Our Ref: HSR/6/8
Head Office Circular NP/069/19
The Secretary
All Branches
All Shipping Branches
All Regional Councils
Dear Colleague
Workers’ Memorial Day takes place every year on 28 April. The purpose behind the day is to ‘remember the dead: fight for the living’ and events or memorial services to remember people killed through work will take place up and down the country.
Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents”. They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t that important a priority. Workers’ Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers.
In 2019 International Workers Memorial Day will have the theme “dangerous substances – get them out of the workplace”. The focus was mainly on carcinogens but you could adapt the theme to whatever is most relevant in your workplace or area, as many substances can also cause illnesses such as asthma or dermatitis.
Two important issues are of course asbestos and diesel exhaust, Good health and safety for all workers whoever they are and will focus on inequalities in occupational health and the role unions play in narrowing the inequalities gap.
Find an event near you
See a full list of events at: https://www.tuc.org.uk/workers-memorial-day-0
to find out what’s happening in your area. If you are organising an event for Workers Memorial Day and would like it displayed on these pages, then please email through the details to healthandsafety@tuc.org.uk.
Resources
For resources on Workers Memorial day including ribbons and car stickers please contact the Greater Manchester Hazards Centre at: mail@gmhazards.org.uk. http://28april.org/
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary
www.rmt.org.uk/healthandsafety