April 28th
|
International
Workers Memorial Day April 28th |
|
April 28th has been dedicated to commemorating the lives and memories of workers who have died as a result of workplace accidents or illness and diseases contracted through work activities.
6,000 Workers die each day
According to ILO estimates, approximately 6,000 workers die each day from work-related accidents and illnesses, significantly finding that occupationally related fatalities are on the rise. Coupled with this horrifying figure is the number of non-fatal 3-day absence work-place accidents that occur annually, which is estimated at 270,000,000, and a further 160,000,000 new cases of work-place diseases each year.
In purely monetary terms these incidents equate to 4% of the global GDP of $65 trillion (IMF figure for 2007) or $2.6 trillion.
The human cost is immeasurably greater, and if we accept that on average 8 people are directly effected by each fatality or injury/disease, then almost 3.5 billion people worldwide are related to or are close to someone who has died or suffered as a result of serious workplace incidents each year.
These figures are astronomical and an article such as this cannot in anyway convey the magnitude, the pain and suffering that is represented in these figures.
International Workers Memorial Day has been established for all of us to take a moment to consider those who have died or been injured as a result of workplace hazards, whether that is a family member, a friend or colleague, or simply those anonymous workers who are represented in these statistics.
It is an opportunity to reflect on how we work, and what we can do to ensure that we are in control of the work that we do. Safety comes about when we realise that collectively we can decide not to carry out work until all that is necessary for a safe outcome has been put in place; when we take back responsibility for our own safety and well-being from systems and procedures that would otherwise neuter our competence as workers.
Further information on International Workers Memorial Day can be obtained from:
Transport and General Workers Union Events
Do a search on the Internet and you will find plenty of information on organisations and events near you.On International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) take some time out to consider what work means for many people all around the world. Consider the following equivalents this year workers equivalent in number to;
the whole population of Latvia, or Lesotho will die in workplace incidents.
the population of Russia and Romania combined will be living with illness and disease contracted from their employment.
The International Labour Organisation has further information on the IWMD.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work: 28 April 2008