Worker’s Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year. All
over the world workers and their representatives conduct events,
demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the
day.
The day is also intended to not only remember the dead, but also to fight for the living.
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) announced the international theme for 2011 is the crucial role played by trade unions, strong regulation and effective enforcement in securing safer workplaces. This theme is particularly relevant given Australia is currently in the process of harmonising our OHS legislation. Victoria’s union movement will continue to fight for the best model law for all workers.
The commemoration, jointly organised by the VTHC and Industrial Deaths Support and Advocacy Inc (IDSA), was at the ‘Remembrance Rock’. MC for the event was VTHC President and Secretary of the Maritime Workers Union,
Mr Kevin Bracken.
Mr Brian Boyd
, VTHC Secretary,
opened the event noting that the international theme was a very apt one today: because of the work and efforts of unions in Victoria over the past three and more decades, we have achieved a high standard of occupational health and safety legislation. However, in the current 'harmonisation' or 'rationalisation' of this legislation around Australia, we were in danger of losing rights we achieved over twenty years ago. He mentioned in particular the right of workers to elect their representatives how they wanted and for these reps to attend union training courses. He also noted that our very stringent asbestos regulations were at risk. Union workplaces ARE safer and healthier workplaces, he said, and it is important to ensure that union activity in OHS is maintained.
We were very fortunate to have Victoria's State Coroner,
Judge Jennifer Coate, speak at the International Workers Memorial Day event. She began by saying that in order to remember and honour the men and women who have died in our workplaces we needed to fight to prevent further deaths. Judge Coate outlined the role of the Coroner in workplace death prevention and referred to the dedication of the previous Coroner, Graeme Johnstone. She said, "Despite the best efforts of so many, from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2010, 122 workers lost their lives in the course of, or in connection with their employment."
The Coroner's Office has made 101 individual preventative recommendations and/or comments relating to workplace/and or industrial deaths in this State over the past 11 years. The Coroner said, "As coroners, we work daily in the face of huge sadness and tragedy and loss. We have and will continue to search for answers for bereaved families and communities needing to understand what has happened. We have and will continue to search for ways to reduce the number of preventable deaths in our workplaces by using the powers vested in us and the resources made available to us.
"But the quality of our work, and the ability to assist in making accurate findings and useful comments or practical recommendations is most often dependent on upon the level of cooperation and assistance we get from all of the various groups, agencies and individuals that we hear from, which includes huge amounts of expertise and industry experience that we rely upon to form our findings.
"Without that experience and expertise and open cooperation, which many of you gathered here today represent, we would be severely limited in what we could achieve in our jurisdiction."
Judge Coate also asked that we not forget the terrible effects a workplace death has on other workers - both those at the workplace, those assisting, like the police.
Mr Michael Borowick, ACTU Assistant Secretary, on behalf of ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence and President Ged Kearney, paid tribute to the work of the Victorian Trades Hall Council and its affiliates for the work being done to preserve the rights of Victorian workers. He spoke of his experiences of workplace deaths as an official with the AWU: two members who had been crushed to death in two separate incidents. He emphasised that OHS was a core union issue, and vowed that both the ACTU and the VTHC would keep fighting to maintain and improve OHS in workplaces. ACTU
International Workers Memorial Day
Media Release:
Business push to water down OHS laws would jeopardise workers’ safety
The next speaker,
Ms Heather Baker-Goldsmith, OHS Professional and former WorkSafe Inspector, began by telling those present that she had had many years of involvement in OHS: she had investigated many deaths. Her experience had led her to two conclusions: "In my experience, ALL of these deaths were preventable." Primary control in the workplace rests with employers, and employers needed to be proactive. The second conclusion was that much of our knowledge has come from what we learn when things go wrong. Our standards are very different today to what they were decades ago. It is necessary that we learn from the tragic deaths of workers and take action to ensure that we prevent such tragedies in the future. One such tragedy was the Simsmetal explosion in 1986, which killed four workers, including Gary May, the son of Deanne May, IDSA's Executive Director. As a direct result of that incident, the OHS regulator visited and inspected every single foundry in the state and it is likely that the lives of other workers were saved because of what we learned that day.
Ms Deanne May then spoke of IDSA, and how each member of IDSA has lost someone as a result of a workplace that incident that was preventable. She spoke of the work that IDSA does to support families and the work the organisation does to advocate for improvements in OHS laws.
Finally, Mr Bracken read out the names and circumstances of the 20 working men and women who have died as a result of traumatic incidents in the workplace since last April 28. He also noted that hundreds of others have died as a result of exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances. A minute's silence was observed, and the event ended with a performance by the Trade Union Choir.
The Minister for WorkCover, Mr Gordon Rich-Phillips, and Mr Greg Tweedly, Chief Executive of WorkSafe Victoria, were also invited but unfortunately were unable to attend.
- Workers Memorial Day was started by Canadian Unions in 1984. By 1996, it was an international day. Australian unions have marked the day since 1997.
- In 2004 Victorian Unions adopted the canary as the symbol of this day (first adopted by Canadian Unions).
- Globally, we remember the 2 million workers who die, the 1.2 million who are injured and the 160 million who fall ill each year from unsafe, unhealthy or unsustainable work and workplaces.
- Victorian workers continue to be killed in our workplaces. Australia is generally a poor performer compared to other industrialised countries. In 1999, for every 70 workers killed at work in Australia, the corresponding number in the USA was 53, and in the UK it was 14.
- The theme for 2011 is “The crucial role played by trade unions strong regulation and effective enforcement in securing safer workplaces”
- The Australian Safety and Compensation Council has estimated that approximately 14% of all cancer deaths in Australian males and 2.2% of cancer deaths in Australian females are caused by occupational exposures. This is probably still conservative, but greatly increased on a previous estimate of 4%. Some estimates, taken from Finnish and Norwegian work, places estimates at between 14% - 23%
- It means that every year at least 5000 invasive cancers and about 34000 non-melanoma skin cancers are being caused by occupational exposures in Australia.
- Approximately 1.5 million Australian workers may currently be exposed to occupational carcinogens.
- Australia has the highest rate of recorded mesothelioma in the world. The only known cause of this cancer is exposure to asbestos. 90% of all Australian meso cases in men are attributable to occupational exposure. Yet we believe the current Model Regs on Asbestos will reduce protections for Victorian workers
- All governments need to review and improve the scope of their laws and enforcement activities.
- Send your OHS rep to the commemoration ceremony.
- Ensure you have an active and trained elected occupational health and safety representative – if you don’t have one, elect one with the help of your union.
- Talk to your workmates and observe a minute’s silence at your workplace at 11.00am on Thursday 28 April.
- Give your workplace a Union health and safety check:
- Union organisation: Make sure you have effective union coverage across the workplace, including shiftwork and off-site workers, contractors, etc
- Be union Active: do a workplace inspection, speak to workers, map the workplace, etc.
- Union audit: Are systems working effectively? Or do you raise issues again and again without anything being done? If so, consider other actions: PINs, calling your union, etc
- Go to the OHS Reps website (www.ohsrep.org.au) for more information and materials, information and support in developing your strategies to improve health and safety at your workplace.