Remember the fallen in the workplace

Today is World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day, a day set aside to focus on taking action to prevent future deaths, injuries and illnesses in the workplace and to also remember those that have died from a work-related incident or illness.

Around 6400 people die every day from an occupational accident or disease amounting to more than 2 million deaths globally each year.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) argues this reality places workplace accidents and illnesses in the high-burden category of all global health concerns.

Add to that figure more than 300 million worker injuries per year and the cost to global gross domestic product is an extraordinary US$2.8 trillion - not to mention the emotional costs impacting families and communities.

Safe Work Australia Chair Ann Sherry AO said today is an opportunity to focus on future approaches for prevention.

“Today, I encourage everyone to prevent further tragedy and make work health and safety your focus,” Sherry said.

“We need to reduce workers’ exposure to hazards and risks. By using good design principles we can minimise exposure by designing out the risk from the beginning - this is integral to prevention.”

Sherry said Australia has come a long way in reducing the numbers but there is more to be done.

“In 2014, 185* Australians lost their lives through injury at work. This is not acceptable,” she said.

“I know leaders can have a significant impact on improving work health and safety. Business leaders routinely manage a range of risks and can prevent injury and illness by actively managing those risks.”

The ILO Director-General is calling for urgent action to “build a culture of prevention” for occupational health and safety worldwide through the sharing and emulation of good practices and for constructive dialogue between all stakeholders: governments, workers, employers and their organisations, specialists and experts.

For more information, visit Safe Work Australia or the ILO.

*Preliminary data for 2014.