Health and safety no joke to victims (From Bournemouth Echo)

Health and safety no joke to victims

8:00am Monday 8th February 2010 in

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In 2008/09 180 workers died in accidents in British workplaces – 22 of them in the South West.

Thousands more die from occupational diseases every year, like mesothelioma or cancers, and in workplace road accidents. Internationally, 2.2 million workers die annually as a direct result of their work.

These terrible figures explain why the government has decided to officially recognise International Workers’ Memorial Day, which takes place every year on 28 April. It’s an opportunity to remember those whose lives have been needlessly cut short, and to reflect on the loss suffered by families.

Health and safety is not just the preserve of ‘experts’ like me. It’s a team effort, and if one member of the team under performs the consequences can be dire for others.

I welcome the official recognition of Workers’ Memorial Day, and I urge people in Bournemouth and Dorset to spend a few minutes thinking about how they could make their workplace safer for everyone.

John Holden, president, IOSH Wigston, Leics