For everyone with an interest in the safety, health and welfare of people at work, April 28th is an important date. It’s the date every year when trade union and employer groups worldwide, as well as individual organisations, remember those who have been killed or injured in work-related accidents.

In Ireland the figures are staggering.  In the 10 year period between 2012 and 2021, 481 people were killed in work-related accidents and thousands more badly injured. Last year alone 38 people were killed.  These are shocking statistics by any standards.

Colleagues from Congress, Ibec, the Health and Safety Authority and Construction Industry Federation will come together to mark the occasion with a programme of joint awareness raising initiatives.  To mark the day there are a range of initiatives that your organisation should consider including:

• Get involved by using the national Workers’ Memorial Day Ireland logo on your website, social media presence, presentations, email signatures, displays and in offices and workplaces
• In-house training sessions or a toolbox talk
• Website/Social Media/Newsletter content
• Guest speaker presentation to your staff
• Press release to your local/national media marking your event / the day
• Use #WorkersMemorialDay on all social media activity and tag @TheHSA so that we can share your content

Worker safety and health is everyone’s business and can only be tackled through a collaborative approach. April 28th presents an important opportunity to remember and to consolidate everyone’s focus around a single day. Please mark the date in your calendar and make the commitment to contribute to this most important challenge