ACTRAV - International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers

7th International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers
28 April 2002

Taking part this year in the International Day of Commemoration for Workers dead or injured at work, the ILO will draw attention to the particularly unsafe situation of workers in emergency services whose role it is to save other people's life, like firefighters, ambulance drivers, nurses or police men and women. A special event will take place at ILO Headquarters on April 29 and representatives of the New York firefighters have been invited to attend. They will be asked to tell their story about the rescue operations on September 11 at the World Trade Centre.

Last year, ILO Director General Juan Somavia announced that the ILO will make April 28 an international day of action for health and safety at the workplace. The international trade union movement has been observing April 28 for a number of years and the ILO is now adding to it its tripartite strength. The ILO is also supporting the call by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) to have this day recognised as an official UN Day. According to the ICFTU, trade unions in over 100 countries will be active on April 28 and around that day. The ICFTU’s theme for the Commemoration will be “Improving public health through stronger health and safety".

Everything you want to know about OHSE - Special Labour Education Issue Health and safety at work: A trade union priority Labour Education No. 126 1/2002 Editorial Interview Life and health are fundamental rights for workers, by Jukka Takala Global perspective Unsafe production is unsustainable production, by Winston Gereluk and Lucien Royer When it comes to health and safety, your life should be in union hands, by Rory O’Neill In the sectors Safer farms for safer food, by Peter Hurst Preventing injuries and ill-health in the construction industry, by Fiona Murie Finding the formula for chemical safety, by Ian Graham In the regions Health and safety in transition, by Annie Rice Safety in French-speaking Africa – social security’s role, by Tharcisse Nkanagu Caribbean work safety: Trends and challenges, by Evelyn Greaves Europe slipping on health and safety, by Anne Renaut Malaysia goes for tripartism on safety and health, by A. Navamukundan Improving health and safety – new law for New Zealand, by Ross Wilson Ten safety and health challenges for the twenty-first century, by Juan Carlos Hiba Special issues Workplace stress: A collective bargaining issue, by Anne-Marie Mureau Night work – the dark side, by Samuel Grumiau Check out the check-in: Airport work hazards, by Ellen Rosskam Body mapping for workplace health, by Peter Kirby The articles can be reproduced after having obtained permission from their authors, please contact Labour Education Editor Luc Demaret
Links ILO Video on April 28 (View with RealPlayer) Speech of Mr. Koffi Annan, Director General UN (video) Speech of Mr. Juan Somavie, Director General ILO (pdf) ILO Programme 28 April 2002 ILO Programme 2001 Memorial book 28 April 2002 ICFTU Calls for Trade Unions to Organise for 28 April Hazards: links to Workers' Memorial Day related activities The IFBWW says ORGANISE! STRONG UNIONS = SAFE JOBS	General Information ACTRAV Pages on Labour Protection, Safe Work, Occupational Safety and Health, Environment BAREFOOT Research: A Workers' Manual for Organising On Work Security The ILO Infocus Programme on Health and Safety and Work and the Environment ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems ICFTU Pages on Health, Safety & Environment UNI Health & Safety CONFERENCIA Trabajo Repetitivo y Estrés
28 April lapel ribbons for order now Small black-striped yellow 28 April lapel ribbons, which bear the official 28 April "candle & incense symbol" are now available for order in time for this 28 April, 2002. The ribbons come ready-to-wear and are packaged in bundles of 100. They are produced in Canada and bear a "trade-union-made" symbol. Last year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) kicked off the use of the lapel ribbon as a standard 28 April symbol and for the first time this year they are available for mass circulation. They can be ordered now for US$.50 cents each, US$.40 cents for 5000 or more, and US$.30 for 10,000 or more, plus the cost of shipping. Orders will be made early next week, in time to receive them for 28 April. All proceeds from the sale will be directed to the 28 April "International Monument Fund", set up to eventually cover the cost of a world monument for workers who are killed, are injured or become ill due to unsustainable work practices or conditions. For more information, contact: Lucien Royer ICFTU/TUAC 26 av. De La Grande Armee 75017 Paris (331) 5537 3737 general tel (331) 5537 3734 direct tel (331) 4754 9828 fax

Contact Person for Health and Safety in ACTRAV: Ahmed KHALEF

Updated by LO. Approved by MS. Last updated: 21 February 2003.