Day of mourning for workers killed on the job

Queensland LHMU (Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous 
Workers' Union) members will join the Queensland Council of 
Unions (QCU) on April 28 to mourn the deaths of all workers who 
died on the job in the last year.

April 28 is the International Day of Mourning, when workers from 
more than 100 countries will gather to commemorate those who were 
killed or injured at work, or who became sick from exposure to 
workplace hazardous substances.

LHMU Queensland Branch Secretary Ron Monaghan said the 
International Day of Mourning was an opportunity to recognise the 
workers who were killed at work last year and it was also time to 
look at our own workplace safety.

"Many of our members can be faced with dangerous situations in 
their workplace, whether that be danger from violence, such as 
security guards, or danger from disease, such as child-care 
workers and so on", said Ron.

"Other workers in our manufacturing plants also have to be 
careful, particularly around large processing machines that have 
caused numerous injuries to our workers in the last twelve 
months.

"I think the role of a union in these situations is to be 
responsible for making sure occupational health and safety 
legislation is being strictly adhered to and workers are being 
given a fair say in their safety at work."

Australia's workplace death rate is worse than Great Britain, 
Japan, Norway, the Czech Republic, USA, New Zealand, Poland, 
Slovenia and Canada. We have the same number of deaths per 
100,000 workers as Romania.

Ambulance workers

In 2003 the dangers of work were forced home for Queensland 
ambulance workers after a series of on-the-job accidents left a 
number of workers injured and even resulted in the fatality of an 
ambulance paramedic.

Ron said the tragic death of Queensland intensive care paramedic 
Craig Liddington, his pilot and another crew member in October 
year affected the whole ambulance service and served as a 
reminder of potentially dangerous situation ambulance workers 
face each day.

The team died while attempting a helicopter rescue.

Strong unions: safe jobs

Studies show that unionised workplaces are safer workplaces. 
Unions continue to fight to prevent workplace deaths and injuries 
and for proper compensation for those who have survived. 
Queensland unions are lobbying for:

* Strict OH&S laws that are properly enforced;

* Elected workplace health and safety representatives with 
effective entitlements;

* The introduction of industrial manslaughter legislation in 
Queensland.

Queensland LHMU members are being urged to download and sign a 
petition from the Queensland LHMU website — www.lhmu.org.au/qld 
— in support of the creation of a law against industrial 
manslaughter.

The petition states: "current Queensland legislation does not 
allow for corporations to be prosecuted successfully for 
manslaughter where they have created dangerous situations that 
have resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of a worker 
or member of the public, even where there has been gross 
negligence".

Worldwide at least 1.3 million workers, including 12,000 
children, die every year from workplace causes. Over 160 million 
injuries and work-related diseases are reported each year.

In Australia about 400 workers are killed in workplace accidents 
each year and 500,000 suffer a workplace injury or illness. 
Another 2,300 die from occupational diseases such as asbestos-
related cancer. In total, there are about 50 work-related deaths 
per week in Australia and more than 15 serious injuries every 
hour