#Asbestos kills workers and communities. Message from ALU, #Philippines on #WorkersMemorialDay #banasbestos #IWMD16 pic.twitter.com/AWzjFBSuK0
— BWI Global Union (@BWIglobal) April 29, 2016
Category Archives: News
Fiji: Civil servants, private sector and unions mark world 28 April
Government officials and representatives of the private sector at a OHS workshop in Lautoka. Fiji Times
CIVIL servants and members of the private sector gathered in Lautoka today to mark World Day for Safety and Health.
The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Workplace Stress: A collective challenge’.
Chief guest, Fiji Trades Union Congress assistant national secretary Rouhit Singh said the impact of work-related stress and the subject could not be dealt in isolation and needed genuine commitment from Government, employers and workers.
“ILO has pointed out that every year some two million men and women lose their lives through accidents and diseases linked to their work,” he said.
“In addition, there are 270 million occupational accidents and 160 million occupational diseases each year, incurring US$2.8 trillion in costs for lost working time and expenses for treatment, compensation and rehabilitation.”
Ireland: “Vital we commit ourselves to making a safer workplace for all workers”
#IWMD16 – Workers Memorial Day – Thursday 28th April 2016
The Government, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Congress), the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Ibec and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) collectively marked Workers Memorial Day Ireland the annual commemorative event this morning (Thursday 28th April), to remember people killed, injured and bereaved through workplace accidents.
The Irish memorial ceremony took place at the Royal Hibernian Academy this morning. The Government was represented by newly elected senator Gerald Nash, the acting Minister for Business and Employment. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions was represented by general secretary Patricia King, IMPACT was represented by general secretary Shay Cody and deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan.
Mr Callinan commented, “It’s vital that in commemorating those who have died or who’ve been injured in the workplace we commit ourselves to making a safer workplace for all workers. This is a central value to the trade union movement. As employment is once again growing in Ireland, we need to ensure that our collective vigilance, safety standards and appropriate resources are committed to making sure every worker operates in a safe environment.”
International
The memorial event is one of many taking place worldwide to mark International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers. Trade unions in more than 70 countries are marking the International Commemoration Day with a demand for ‘Strong laws, Strong enforcement and Strong unions’ as the only way to stop the carnage at work.
Congress general secretary Patricia King speaking at the Workers Memorial Day event at the Royal Hibernian Gallery (RHA)
In the 10 year period between 2006 and 2015, 526 people were killed in work related accidents in Ireland and many thousands more badly injured. On average, more than one person a week died in work related accidents in Ireland in 2015, 56 deaths in total, with many more injured. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has said that globally, one worker dies every 15 seconds due to employer negligence
Employers were represented at this morning’s event by the Construction Industry Federation and Ibec. The Health and Safety Authority was represented by assistant chief executive Brian Higgisson. The senior executives of each organisation jointly signed a letter promoting the commemorative day along with key safety, health and accident prevention messages.
‘Failure to act’
As ceremonies around the world take place on the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, the ITUC has warned negligent employers of the consequences of putting workers’ lives at risk.
Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said: “Over two million workers die needlessly every year because their workplaces are dusty, dirty and dangerous. The risks are as obvious as they are preventable, whether they are falls from height, crippling workloads or chemical exposure. Every single death represents an employer’s failure to act.”
Related:
There are over 2.3 million work-related deaths worldwide every year, over 6,000 every day or one every 15 seconds.
An estimated 660,000 workers die each year from occupational cancers, or over one every minute.
Academic studies have established a substantial union safety effect.
http://www.impact.ie/workers-memorial-day-thursday-28th-april-2016/
Turkey: Together we can stop labour murder
Families Workers Justice Seekers walk out for 28 April Workers Memorial Day in İstanbul.
Together We Can Stop Labour Murders
Remember The Dead, Fight Like Hell For The Living
Germany: IG BAU warnt vor hohem Unfallrisiko durch Stress im Job
Die Industriegewerkschaft Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) gedenkt anlässlich des heutigen (für die Red.: 28. April 2016) internationalen Workers Memorial Days der Beschäftigten, die bei ihrer Arbeit verstorben sind, verletzt wurden oder schwer erkrankten. Beschäftigte in der Bau- und Landwirtschaft sind besonders hohen Risiken ausgesetzt.
Unter der Überschrift „Sabbat heute – Loskommen vom Dauerstress“ veranstaltet die IG BAU zusammen mit der Gemeinde der „Berliner Gedächtniskirche“ einen zentralen, ökumenischen Gedenkgottesdienst. „Arbeit darf nicht krank machen. Erst recht darf sie nicht dazu führen, dass Menschen sterben“, sagte der Stellvertretende IG BAU-Bundesvorsitzende Dietmar Schäfers. „Jeder erkrankte, verletzte oder verstorbene Kollege ist einer zu viel! Täglich ereignen sich hierzulande Tausende Arbeitsunfälle, drei bis vier Menschen sterben in der Folge. Zudem ist die Zahl der beruflich verursachten Erkrankungen enorm. Leider sind die Ursachen nicht immer sofort erkennbar. Einer der heimlichen Killer ist Stress, den wir deshalb zum Thema des diesjährigen Gedenkens gemacht haben. Zeitdruck, zu wenige Kollegen, Überforderung und Angst um den Job belasten nicht nur die Seele der Menschen, sie führen oft genug zu Erschöpfung. In der Folge schwindet die Konzentration und das Unfallrisiko steigt. Bitter ist, dass viele Risiken auf Kosteneinsparungen zurückzuführen sind. Es reicht daher nicht, sich allein auf den Gesetzgeber zu verlassen. Die Beschäftigten müssen für ihre eigene Sicherheit und Gesundheit einstehen und jeder Einzelne ist gefordert, immer wieder auf Missstände im Betrieb hinzuweisen und den Chef aufzufordern, Abhilfe zu schaffen. Überarbeitung, Zeitdruck, fehlende oder falsche Ein- und Unterweisung, unzureichende Schutzausrüstung, haltungsschädigende Arbeitsbereiche oder Arbeitsmittel, fehlende oder mangelhafte Sicherheitsvorkehrungen bis hin zu gefahrbringenden Arbeitsanweisungen haben im Job nichts zu suchen – sind aber keine Seltenheit“.
Nach den aktuellsten Zahlen aus 2014 der Deutschen gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (DGUV) gab es in dem Jahr 473 tödliche Arbeitsunfälle. Das waren 18 mehr als im 2013.
Die traurigen Top 5 der Berufskrankheiten sind (2014):
- Lärmschwerhörigkeit (6649 Fälle)
- Asbestose – Lungenerkrankung durch Asbest (1967 Fälle)
- Mesotheliom – Tumorerkrankung durch Asbest (1048 Fälle)
- Lungen/Kehlkopfkrebs durch Asbest (844 Fälle)
- Infektionskrankheiten (814 Fälle)
Un travailleur meurt toutes les 15 secondes à cause de la négligence d’un employeur
Alors que partout autour du globe, des cérémonies ont lieu à l’occasion de la Journée internationale de commémoration des travailleurs morts et blessés au travail, la CSI met en garde les employeurs négligents qui, en mettant en danger la vie de travailleuses et de travailleurs, auront à en subir les conséquences. Dans le monde, un travailleur meurt toutes les 15 secondes d’une blessure ou d’une maladie professionnelle.
http://www.ituc-csi.org/un-travailleur-meurt-toutes-les-15
PGFTU celebrating world safety and health at work day
On 28th of April PGFTU held a very special ceremony on the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health.
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It is held on 28 April and has been observed by the International Labor Organization (ILO) since 2003. It has also long been associated with the world’s trade union movement’s commemoration of the victims of occupational accidents and diseases.
A national occupational safety and health culture is one in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where governments, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, and where the highest priority is accorded to the principle of prevention.
The PGFTU with the coordination with Department of Health and Safety has organized this ceremony which was attended by over than 200 persons coming from different regions of Palestine, unionists, workers, workers’ representatives , employers’ representatives …..
And by the representatives of the related concerned parties:
- PGFTU’s General Secretary Brother Shaher Sae’d .
- Head of OSH department /PGFTU Brother Mostapha hanne
- President of chamber of commerce Brother Omar Hashem.
- Architect union’s representative Brother Sami Hejawe .
- Contractors union’s representative Brother Rame Khateeb .
- Stones and quarry union’s representative Brother Hatem Yamak .
- Nablus municipality’s representative Brother Ramez Dalae .
Through their speeches the speakers insisted on:
- Expecting at all levels the right to a safe and healthy working environment;
- Active participation of all stakeholders in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties; and
- Giving the highest priority to the principle of prevention.
The main purpose of the ceremony was to show that OSH is the only sustainable way to overcome the high percentage of Work accidents and death between workers.
Brother Shaher Sae’d the General Secretary of PGFTU insisted in his speech on the importance of the health of the workers. He pointed out that every single day, 11 workers dies in Qatar from an occupational accident Work-related accidents or diseases can definitely be placed in the high-burden category of all global health problems regardless the procedures of health and safety which are confirmed by many international organization.
But in Palestine working in hazardous conditions is a daily, routine task for many workers. During one year the numbers of those who lost their lives in worksites are not clear because not all the accidents are recorded: Over 5350 worker accidents are recorded while 2000 are not. The records talk about 45 workers who are working inside Israel from building sector, 65% from them are from Palestine .
Sae’d focused on the importance of implementing the social security law to stop the violations against the Palestinian workers, and he highlighted the role of the PGFTU’s overall campaign to implement the code of social security with some useful amendments especial in the benefit of work accidents.
He informed the attendance about the intention of the PGFTU to put more efforts in the field of educating the workers about the importance of using procedures of health and safety.
He also demanded the concerned parties especially the chamber of commerce to establish a training center for OSH in the north similar to that found in the south.
In his speech Sae’d, showed his belief that good practices should be shared, promoted and emulated where possible in order to raising awareness and knowledge of occupational hazards and risks and how to prevent and control them is key for this process as well as increase the awareness, secure greater engagement people and support stakeholders.
At the end Shaher sae’d presented solidarity to the families who lost their beloved while they are working and confirmed efforts to give assistance in finding alternatives of living. And he insisted on the importance of decent life and decent work in the free independent State of PALESTINE.
Unions join international call for protecting workers’ health and safety in Argentina
Argentinean trade unions CGT and ATE/CTA will be running commemoration events today, 28th April.
CGT will be distributing flyers on the international 28th April theme and has recorded a video to support awareness raising actions.
ATE/CTA will be running a commemoration tonight at 9pm along with workers dismissed from the agriculture ministry.
For more information on CGT events for this 28th April, please contact Marta Pujadas mpujadas@uocra.org . For more information on ATE/CTA events, please contact Marcelo Fiscina mhf958@hotmail.com
Unions show unity in defending workers’ health in Italy
For this 28th April, Italian trade union confederations CGIL, CISL and UIL will be running unitary actions to commemorate the victims of occupational accidents and diseases. The call for a national plan to free Italy from asbestos will be a key feature of the actions today.
The most important action will be organised tomorrow April 29th in the Italian parliament, where a national conference will be organised with involvement of the Presidents of the occupational health and safety and environment commissions. Asbestos victims, representatives from cities highly impacted by asbestos, professionals and research institutes will also be present.
Italian unions are using #RicordiamoliTutti (let’s remember them all) for their 28th April events.
For more information on Italian unions events for this 28th April please contact Giuseppe.dercole@cisl.it
Unions call for making workers’ protection a higher priority in USA
The United States trade union confederation AFL-CIO launched its annual Death on the Job Report, showing the raising toll of occupational deaths, diseases and injuries for US workers. The report is available on the AFL-CIO website, along with infographics of highlights from the report.http://www.aflcio.org/Issues/Job-Safety/Death-on-the-Job-Report
In addition, nearly 100 events are being held around the US to remember workers killed and injured on the job and to renew the fight for safe jobs. http://www.aflcio.org/Issues/Job-Safety/WorkersMemorialDay
For more information on AFL-CIO events for this 28th April, please contact Peg Seminario pseminar@aflcio.org