Work Deaths Should Be Like Road Toll

Date: 29 April 2002

More Australians die from work-related accidents or illnesses than are killed on the nation's roads, but governments are failing to give occupational health and safety the same priority as the road toll, the ACTU said today.

Speaking on the seventh International Day of Mourning for dead and injured workers, ACTU President Sharan Burrow called on all Australian governments to make workplace safety a top priority.

"Like road accidents, the vast majority of workplace deaths and injuries are preventable. But every year in Australia, more than 430 Australians are killed in work-related accidents and another 2,300 die of work-related illnesses - nearly twice the national road toll," Ms Burrow said.

"ACTU surveys show about one-quarter of workplace health and safety representatives have been pressured by management not to raise health and safety issues, and 20% have been bullied or intimidated as a result of raising health and safety issues."

Ms Burrow welcomed the New South Wales Government's decision to hold a Work Safety Summit to cut workplace deaths and injuries by 40% and congratulated the Victorian Government on its industrial manslaughter legislation.

"The positive work safety initiatives of Labor State Governments stand in contrast to the Liberal Party's refusal to acknowledge the problem. The Coalition in Victoria is to be condemned for trying to block the Bracks Government's industrial manslaughter legislation. Why should manslaughter at work be treated any differently to manslaughter on the roads?"

Ms Burrow said that health and safety failures at work cost Australia an estimated $20 billion per year in lost production, treatment of injuries
and illnesses, and rehabilitation and compensation.

Thousands of Australians marked International Day of Mourning at memorial ceremonies around the country today.

For further information

Contact:	Jeremy Vermeesch
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Contact Mobile:	0408 513 849
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au

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