28 April is International Workers’ Memorial Day which commemorates people killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.
Workers’ Memorial Day is an opportunity to highlight that most workplace incidents are preventable.
In the last year, Queensland lost 27 people to work-related injuries and disease. Three women and 24 men left our workplaces and homes too soon.
These people were parents, children, colleagues and friends and gave much to their industry and the lives of their loved ones.
Queensland Safety Advocate and Chair of the Affected Persons Committee, Dan Kennedy said “It’s now 10 years since Dale didn’t return home from work. He was only 20 years old, with a young child. Dale was electrocuted while working in a ceiling space as a fourth-year apprentice.
“The pain doesn’t stop. Losing someone you love takes a lot out of you.
“Speaking with workers in Queensland gives me a sense of purpose – as so many workplace incidents could be avoided.
“We need to normalise speaking up when something doesn’t seem right and listen when someone in a workplace expresses concern.”
