognised

Workers’ Memorial Day will be officially marked in the UK from this year, the Government has announced.

Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper hailed the decision as “a tribute to all those who have campaigned long and hard” for it, and said it is a “spur to greater efforts to improve health and safety for today’s and tomorrow’s working population”.

The decision was made following a consultation held last year on proposals to officially recognise the day, which has been informally marked in the UK since 1992. A total of 235 responses was received from unions, businesses and professional associations, including IOSH.

The “vast majority” of respondents were in favour of official sanctioning of 28 April as Workers’ Memorial Day in the form of government support that honours the “spirit” of the event, both as a day of mourning and a forward-looking day of action to address continuing risks to workplace health and safety.

Details of the day and events organised to mark it will be publicised on government-sponsored websites, such as BusinessLink and DirectGov, and the No.10 and HSE sites.

Respondents also felt the organisation of the day should remain with those who had helped build and promote it over the years – unions, campaign groups, and victim-support organisations. The proposal to have a different UK region lead on the commemorations each year will not be taken forward.

Welcoming the announcement, TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber said: “This special day commemorates the many thousands of people who have died as a result of their work, and we’re pleased the Government has taken the step of recognising it. Workers’ Memorial Day has been an important date in the trade-union calendar for many years and we look forward to working with ministers to increase its profile.”

IOSH chief executive, Rob Strange OBE, said: “I’m pleased the Government has decided to recognise International Workers’ Memorial Day, which, for too long, has been largely ignored in this country. Last year, 180 people died in workplace accidents, and thousands more from diseases – our health and safety record is still a long way from where it should be.

“This will hopefully shine a light on the need to focus on the real issues, not the crazy, nonsensical, or whimsical. I hope official recognition will bring the day to greater public prominence, which, for health and safety professionals, gives us a real opportunity to press home the need for good health and safety standards and behaviour in every workplace.”

This press release/article submitted to Safety43 by SHP magazine http://www.shponline.co.uk
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