Dead workers remembered

Thursday 27 April 2000

Tomorrow is International Workers’ Memorial Day; the day dedicated to remembering those people who have been killed at work.

This year’s Memorial Day has a specific focus on the plight of youth workers.

Since 1992 OSH has investigated the deaths of 42 people under the age of 25 whose lives have ended in tragedy while they were at work.

According to OSH’s General Manager, Bob Hill this year’s focus on youth is very timely.

"The young and recently employed are often at greater risk of injury in the workplace because of a lack of experience and training. They are also often the ones given the least desirable, and therefore sometimes most dangerous tasks.

"There needs to be a completely different attitude towards health and safety in some workplaces. Such a lasting change in attitudes will only happen when young workers know their rights and responsibilities.

"It is impossible to measure the impact on family and friends when a loved one is killed while trying to make a living. When the victim is young it is even more tragic.

"It is very disappointing that as Memorial Day focuses on workplace fatalities we continue to see people dying from the same accidents in the same industries. What never changes is the incredible pain and suffering that deaths and serious injury wreak on families and friends.

"Until there is a real commitment from businesses to keeping people safe at work we will continue to see what are quite simply unacceptable results.

"The sad fact remains that unless health and safety is accepted as an integral part of business, Memorial Day will commemorate workers who should not have died."