QLD: Ceremonies in honour of work dead

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-1999
QLD: Ceremonies in honour of work dead

By Janelle Miles

BRISBANE, April 27 AAP - Unions across Australia tomorrow will mark the fourth
international day of mourning in memory of the hundreds who die at work each year.

According to ACTU figures, an average of nine people are killed at work each week across
the country and another 11,000 injured.

In Queensland, 91 black balloons will be released in memory of the 91 people who died at
work throughout the state in 1997-98.

Queensland Nurses Union occupational, health and safety officer Amanda Richards said more
than 79,000 state workers were injured during the same period.

Ms Richards, part of a committee which organised tomorrow's ceremony, said one of the aims
was to reflect on the magnitude of the problem.

"There's not a lot of focus on people killed in the workplace," she said.

"When you consider the number of deaths on the roads and the amount of money put on
prevention versus health and safety in the workplace, there's a marked difference.

"It's a time really for unions to reflect on what's happened to their membership and where
we need to go in terms of improving health and safety."

Ms Richards said people in the manufacturing and construction industries had the most risk
of dying or being injured at work.

According to WorkCover Queensland figures, more than $392 million was paid out in death and
injury claims in 1997-98.

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KEYWORD: ACTU MOURNING

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